Today’s tires are manufactured to last for years and withstand all sorts of nasty weather conditions; however, that doesn’t mean they’re invincible. You’ll need new tires at some point.
Luckily, knowing when to get new tires isn’t a guessing game. Continue reading to learn a few of the signs that it’s time to get new tires.
Old age
The first thing to consider is your tires’ age. Many manufacturers offer tread wear guarantees of at least 60,000 miles, but that doesn’t mean you should wait to hit that mark. We recommend replacing your tires every six years or so because the rubber starts to naturally break down throughout the years, increasing the chance of a blowout.
Shallow tire tread
Perhaps the easiest way to tell when to get new tires is to perform the penny test. In this test, take a penny, and stick it into the tire tread with Lincoln’s head pointed down into the tread. If any of the top of Honest Abe’s head is visible, you need new tires because your tread is overly worn.
Be sure to perform this test on all four of your tires and to check a few different spots on each tire. Some tires can wear down faster than others, and each tire can wear down unevenly.
Uneven tread wear
Speaking of uneven tread wear, that’s another one of the signs you need new tires. Here’s a quick breakdown of common types of uneven wear to lookout for:
- Center wear: You could be overinflating your tires if the center of your tires tends to wear down faster than the edges. In addition to wearing your tires down two times faster, overinflation leads to a bumpy ride and poor control in wet conditions. Always follow your manufacturer’s recommendation for inflation.
- Edge wear: The flip side of center wear is edge wear—when the edges wear down faster than the center of the tire. As you may be able to guess, edge wear is the result of underinflated tires. Keep in mind that older tires are more prone to losing tire pressure, so it’s a good idea to check them all at least once a month.
- Inner or outer wear: If your tire’s inner or outer edge is more worn than the center or other side, this is a more serious issue than inflation. In fact, you could have an alignment problem on your hand. Your mechanic should already know to adjust the alignment if he/she sees the tread wear, but be sure to ask about having your vehicle’s alignment adjusted. Driving with improper alignment for too long ruins your tires and can even lead to suspension issues.
Get your tires from us
Don’t wait around and continue driving if you’ve noticed any of the signs you need new tires. Instead, come down to Pat Doll Automotive LLC to get a new set of tires. We offer some of the best prices on the top name brands, so contact us today to schedule your appointment.