How To Tell If You Need New Tires

Tires - they’re kind of like the feet of your car. If your car’s tires are in good shape, you car will… run… smoothly. If they’re not taken care of, you might have some problems. Regularly replacing your car’s tires is important to ensure safe driving, and there are a few warning signs to look out for to know when it is time to replace them. Be on the lookout for vibration, bulges, or cracks, and check the tread, and age of your tires for best performance.

1.      Vibration

Vibration is normal to feel while driving, however knowing the normal amount of vibration is important. Although there can be a number of reasons your car is vibrating, many times it can be fixed by new tires. Even if the problem is something else, (such as your struts or breaks) eventually it can lead to tire damage and then tire replacement.

2.      Bulges and Blisters

Regularly checking your tires for any bulges or blisters forming can prevent you from having a blowout while going down the road. If these bulges and blisters are ignored for too long, they can cause damage to your vehicle and injury to yourself and others. Remember to keep a close eye on weakening spots.

3.      Cracks

Cracks can be found on the sidewall of your tires. If you can easily see cracks, it is important to get them checked. This could indicate a leak or lead to tire failure. It is good to catch cracks early on to prevent any further issues.

4.      Tread

A tread wear indicator bar is found on most new tires. When the tires are new these should be practically invisible. If one or more of these bars begin to become visible, it means your tread is wearing down. If you don’t have a tread indicator bar on your tires (or don’t know if you do) stick with the ol’ penny trick.

5.      Age

It‘s recommended you replace your tires every six years. If you’re not sure of the age of your tires, it’s best to have them looked at to be safe. After all, better safe than stranded.

At Tenvoorde Ford, we are fully capable of checking your tires. We can determine if your car is suffering for regular wear-and-tear, if it’s time for new tires, or if your car is suffering from more serious issues.