When Should You Replace Your Tires

Asking a professional is the best way to know if it’s time to get replacement tires. But you can also inspect your tires yourself. Your tire’s tread should have a depth of at least 2/32 inches to be legal in the U.S. If they don’t meet the requirement, you need to replace them. You should also check for sidewall damage and irregular wear that can affect safety and performance. You also need to know if you can still repair the damage or if you need a replacement already.

Inspect the Tread

You can start with the tread when you visually inspect your tires. The tread is the part that touches the road. You need to ensure that the tread is deep enough and is worn evenly throughout. There are built-in tread wear indicators or wear bars to help you determine if the tread is getting low. You can find these indicators in different places. You also need to check if the sidewall has any visible damage.

Do the Penny Test

Doing a penny test can help you determine if you need new ones. You can do this test in your driveway, and it will only take a few minutes. You need to place a penny in your tire’s tread with Lincoln’s head facing the tread to do the test. If Lincoln’s head disappears, then you’re still good. If you can see Lincoln’s head, you need replacement tires already. Do the test on the whole set, particularly on areas that look worn out.

Uneven Tread Wear

It’s normal to have consistent wear around your tires. But if you see uneven tread wear, that could be a sign of wheel misalignment, improper inflation, or other problems. You should go to a mechanic when you see uneven tread wear. You should check the treads at least once a month or every few thousand miles. If you’re driving long distances or using your vehicle extensively, you need to check your treads more often.

Regular Inspection

You should also check your inflation pressure every month and book regular inspections with a qualified technician. After five years, inspection is also required for your safety. If your tires are more than 10 years old, then it’s a good idea to get replacement tires already. Moreover, you should replace spares if they are already more than a decade old. It’s also possible to require new ones because of tread wear and other conditions, including impact damage, punctures, improper inflation, overloading, etc. Additionally, you should replace worn-out tires even if they look brand new.

When it’s time to get replacement tires, you need to change all four at once. They need to be as identical as possible. If they don’t match, your car’s driving and handling may be affected. You may even lose control of your vehicle, leading to an accident.

If you need replacement tires, you can go to Reed-Lallier Chevrolet Service Center in Fayetteville, NC. You can schedule an appointment by calling us or visiting our website. You can also go to us for other car problems since we offer a full menu of car care services.