WHY REPLACE MY TIRE?

Most car owners know that tires don’t last forever, and that driving on old tires can be unsafe. When you have a flat or ripped tire you know that your tire needs to be replaced but it’s not always that black and white. There are several other indications that mean you should replace your tires for optimal safety and drivability, including:

• Damage
• Tread wear
• Performance issues
• Age
• Seasonal needs

Damage

Some tire damage is obvious, because it causes the tire to go flat; if a tire shop tells you it can’t be repaired safely, you’ll need to replace it. But some tire damage doesn’t cause a flat, yet does mean you should replace the tire. A visible “bubble” in the tire, usually in the sidewall but occasionally in the tread area, means the tire has sustained serious internal damage; it is not safe to drive on and must be replaced.

Performance

The sort of “performance” that means a tire needs replacement is one of two different problems: the tire needs air at least once a week, or there is a vibration in the ride or the steering wheel (or there is a humming or buzzing noise coming from the tire). Vibration in the ride or the steering wheel can be caused by worn tires, but the more common reason is wheel balance. For example, a balance weight may have fallen off. A hum, buzz, or whine that seems to be coming from your tires also may indicate a balance issue.

Tread Wear

Tires should be replaced when their tread is too worn, but how worn is too worn? The answer is twofold: first, if the wear is dramatically uneven, you’ll probably need to replace the tire but, just as importantly, you’ll want to get the wheels aligned at the same time because poor alignment is the cause of most uneven wear, and you’ll want to keep from having the same problem with your new tire.