When to Change Tires

Tires are not designed to last forever. In time, they become damaged or worn out, and new tires will be inevitable. Tires could wear out sooner or later, depending on how you take care of them. Your driving habits and the place where you live will also be factors in the lifespan of your tires. If you have the habit of accelerating fast and braking hard, you may shorten the life of your tires. Also, if you consistently drive on rough, bumpy roads, you can be sure that your tires will not last very long.

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Your tires should be regularly inspected. Inspecting your tires at least once a month will ensure that you can immediately address any minor problems before they get serious. Your tires will need to be replaced when you notice the following:

• Tread wear bars – Tires generally have tread wear bars. They are hard rubber bands that become visible only when the tread depth goes beyond the safe driving limit, set at 1.6 mm. When the tread wear bars become visible, it means that driving your car will no longer be safe. Your car will have less traction and become harder to control.
• Uneven wear patterns – Your tires will wear evenly if they are properly aligned. Misalignment of tires will result in lopsided use, which will compromise the integrity of the tire. When tires do not wear evenly, certain parts of the tires become weaker than others, making them more prone to blowouts
• Bulges or blisters on the sidewall – Bulges or blisters on the sidewall of the tires indicate that their integrity is compromised. The part where the bulge or blister is located is significantly weak and could lead to failure at any time.
• Flat tire due to a blow out – A blown out tire cannot be repaired anymore. There is no way you can restore the tire’s integrity to the original level after a blow out. The only remedy in this situation is tire replacement.
• Lacerations or significant damage – Lacerations on the tires cannot be fixed. Replacement is inevitable
• Large tread punctures – Sidewall or tread punctures larger than 0.64 mm are beyond repair.

Tires are an investment. If you take good care of them, they’ll take good care of you. Watch them closely to see when they’re ready for replacement. Driving on compromised tires could jeopardize the safety of your car and its passengers.