Vehicle tires can be expensive, which is one of the main reasons people choose to wait for as long as possible to buy new ones. However, you have to be careful and not wait too long so you don’t find yourself in a situation where you have a blowout or cause other damage to your vehicle. The good news is there are a few important things to look for in your tires to give you a good indication of when you’ll need to replace them. We’ve explained those indicators here.
Know Your Tire Tread Depth
Most tires today have wear indicators built into them so you can see how much the tread depth has worn down. There will be a little rib at the replacement mark to help you see when it is time to replace them. But even if you don’t check this mark frequently, a good sign that the tread depth may be worn is if your tires rumble occasionally when you drive. Every manufacturer stamps their tires differently, so check with the manufacturer or your automotive technician to understand how to read the tread depth marks.
Uneven Tread Wear
Tread wear can happen on the inner tread or the outer tread and can happen for various reasons. Over-inflated tires can lead to inner tread wear, while under-inflated tires can cause the shoulders to wear down more quickly. The best way to combat this issue is to make sure your tires are always properly inflated and to look at your tires for signs of uneven tread.
Feathering
When tires begin to feather, they may sound like they are rumbling when you’re driving, similar to when the tread depth is poor. The difference with feathering is if you rub your hand across the tire, you’ll feel waves across the tread. This could be an indicator of a shock absorber or a strut problem. When the shocks or struts don’t hold enough pressure to keep the tires to the road, feathering can occur and create the need for new tires.
Sidewall Damage
Sidewall damage can be in the form of a bulge, a slice in the sidewall, or even a shifted belt. This type of damage can occur when you hit a pothole, curb, or have other similar accidents. Take a walk around your vehicle periodically and look for these signs and have your tires replaced or at least checked out as soon as possible.
At DeBoer’s Auto, we want you to always have a safe experience driving your vehicle. The tires need to be properly maintained for various reasons. Not only will improper maintenance lead to premature wear on the tires, but it could lead to other damage to your vehicle and the associated costly repairs to go with it. We will check your tires every time you visit us, and we will let you know when it’s getting close to being time to replace yours. Don’t hesitate to contact us at any time if you have questions or are ready to schedule an appointment.
