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When Should I Replace My Tires?

Timely tire replacement is very important. Tires are the very mechanism that attaches your automobile to the road and you want them in the best condition. Worn out tires can result in reduced stopping and handling capacity, and in extreme instances can result in a car crash. Establishing when you need to change your tires really comes down to four significant variables:

  • Tire Tread Depth
  • Meteorologic Conditions
  • Age of Tires
  • The Specific Car You Drive

Tire Tread Depth

Many states have regulations stating that if the tread on your tires gets less than 2/32 of an inch, it needs to be changed. Tire tread gauges can be acquired for just a few bucks, yet even without one you can figure out a good estimation of your tread depth and all you need is a penny. Turn the penny so Honest Abe’s head is aiming down and place the penny right into your tire tread. If his head is covered by the tread, your tires are generally still usable. If you can see his whole head, it’s time to change them. There is a caveat, even if you have greater than 2/32 of tread-depth you could still need to change them.

simple ways to check tire tread depth | Porsche of Milwaukee North

Weather

You’ve done the tread depth test and you have greater than 2/32 tread depth left, so you are good, right? Well … maybe. Depending upon where you live you may need to change your tires long before they get down to 2/32 tread depth. If you live in an exceptionally rainy/snowy location (like the PNW), you require extra tread depth to safely traverse wet roadways. Damaged tires enhance the danger of hydroplaning, so make certain to inspect your tires regularly. Climates with severe cold or extreme warmth will also negatively affect your tires. If you live in these environments, examine your tires regularly and if you have any concerns come see us for a professional diagnosis.

Life of Your Tires

How often should you get new tires? This variable could be the hardest one to deal with since it can seem like you are discarding good tires. It’s real, you can have tires with plenty of tread depth remaining however could still be required to replace them. Tires will certainly deteriorate gradually and become more vulnerable to devastating failure which could cause an accident. It is advised that tires that are five years old must be properly examined annually. If the tire is greater than ten years old, it must be replaced despite the condition. Your vintage car may have extremely low miles since you just drive it on the weekends, however, it still might need brand-new tires. The good news is, there is an easy means to check the age of your tires. There is a four digit number stamped right into each tire that gives the week and year it was made. Our example image reveals that the tire was made in the 44th week of ’16, so it’s roughly halfway through its advised life expectancy.

where is the manufacturing date on a tire? | Porsche of Milwaukee North

The Specific Car You Drive

It could seem crazy, but what kind of vehicle you drive might mean the difference in changing 1 tire vs. replacing all 4. Let’s say you have a bald tire, and you’ve discovered the specific brand-new tire to change it. If the tires on your car, truck, or SUV are new, you can probably escape replacing simply one tire. However, if your tires are significantly older than the new tire will be a various dimension than the remainder of the tires. This is an issue because the smaller tires now need to work harder to complete the exact same distance as the larger tire. Mismatched tires can cause additional wear on parts, specifically on All-Wheel Drive automobiles. If there is a tire on one axle spinning faster than the others, your automobile’s computer might think those tires are slipping and might reduce power inaccurately. This could deceive your car into thinking it’s in unsafe mode and keep it in a mode not meant for full-time driving.

Does the Dealership Replace Car Tires?

Your dealership will have certain guidelines on the optimum tread depth difference for the front and rear tires. While it may be a drag to acquire four brand-new tires it will be more affordable than replacing a transmission.

How Often Should I Replace My Car Tires? | Porsche of Milwaukee North

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