Tire health is one of the most important aspects of car safety, but for many people it can be difficult to know exactly when to get your tires changed. Below we’ve listed out a few ways to tell when you need to buy a new set of tires.
- You’ve failed the “penny test.” The famous “penny test” is one of the simplest and easiest ways to determine if your tire tread has worn below recommended safety levels. All you need to do is place the penny (with Lincoln upside down, facing you) in the center of your tire’s tread at the thickest part. Then look to see if you can see the top of Lincoln’s head. If you can, you need new tires.
- Your “wear bars” are even with the tread. All U.S. tires have “tread wear bars” that will start to form between your tire’s tread once it starts to wear down. Once these bars become even with your tire’s tread, it’s time for a replacement.
- You see bubbles in the sidewall. Bulges or bubbles in your tire’s sidewall can indicate a serious problem, threatening the integrity of the tire’s make up, which greatly increases your chances of a blowout at high speeds. Replace immediately, regardless of tread depth.
- You see small cracks in the tire. Small cracks in your tires could indicate tire rot, which is a breakdown of the tire’s rubber. Again, this can lead to serious blowout or a complete separation of the rubber from the rest of tire. Replace immediately.
- Rebalancing doesn’t stop road vibrations. Most road vibrations are due to out-of-whack wheel alignment. If you go in for an alignment but your car still shakes, it’s probably a tire issue that needs to be resolved.
