5 Warning Signs You Need New Tires

The road is full of unforeseen dangers, don’t let your car be one.

Much like shoes on our feet, tires on our cars provide us with traction and protection from outside elements. Knowing the signs that you need new tires can save you and your family time, money, and keep them safe.

These are the 5 warning signs you need new tires.

1. A Penny for Luck

Your car’s tire treads are the grooves or pattern that is located on the outside of your tire, the part that actually comes in contact with the road. The car’s tread provides friction for your vehicle. A car tire’s tread depth should not be any lower than 1/16 of an inch.

A single penny can help you figure out if your tire’s tread is past or rapidly approaching its best by date. Insert the head’s side of a penny into your tread. If you can see President Lincoln’s head you should take your car into a mechanic or tire shop.

2. Signs You Need New Tires Can Be Felt

Is your car vibrating, even on the smoothest road? A rough drive is a physical sign, one in which you feel, that it’s time to swap out your tires. 

If your answer to the question above is yes, then you may want to head to your local mechanic for a diagnostics test. A shakey drive can mean a slew of issues from alignment issues, shock absorbers needing replacing or, issues with your tire’s inner workings.

3. Cracks Away

If you see any cracks on your car tires, you need new tires. 

Not noticing or ignoring cracks on the tires of your car can lead to bigger issues down the road. One potential consequence of not treating cracks is risking a blowout. That is a scary experience that will cost you more than just a wheel replacement. 

4. Uneven Wear

Just like our shoes get uneven wear, so do our tires. Treadwear indicators are grooves or bars the run across your tire’s tread. Wear is subtle enough that it will only be noticeable when it’s time to change your tires. 

You notice some tread wear indicators in certain spots of the tree and not others, take your car in to be service. This uneven wear can make for a dangerous ride.

5. The Lights On

Signs that you need new car tires are not always so blatant, but this one is. If your tire light is a permanent fixture on your dashboard, or it makes regular appearances, having a professional look at it is a good idea.

Having your tire light come on can be an indicator of issues that won’t be resolved just by adding air to your tires. Discover more helpful information at your local GMC dealership.

Drive Safe

Your safety and that of your family matters. With dangerous road conditions happening due to ice or rain, minimizing any potential hazards should be your number one priority. 

You can feel and see the physical signs of tire wear. You just have to know what to look for. Some of the indications that you need new tires are very subtle nuances that require a trained eye, one that you now have. 

Interested in learning more about car maintenance? Check out our other articles on car and auto.