Many people want to know how to tell if their tires need to be replaced before the tire blows out. Fortunately, you can learn how to spot the telltale signs. Take a look at how to determine whether your vehicle’s tires need to be replaced. By keeping a close eye on them, you will always be safe on the road.
Check Your Tread Carefully
You can start by taking a good look at your tires. The tread is important for traction, and it wears down over time. When the tread reaches 0.16 cm, the tire is not safe and should be replaced. Some people aren’t sure how to measure the tread. Tires have a tread bar that is between the treads, but it has a lower height than the tread itself. It is easy to look at this tread bar and see whether it is still lower than the tread or even. Once it becomes flush with the tread, it is time to replace your tires.
You can also check the wear of your treads with a penny. Hold the penny upside down so that Lincoln is upside down. Do this in the center of the thickest part of the tire. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, you need to replace the tire. If the hair on the top of his head is below the tread, your tires still have some life left. You can also buy a tire tread depth indicator to check the measurement, and replace the tires when the tread is less than 0.16 cm.
Examine the Tires for Damage
You can actually see the wear on the side of the tire by looking at it. Tires should wear evenly, and as they do, the edges will lose tread. If you notice that they are wearing unevenly, you may need to replace them and have your car serviced. You should rotate your tires regularly, and if you don’t, they can wear unevenly and become dangerous to use.
You should also check your tires for bulges or bubbles on the sidewall. This is the surface on the side of the rim, and you may see a crack or other damage. If you notice anything of this kind, your tires may need to be replaced.
Another sign that your tires should be replaced is dry rot. You will see cracks, and the rubber appears to be breaking down. This can happen if you live in hot climates with a lot of sunlight. You will need to replace tires that have dry rot because they are not safe.
Do Not Keep Tires More Than Six Years
Tires have a four-digit code on the wall that tells you when they were made. The first two numbers are the week and the second are the year. If the number is 1418, this means that they were made in the 14th week of 2018. If you can’t find these numbers, look for DOT, which precede the numbers.
Although 10 years is how long a tire’s service life is, this is not the drive time. This begins the day they are manufactured. If you have new tires, you should switch your tires after six years of use. Be careful after the six-year mark, and make sure that your tread is okay.
Tires are a very important part of safety on the road. You need to be aware of how much wear and tear they have experienced. You should check the tread so that you know when they are worn down. The tread should always be more than 0.16 cm, and you can use a tool designed to measure tread, the tread bar, or a penny to make sure they are still safe.
You should also check for uneven wear and damage to the tires. Uneven wear is a sign of something else, such as your alignment being off.