6 signs your car is in need of new tires
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Recognizing Signs That You Need New Tires for Your Car
Your car’s tires not only roll around to take you to places, but they also provide traction and absorb impact from the rough road to keep you safe while you drive. During the summer months, your car’s tires endure more strain than usual due to elevated temperatures, which can cause both the road and your vehicle to overheat. In extreme heat, rubber, the primary material of tires, weakens and deteriorates. Thus, it’s essential to regularly check your tires for wear and tear, especially during the hot summer months.
Signs You Need to Replace Your Tires
Here’s a simple guide to help you recognize the signs that you probably need to replace the tires on your car:
1. Monitor the Warning Lights on Your Dashboard
Your dashboard contains all the indicators necessary for safe driving. This includes a U-shaped indicator (for newer car models) that lights up when there’s a low tire pressure warning. A low tire pressure warning means that at least one of your car’s tires is deflating or losing air. Therefore, when you see the warning light, check your tires immediately to determine if you need to re-inflate them or have them inspected for more serious damage.
2. Check Your Tires’ Tread Pattern
Tires have treads that appear as patterned grooves and bumps on the tire’s rubber. These treads provide traction, which is crucial to prevent the tires from slipping or sliding on the road while driving. If the treads on your tires have become noticeably faded or smoothed over, it means that your tires are no longer providing adequate traction against the road’s pavement, increasing the risk of sliding car accidents if you continue driving on worn-out tires.
3. Check for Over Inflation
Over inflation occurs when tires are filled with too much air, causing them to become bulkier and rounder than intended. While it might seem beneficial, over-inflated tires can lead to more issues than under-inflated ones. Over inflation causes the treads along the centerline of the tires to wear more quickly than those along the sides. Additionally, over-inflated tires are more likely to blow out when hitting a pothole or steep bump, potentially resulting in life-threatening accidents.
4. Check for Under Inflation
Like over inflation, under inflation can also cause several problems. If your tires are under-inflated, they will exhibit poor traction and negatively affect your car’s gas mileage. Furthermore, under-inflation will cause the treads along the sides of your tires to wear more quickly as the sides become saggy when rolling on the road.
5. Check for Cracks Along Your Tires’ Surface
Cracks and holes indicate material deterioration, friction, impact damage, and potential leaking. Deep cracks can lead to blowouts and car accidents if not inspected and addressed promptly.
6. Check for Other Causes of Tire Problems
If you notice cracked tires, uneven tread wear, or feel unusual vibrations while driving, inspect for deeper issues such as tire misalignment, suspension damage, or spring damage.
Whenever you notice these signs of tire damage but are unsure of what to do, take your car to a mechanic for a thorough inspection. Have your tires replaced if needed, re-inflated if under-inflated, deflated if over-inflated, or realigned if misaligned. Whatever problem you encounter with your tires, there’s always a reasonable cause and a practical solution.
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