Tire Care & Maintenance
Sometimes it’s pretty clear that you need new tires, such as when you experience a flat, but how do you tell before it reaches that potentially unsafe juncture? This past year the importance of tire care and maintenance jumped to the headlines after the California Highway Patrol finished their investigation in the accident that killed actor Paul Walker and documented that the age of the tires on his car may have been a factor in the accident. No matter what type of vehicle you drive you need to pay attention to your tires to make sure they are still in good condition.
Tips For Proper Tire Care
Check Your Tire Tread Depth
Ideally, the depth of your tire tread should never been less than 1/16 of an inch, anything less and your tires will not grip as well as needed. When driving on slippery roads you have a higher risk of losing control of the car if your tread is worn down.
There are special tools to measure your tread depth, which can be purchased from your local automotive store or online and many even combo as a tire gauge. In a pinch you can use a coin to check your tire tread depth. To do that take a penny and insert it into the tread with Lincoln’s head facing down. If you are able to see his entire head it is time to get new tires.
These days most tires have a wear indicator to help drivers tell when it’s time to replace the tires. Thin lines running perpendicular to the tread will appear as the tires get worn down. When you look at your tires if more than a few are visible it’s time to consider getting new tires.
Tire Age
Even if a set of tires don’t have a bunch of miles on them over time the rubber breaks down and will need to be replaced. The rubber will start to crack and over time this will cause the steel belts in the tread to separate or could cause a leak to happen. In worst case scenarios, this means the tire is close to blowing out.
Doing a visual inspection of the tires is the easiest way to check for this. Look for cracks or grooves on the side of the tire. If you see any, it’s time to get new tires.
Bumps on the Tire
This doesn’t happen as often, but sometimes the outer surface of the tire gets weak and the rubber starts to budge out. If this is happening to a tire, you need to immediately replace it since this is a huge indicator that the tire is close to blowing out.
Make Your Tires Last Longer
To help increase the life of your tires there are a few things you can do:
- Keep your tires aligned – Improperly balanced tires or misaligned car increase wear and tear.
- Avoid bumpy roads – Roads with a lot of potholes and in general disrepair will also wreak havoc on your tires
- Don’t be a lead foot – Accelerating quickly and hitting the breaks hard a lot also contribute to wear and tear on your tires.
- Keep your tires properly inflated – Under and over inflated tires wear quicker than those that are properly inflated
Frequently asked questions
How do I check my tire tread depth?
Tread depth should never drop below 1/16 of an inch. The quickest at-home check is the penny test: insert a penny into the tread groove with Lincoln's head pointing down. If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, the tread is dangerously low and the tire needs to be replaced. For more precise measurement, a tread depth gauge from any auto parts store costs only a few dollars. Most modern tires also have built-in wear indicator bars; if those bars are flush with the surrounding tread, replace the tire.
How often should tires be replaced based on age, not just wear?
Even tires with plenty of tread left can become unsafe as they age. Rubber compounds break down over time, leading to cracking, dry rot, and potential separation of the internal steel belts. Most tire manufacturers recommend replacement at six to ten years from the date of manufacture, regardless of mileage. You can find the manufacture date on the sidewall as a four-digit DOT code, where the digits represent the week and year. Aged tires are especially risky on vehicles that sit unused for long stretches.
What does a bulge on the side of a tire mean?
A visible bulge or bubble on the sidewall means the internal structure of the tire has been compromised, usually from hitting a pothole, curb, or piece of road debris hard enough to damage the internal cords. A bulged tire is at high risk of blowout and should be replaced immediately, not driven on. Top Driver instructors recommend doing a quick visual walk-around before long trips, since sidewall damage often shows up after a single rough impact and can fail without further warning.
How can I make my tires last longer?
Four habits extend tire life significantly. Keep tires properly inflated to the pressure listed on the driver's door jamb, not the maximum on the sidewall. Get an alignment when the car pulls or tires wear unevenly, and rotate tires every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Avoid potholes and rough roads where you can, since impact damage accelerates wear. Drive smoothly: hard acceleration, hard braking, and aggressive cornering scrub rubber off tires faster than gentle driving.
What are tire wear indicators and how do I use them?
Modern tires have built-in wear indicator bars, which are thin raised lines running perpendicular to the tread grooves. As the tread wears down, these indicators become more visible. When the wear bars are flush with the surrounding tread, the tire has reached 2/32 of an inch of tread remaining, which is the legal minimum in most states and the point at which traction drops sharply, especially in rain or snow. Check the wear indicators at the same time you check tire pressure each month.
How does proper tire inflation affect safety and wear?
Underinflated tires flex too much, build heat, and wear out the outer edges faster, while overinflated tires wear in the center and provide a smaller contact patch with less grip. Both conditions reduce fuel economy and increase the risk of a blowout. Check pressure monthly with a quality gauge, and always check when tires are cold, before driving. The correct pressure is on a sticker inside the driver's door jamb, not on the tire sidewall, which only lists the maximum pressure.
