You may be noticing your car isn’t running as smoothly as it used to, but what you may not know is what is causing the issues. If you suspect your tires are older and might be the root of the problem, here are eight signs that you need to replace the tires on your car.
1. Your Tires are Bald
An obvious indicator that you need new tires is that your current tires are bald. If your tires no longer have any tread, this is extremely dangerous for you and others on the road. Bald tires can fail in all conditions, even those that aren’t snowy or icy. Bald tires may not be able to brake properly, turn corners, and can affect overall driving.
2. You are Noticing Tread Wear
If your tires aren’t yet bald, but you are still noticing wear to the tread, this is also a sign that your tires should be replaced as soon as possible, especially if your wear bar is visible. Newer tire models come equipped with a wear bar in the tread of the tire. This is a perpendicular bar to the tread, and as your tires’ tread wears, the bar becomes more and more visible.
3. Your Tread-Life Warranty is Up
Tires often come with a tread-life warranty. If this warranty on your current tires is up, you might consider looking into purchasing new tires, even if the wear on your tread isn’t that bad. This warranty guarantees your tread to only last a certain number of miles or years, which is why it’s important to at least have your tires inspected or looked at after the warranty is up.
4. You’ve Been Driving with a Spare Tire
When you’re in a flat tire situation, it’s great to have a spare tire handy so that you can quickly swap it out. However, spare tires aren’t meant to be driven on for long and are bad for your car in the long run. Spare tires are only meant to be temporarily used until you purchase a new tire. If you’ve been using a spare tire for a while now, be sure to start looking into purchasing a new tire, because spares aren’t as durable and provide less traction.
5. Your Tires Have Air Leaks
Small air leaks in tires can be very common, but this doesn’t mean you shouldn’t take care of them when you notice them. If your tire’s pound-per-square-inch (PSI) dropped one inch within a week, this isn’t a sign you need to get your tires replaced. But if you notice a big difference overnight, then you probably shouldn’t be driving on that tire because it could pose some dangerous threats. If you regularly feel around your tires for their condition, then you will be able to tell if there are any changes in the amount of air they are holding. If you do feel changes to the shape of a tire, it’s best to have it replaced as soon as possible.
6. Your Car Shakes Often
When you’re driving on old dirt roads and badly paved roads, cars are going to shake. This is normal. However, if your car is shaking all of the time on any type of road, this is a sign that you need new tires. Shaking often comes from your tires being out of balance or their alignment isn’t right. Additionally, shaking can also point to problems with the interior of the tires, which means you should have them replaced as soon as possible.
7. Your Sidewalls Have Punctures or Cracks
If you notice any punctures or cracks in the sidewall of a tire, this is an obvious indicator that your tires aren’t in the best shape and can even be dangerous to you. If your sidewall does show wear and tear, it can prevent the tire from bearing pressure on uneven roads and conditions while driving, which can cause your car to be unbalanced. Be sure to replace your tires as soon as you notice any holes or cracks.
8. Your Tires Have Uneven Wear
Do your tires have uneven wear? This can be a great way to tell if you need tires because it often points to the fact that the pressure of your tire is off or that your tires have bad alignment. No matter what the condition is, if you’re noticing uneven wear, be sure to have your tires replaced. If you’re not sure how to keep an eye on this, one of the best ways is to have your tire pressure regularly checked.
If you’ve noticed any of the above signs or conditions in your tires, be sure to contact SG3 Towing to have your tires replaced as soon as possible. We have some of the best tire services in the area and are eager to help you get your car back to running in the best condition possible with new tires.
