When do you know it’s time to change your car tires?

Tires are one of the most important parts of your car because your car literally runs on them. Just like you require a good pair of shoes to look and feel your best, your car too needs a good set of tires to perform at its best.

A bad set of tires not only makes your car look bad, but it can be detrimental to its performance and can even put your life at risk. But how do you tell your car needs a new set of tires? Although there’s no exact way to tell how long a tire would last because a tire’s lifespan depends on a combination of factors. However, there are a few indicators that can help you tell when it’s time your car needs some brand-new set of shoes. Keep reading this blog from Auffenberg Chrysler of Herrin in Herrin, IL to find out when is the right time to change your car tires.

Change tires after five years of use

A good rule of thumb that is recommended by most tire companies and followed by responsible drivers in the region is to change car tires after they’ve been in use for five years or more. During this course of time, you can visually inspect the tires regularly to see if the tire treads are visible or have a professional inspect them thoroughly.

What should you be looking out for when you inspect your tires?

  • Uneven tread wear
  • Shallow treads
  • Rocks between treads, nails in tires etc.
  • Cracks between treads
  • Sidewall cuts or cracks and damage due to impact
  • Damaged valve caps

Ten years maximum, no matter what

Even if the tires may look good to go, and no matter how carefully or how less you’ve driven your car, it’s always a good idea to get your car tires replaced after a maximum of ten years from their date of manufacture. Tire rubber is a natural compound and becomes hard and brittle over time this can cause the tires to disintegrate or develop cracks.

How do you know when your tires were manufactured?

Well, most tires come with a DOT number or a date of manufacture mentioned on their sidewall.

Accidents and wheel allignment

You should also immediately change a car’s tires if your car has met with an accident or hit something with an impact, and you notice a change in its handling. If you hear or feel any noise or vibrations coming from the wheels, it can be due to badly aligned wheels. If your car’s wheels aren’t aligned, the car tends to pull to the left or right when driving on a straight road. Prolonged usage without alignment can cause uneven wear on tires. The tires could also be rubbing against something which can cause noise and vibrations.

Replace your tire when you notice these in your tires

  • Tire treads worn beyond recommended depth levels
  • Cuts or cracks on sidewalls
  • Any hole in the tire bigger than 6mm in diameter
  • A nail in the tread
  • Damaged or deformed bead, or the edge of the tire that sits on the wheel
  • You should also consider changing your tires if you’ve been using different tire types or tires from different brands on your vehicle.

Schedule Tire Change in Herrin, IL at Auffenberg Chrysler of Herrin

If you want to learn more such tips and tricks about maintaining your car, keep reading our blog posts and if you’re looking to change your car tires in Herrin, IL, and surrounding areas, then schedule service at Auffenberg Chrysler of Herrin. You can also find new and pre-owned cars with a great set of tires with us.