Is It Time for New Tires in Athens County, OH?

These days, tires are built better than they ever were in the past. They’re made of better materials and can run for much longer without needing to be replaced. However, that doesn’t mean they’ll last forever. It’s vital to your car’s overall health and the safety of you and your passengers to get your tires changed when necessary.

Unfortunately, it seems like there are plenty of folks out on the road who don’t know when it’s time for a replacement. Here are a few things you can check to determine whether it’s time for new tires in Athens County, OH:

• Replace them when the manufacturer recommends: Before even stepping out of your car to examine your tires, know that car manufacturers recommend getting new tires every six years. Tire manufacturers like Firestone and Goodyear say you can probably wait 10 years before buying a new set. Of course, this depends on how much you drive. If you have a relatively long daily commute, you may need to replace them before your car manufacturer says so. Check with your dealership to see how often you need your tires replaced.
• Check the tread: The tread on your tires is responsible for keeping the rest of the tire free from dirt and water, thus helping to ensure your car stays on the road. If your tread becomes worn down, you’re running a higher chance of slipping and sliding while driving. According to tire manufacturers, your tires are unsafe if the tread is less than 1/16 of an inch. That’s obviously a little hard to determine just by looking at your tire. Luckily, we have the penny test. Take a penny and place Honest Abe’s head into the tread. If you can still see the top of President Lincoln’s head, you’re in trouble and you need to have your tires replaced ASAP.
• Check the sidewall: This inspection is even easier than the penny test. If you take a look at the sidewall of the tire and notice any weird bulges or bubbles, you need some new tires. A bulge in the sidewall means that air pressure has pressed through the thick inner wall of the tire and has made its way out to the thinner outer wall. Tire bulges like this can cause blowouts when traveling at high speeds. While checking the sidewall, see if you notice any cracks. A crack in the sidewall is just letting out air and will cause your tires to slowly deflate.
• Check the tire pressure: Speaking of slow deflation, check your tire pressure every so often to make sure you don’t have any leaks. Tires tend to lose air at one pound per square inch (PSI) per month—in other words, don’t worry too much if your tire is deflating at roughly that rate.
• Pay attention to any vibration: If you notice vibration in the steering wheel while driving along, it could mean your tires are wearing unevenly. If this is the case, bring your car to us for new tires in Athens County, OH. Regardless of tire status, you clearly have some kind of problem if your ride isn’t smooth.

If you notice any irregularities while performing these tests, bring your car to Dana’s Tire Center for a brand new set of tires. We carry all of the top brands in the industry, so you can rest assured you’re buying a high quality product when you shop at our store. We look forward to seeing you soon!

Categorised in: Tires

This post was written by Writer