Every part of your car plays an essential role in getting you where you need to go. However, your tires are particularly important as the only element that actually comes into contact with the road. They endure all kinds of harsh road and weather conditions, so it’s only natural that they need to be replaced after a few years. Still, not everyone knows when they should change their tires (aside from obvious problems like a flat tire), so we have included some of the ways to tell when you need new tires below.
- The tread is worn and low. Tread is extremely important for your tires because it is what allows your tires to grip the road. When the tread isn’t deep enough, you lose traction and driving becomes more dangerous. You can check your tread depth by placing in upside-down penny between the ribs. If you see the top of Lincoln’s head, you know you need new tires.
- There are cracks or bulges in the sidewalls. Sidewall damage is usually easy to spot even if you don’t know much about cars. If you see cracks or bulges in the sides of your tires, these may be caused by excessive heat or wear and tear. In these cases, it’s important to get new tires to avoid a dangerous blowout.
- Your car is shaking while you drive. Some shaking is to be expected when you drive on bumpy, uneven roads, but if it seems like your car is always shaking, it is probably your tires that are at fault. You should get new tires sooner rather than later in this case.
- Your tires are old. If there are no glaring issues with your tires, you should still replace them when they are old. Most tires need to be replaced after about 6 years regardless of their tread depth.