Your car tires are one of the most important pieces of safety equipment it has. They’re responsible for keeping you safe on the road, so it’s important to make sure they’re in good condition. Here are a few tips on how to tell if your car needs new tires.
Weathering for your Car Tires
Weathering is a significant factor affecting the lifespan and performance of your vehicle’s tires. Tires are continuously exposed to a variety of environmental elements, including intense heat from the sun, freezing cold temperatures, snow, ice, and various forms of moisture such as rain and road salt. This constant exposure to harsh conditions can cause the rubber in your tires to deteriorate over time, as rubber is a natural material that inherently breaks down.
Understanding the impact of weathering on your tires is crucial for maintaining vehicle safety and performance. As tires age and weathered, they become more susceptible to various forms of damage. One of the most common indicators of weathering is the appearance of fine cracks on the sidewalls of the tires and in between the tread blocks. These cracks are typically a result of the rubber’s gradual degradation due to prolonged exposure to environmental elements.
Fine cracks in the sidewall of a tire are particularly concerning because they can compromise the structural integrity of the tire. The sidewall is a critical part of the tire that supports the vehicle’s weight and absorbs shocks from the road. Cracks in this area can weaken the tire’s ability to perform these functions effectively, potentially leading to blowouts or other serious issues. Similarly, cracks between the tread blocks can affect the tire’s traction and handling, which is essential for safe driving, especially in adverse weather conditions.
Bulging
This usually occurs in a tire after a substantial impact with a pothole or a curb. Manufacturer defects can also cause this issue but are less common. A bulge is caused by air getting between the inner liner of the tire and the outer material layers (fabric, metal, or rubber), resulting in an air pocket forming at the weakened area. If this is not addressed, the bulge could rupture and cause serious damage and/or injury.
Vibration
Vibrations are an indicator of various tire problems from tire balancing to out-of-round issues. One major tire problem that can cause vibration is when the ‘belts’ or inner cords of the tire separate or shift. Although this is not visible to the naked eye it becomes abundantly clear when the tire is mounted to a balancing machine. The driving feel with a separated tire is described as lumpy at low speeds which becomes a very high-frequency vibration at highway speeds. A tire with these issues needs to be replaced.
Tread Depth
At what point is a tire considered worn out? The actual measurement of a tire that has exceeded its usable life is 2/32nds of an inch. If you have a tread depth gauge great, just check your car tires; If not, here’s a simple test you can perform to see if your car tires need to be replaced.
– Place a penny in the tire tread at various locations around the tire with Lincoln’s head facing down.
– Check to see if any part of Lincoln’s is visible
– If it is, you have 2/32nds or less of tread depth remaining and need to replace your car tires.
Age of your Car Tires
Tire age ties into a couple of the previously mentioned issues, but is also affected by the date they were manufactured. Typically, most tire manufacturers recommend tire replacements at 5 or 6 years with an absolute replacement timeline of 10 years regardless of tire condition or tread depth. Your tires have a date stamp on the sidewall that indicates the week and year the tire was manufactured. Use this stamp to assess the age and timeline for the replacement of your car tires.