When Should Tires Be Replaced?

When Should Tires Be Replaced

If you are a car owner, you are solely responsible for making sure that your car is in good working condition at all times. One of the most important things to think about is the condition of your tires. Remember that defective tires could cause your car to go out of control leading to car accidents with potential fatalities.

So when do you need to change your tires? Just like with the other parts of your car, the tires could wear out at some point. When this happens, they will lose their traction and their ability to brake, which could lead to accidents.

If you’re wondering when you should replace your car tires, here are some tips to keep in mind.

Measure the Tread Depth of Your Tires

The easiest way of knowing when your car needed replacement is to measure the tread depth. So how do you do this? Easy – you just need a quarter and a penny.

Insert the quarter to the tread right at the middle of the tire making sure that the head of George Washington is pointing towards the direction of the tire. When the direction of the head is even with the tire tread, this means you’re still safe and you still have enough time to look for the best tires to replace your current ones. Using a penny, insert it head down in the middle of the tire tread. If it’s even with the top of Abraham Lincoln’s head, then your tire is becoming unsafe. So it’s time to replace it.

Checking your tires before you start looking for new ones can save you some money from having to replace a tire that’s still in good working condition.

Check Their Age

How often you drive your car should be the number one factor in determining when you should get your tires replaced. Basically, the more you drive, the faster your tire will wear down. But several other factors also play a part, such as the condition of the road and the weather.

But even though your tires still have plenty of treads left, car experts actually recommend having them replaced after six years of driving. To determine how old the tires are, refer to the 4-digit code given by the Department of Transportation, which you’ll usually find at the tire wall. The number represents when the tire was made. The first two digits in the code refer to the week in the year when the tire was made, while the other two digits are the year itself. For instance, if the code is 1109, that means it was made during the 11th week of the year 2009.

But sometimes, looking for the code can be somewhat tricky. Usually, it’s preceded by the DOT initials and you’ll find several other letters and numbers after DOT. The key is to look for a four-digit code that ends with two digits that represent the year.

What About the CR Testing Difference?

There are certain types of tires that will tell you how well they grip and brake. With these tires, it’s easy to tell how well they will perform in snowy conditions and how resistant they are in rolling, which will greatly affect fuel consumption.

Sometimes, car experts evaluate the tire’s tread life depending on the number of miles that the car has traveled. They will use this information along with the value of the tire in order to figure out the cost for every 100 miles.

Remember that when it comes to buying tires, the most expensive is not always the best. There are lots of factors to take into consideration in order to determine if you’re getting the right tires for your vehicle

Consider Buying New Tires

Sure, it can be costly to buy new tires for your car. But this is actually for your own safety and comfort. Having new tires can make your ride even more comfortable. Some of the modern ones come with safety features that will make your drive safer. Plus, they can help improve the fuel economy of your car.

So if you find out that it’s time for a new replacement after checking the tread depth and finding out its manufacturing date, you shouldn’t think twice about getting a new set of tires.

Always Be Informed

Take the time to do your research before you start shopping for new tires. Educate yourself on the basics, such as the speed rating. This represents the tire’s maximum speed to run while the car is fully loaded. Tires with a higher speed rating mean they have much better handling and grip, however, they could wear out sooner, which means you’ll end up having to replace them very fast.

If you refer to the tires, you’ll find numbers on each side, such as 215/60R16. The first three digits indicate the cross section width, or the broadest distance coming from one sidewall towards the other once installed. 60 represent the ratio of the height of the sidewall to the width of the tire, while the last two digits represent the wheel’s size in inches.

Some of the tire retailers online will offer the cheapest prices but this will also come with shipping fees that can make it even more costly. Also, you’ll have to pay for getting your tires changed, so consider that as well. Some local tire dealers match the prices online and will even offer free service.

Lastly, keep in mind that the cost of the tire will also depend on the size, model, and brand. You can expect to pay more when buying larger tires.

Why Type of Tires Matters?

  • Tires are available in different types and each has its own strengths and limitations.
  • All-season tires are those types of tires that can perform well regardless of the season and often come with a longer tread life.
  • Higher-performance tires usually cost more and tend to wear out faster, which is why they have a higher cost per mile.
  • It’s best to stick to the same type of tire that your vehicle had when you first bought it.
  • UHP all-season tires provide the ultimate in-road holding experience. However, they tend to have a shorter tread life.

There are many things that car owners need to learn about car tires, which can be overwhelming for new car owners.

If you are having problems with your car tires and you need to replace them, hire Towing Less!