It’s often difficult to get around without your own car. Some areas of the country still don’t have any form of public transportation! That’s why about 88% of American households have at least one car.
Your family has a great car that hasn’t ever broken down on you. But you’ve had it a while and you think the tires look a little worse for wear. How often should you replace tires?
We put together a quick guide with five signs that your tires need retirement. Keep reading to find out which warning signs to look out for today!
5 Bald Tire Warning Signs
There are a ton of signs you need new tires if you know what to look for. These are the top 5 warning signs when it comes to aging tires.
1. Vibrations When Driving
Many things can make your car vibrate as you roll down the road. If it’s not unbalanced and/ or unaligned tires, you may want to look at the brake pads. Check out this article to find out how long does brake pads last.
2. Bulging Tires
When you look at your tires, do you see bulges in the side walls? Hitting potholes and other obstacles can cause these dangerous bulges. If you ignore them, your tires could explode while you’re on the road!
3. Depth of the Tire Treads
The best way to check your tire treads is with a penny. If you put Lincoln’s head first into the tread, you should see the tread touching Lincoln’s head. If the tread sits below lincoln’s head, you need to replace the tires ASAP!
4. Hydroplaning
When your car glides across the water on the road without gripping the asphalt, that’s called hydroplaning and it’s terrifying! When you have little to no tread on your tires, you run the risk of longer stopping times and even hydroplaning when driving in the rain.
5. Visible damages or punctures
The last major things to look out for are visible damages and punctures. You can patch nail holes with a patch kit but anything larger will need a whole new tire.
How Often Should You Replace Tires?
Unlike changing your oil, there’s no recommended routine for how often to replace your tires. You’ll want to take the wear on tires, age of tires, and mileage on tires under consideration when deciding if it’s appropriate to replace them. If your tires look worn down, have more than 25,000 to 80,000 miles, or are more than 6 years old, it’s time for new tires.
Don’t Let Bald Tires Cause an Accident
If you ignore the warning signs, it can cause serious problems when you’re driving! The last thing you want is to spin out because you have no tire traction.
Keep this article in mind during vehicle inspections. That way you know what warning signs to look for and you can nip the issue in the bud.
We hope you enjoyed reading this article and that you learned how often should you replace tires and what warning signs to look for. If you’re looking for more fascinating articles about cars, motorcycles, and much more check out the rest of our blog today!