Many of us like to treat our cars like a prized possession – from picking out affordable car insurance to visiting the car wash one too many times a week. Tires are one of the many aspects of a car that need some extra TLC now and then to ensure a smooth and safe ride.
Keep your car protected and running right with these 5 signs to help better identify the condition your tires are in.
Uneven Tread Wear
A glance at the outer edges of your tires could indicate that your tires are just fine, and in great condition, right? That’s not always the case. In this example, when your tires are wearing from the inside out, that is known as “inner wear.” However, if your tires are deteriorating from the outside in, that can be known as “toe wear.”
A few factors that contribute to the uneven wearing of your tires are underinflation, wheel alignment, overinflation, suspension related issues, or you simply need a tire rotation.
Low Tire Tread
One of the easiest signs in knowing it’s time for new tires is low tire tread. A quick way to test this out yourself is to use the “penny test.” Take that Abe Lincoln coin on the car floor you’ve been avoiding picking up and place it in the grooves on the treads of your tires with Lincoln’s head facing down. If you can still see the top of Lincoln’s head then your treads are too low and it’s time to scrape up some Abe Lincoln’s for a new set of tires.
Small things like these “penny test” can make your life easier and help prevent an unwanted incident to occur.
The Tread Depth Bar Is Showing
Thankfully, innovative technology in vehicles doesn’t just stop at the vibrating seat feature. Nowadays, newer tires contain tread wear indicator bars built in to let you know when your tires are getting worn out. These bars look like a flat bar and are placed perpendicular to the actual treads of your tire. If one or two of those bars become visible it’s time to shop for new tires.
Cracking Or Cuts In The SideWall
A common misconception about the breakdown of tires is that the tread is the root cause of it all. However, let’s not forget about the sidewall where cracks love to start and the vulnerability for cuts is high. Luckily, cracks and cuts in or on the sidewall are easily visible by the naked eye.
Cuts or cracks in the sidewall can indicate a leak or better yet, a tire waiting to pop at any moment. If you see something concerning, try and make your next detour to the mechanic’s to get those wheels looked at. Remember- there’s no time like the present- to get your tires checked!
Vibration While Driving
Sometimes a car may sound noisier than usual. Even though you’re driving on a newly paved road, something still sounds off. Old and worn tires very often cause the driving experience of a vehicle to be much noisier than necessary. Another contributing factor is vibration by the tires causing unwanted noise. Two possible causes of the signs discussed are poor wheel alignment and improper inflation of the tires.
The vibration can increase the amount of wear and tear your tires go through or worse, damage to the wheel mechanism.
Keep this checklist handy the next time you’re gearing up for a road trip. Continue to put safety first and ensure your tires are in shape to take you from one destination to the next.
Happy Adventures and Safe Travels!
