Every time you drive, your car’s tires take a beating. As they grip the road, the tread wears down and will wear away almost completely over time. The material also ages over the years, causing it to break down eventually. All of these factors combined make you need to replace your car’s shoes every five or six years.
1. Worn Down Tread
Keeping track of how much your tread has worn down is a must. You can do that using a tread depth gauge for an accurate measurement or a penny for a rough measurement. If the gauge shows you there’s 1/16 of an inch or less of tread, then it’s time to get to the dealerships and get your car some new shoes.
When using the penny, turn it upside down and place it into the tread. If you can see Abraham Lincoln’s entire head, then your tread is too shallow.
2. Lots of Miles
There’s no specific number of miles you have to drive before you need to replace the old rubber on your wheels. However, it’s typically wise to outfit your car with new shoes after driving 60,000 miles on your old ones. That way you’ll be replacing them before they start to deteriorate.
3. Visible Cracks
Although your tread is the part in contact with the ground, it’s not the only area that can wear down with time. The sidewalls can also become worn or damaged. If you see what looks like cuts or cracks in the side wall, then you better get to the dealer. Cracks can be a sign that there’s a blowout in your near future.
4. Bulges or Blisters
Bulges in your sidewall are another problem, and they’re typically a sign that your sidewall is getting weaker. Big or small, a bulge or blister is never good news. Like a real blister, the bulge on your sidewall can eventually pop, leading to a very dangerous situation if it happens while you’re driving.
5. Visible Tread Wear Indicator
When you inspect your tread, don’t just take a look to see how deep or shallow it is. Look out for flat rubber bars that are running perpendicularly to the direction of your tread. If you spot two or more of those, then it’s a sign your tread is too shallow. These bars are designed to be invisible when you have enough tread.
Need some new shoes for your car? Come by Bristol Honda in Bristol, TN so we can fit the best rubber on your car’s wheels today.
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