How do i know when i need new Tires
Replacing your car tires is a necessary evil in these rough economic times! The good news is that car tires are manufactured to last much longer than they used to, in fact some tires can get over fifty thousand miles of use before they must be discarded. But the question is, how does one know when that time is?
The easiest way to know when it's time to get rid of your tires is by looking at the tread. Manufacturers embed a strip right into the tire, and when that shows up right across the tread you know you're getting close to the end of that tire's life. You'll see these little rubber bumps that will show up when the tread wears down. That's one easy sign but there's another way as well. The old rule of thumb is to take a penny and insert it into the grove between the treads. If you can see all of Lincoln's head, then bye bye tire! The tread is so worn down that the tire is now turning into a slick, and you don't want that when you're driving in the rain!
Some other ways to know when the tire has run it's course is to look at the construction of the tire itself. If you see what is called "dry rot", which is the tire actually decomposing, then that is another sign that the tire has lived it's useful life. Dry rot usually happens with old tires, or tires that have suffered some sort of chemical reaction with the environment and it will hamper the safety of the tire. The dry rot usually occurs near the rim, and not on the tread itself because the tread is getting all the wear. So what happens is that the tire will start leaking air, and if you find you are constantly putting air into the tire, then dry rot could be the problem. Of course, you may also have some sort of leak in the tire itself, and a plug could fix that problem. But if you're leaking air as well as having hardly any tread left, it's definitely time to replace the tire!
Another sign that it's time to replace your tires is if you are having handling problems with your car. Even though there may be plenty of tread, there could be other issues going on with your tires. Some causes of handling problems are broken steel belts in the tires themselves. If you rub your hands along the surface of the tire and feel a rise or a large bump, you could have a broken belt. Even though there may be plenty of tread on the tire, it's time to get rid of that tire! The problem will only get worse, and it's a big safety concern to have a broken belt, so do yourself a favor and replace that tire before something serious happens!
Many people forget to check the air in their tires! Low air can cause excessive tire wear, and will cause handling problems as well. Not only that, but your gas mileage will suffer! The opposite is true as well-too much air in the tire could cause it to explode! Just follow the recommended amount of air by looking at the numbers on the tire itself. It will have printed on it something like 32psi for instance. That is the amount of air that should be pumped in, no more or no less. Some people pump a few more pounds in to get better gas mileage, but for all intents and purposes it is wise to follow the manufacturer's guidelines.
