Learning All About Auto Body Restoration

3 Signs That You Need New Tires

6 July 2015

Cody Wade

There are few things more important to your car's performance than its tires. If you're driving on bad tires, you could experience vibration in your car or even a tire blowout. If the roads are wet, your car may even be unsafe to operate. To prevent an accident or blowout, it's important that you change your tires before it's too late. If you're unsure of whether your tires need to be replaced, there are a few surefire ways you can tell. Here are a few tips on how to review the quality of your tires.

Check the tread. The tread helps your tires keep a good grip on the road and also protects the tires from road debris. Over time, the tread naturally wears down. Tread that is somewhat worn isn't necessarily a problem. However, when the tread is nearly gone, your tires could be unsafe.

One good way to check tread is to put an upside down penny in the tread grooves. If the top of Lincoln's head isn't visible over the tread groove, then you're probably okay. If you can see the top of his head, then the tread is substantially worn down and you may want to consider new tires.

Cracks and bulges in the side. When air pressure in a tire gets low, the tires tend to bulge out. That can lead to chips and even cracks. Bulges can also be a sign that there's a spot in the outside of the tire that has become weak. Those weak spots can be very vulnerable to blowouts. If you see a crack, blister, or sizable bulge on the side of your tire, that could be your last warning sign that a blowout is about to happen. You should get those tires checked out as soon as possible.

Your car is vibrating. Vibration in the car can be caused by internal problems inside one of the tires. There could be a tire that is losing air pressure, which is causing an imbalance between the four tires. Your car could also be vibrating because the wheels are out of alignment or because there's a suspension problem. While that may not be a tire-specific issue, alignment or suspension issues usually lead to tire problems. Chances are good that your tread has worn down or that the tires have become cracked because of the constant vibration. It would probably be wise to get them checked out as a precaution.

For more information, visit your local tire shop, such as Dack Auto Service. They can review your tires and let you know whether you need new ones.

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