Need New Tires? The 4 Signs You Need To Know

Few people really stop to think about how important tires are when it comes to the safety of your car. When you need to stop your car, you think, “press the brakes, and I’ll stop,” but the traction of tires also plays a huge role in your car safely stopping when it needs to. It’s all about physics, but we won’t get too much into that because we didn’t like physics either. 

Anyway, as much as we would love for this to be an appreciation post for tires, we do want to discuss the ways to keep your tires safe, and that means recognizing when you might need new ones. 

1. Check the Wear Bars: Sounds simple, right? Well, it might not be if you’re unsure what you’re looking for. Let us help. Wear bars are small raised bars that sit in the grooves of your tires. As your tires naturally wear, those bars will become even with your tread. When this happens, that’s when you should replace the tire. 

2. The Penny Test: So, this trick is super useful. Here’s how it works. All you do is get a penny and put it in the tread of your tire with Lincoln’s head down. If you can see the majority of Lincoln’s head, we’re sorry to say it might be time for some replacements. If it reaches his forehead, you still have time left. Repeat with all of your tires.

3. Age: Most vehicle manufacturers recommend tire replacements every six years. However, it might be prudent to pay attention to mileage versus age, depending on how often you drive. 

4. Cracks on the Sidewall: Damage can appear often on the sidewall. If you happen to notice any cuts, tracks, or cracks, plan on replacing your tires to avoid an unexpected flat tire. Those tend to ruin people’s day.