Tires are one of the essential parts of our vehicle. Everyone dreads having to purchase new ones. We like to forget about them and hope that they don’t have any problems. Tires need the same amount of attention that we give to all the other areas of our cars. Our tires need to be checked monthly, to make sure we are ready for anything.
Tire Tread
Tire treads are the little ridges that you see on your tires. They are not supposed to be flat. They should have a depth to them and ribs along with them. If you do not see these on your tires, that is a problem and you should get new ones. Not all tires are the same when it comes to the depth of the tire tread. The average is about 10/32” – 11/32”, but there are some that will exceed that.
The Penny Test
There are tools that you can use to check the tire tread depth. If you don’t have one of those handy, you can still measure it yourself as long as you have a penny. The Penny Test is what it is called. Take the penny and turn it, so Lincoln’s head is facing down. Place the penny in one of the valleys, the space between the raised ribs. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, you should be headed to the tire shop to get new tires. If you can see over 3/4 of Lincoln’s head, then you should have it on your radar that you need to be getting new tires soon.
The Danger of Bald Tires
A bald tire is a term used for tires that have been worn down so far that the ridges have disappeared. You want to prevent this by checking the tread on our tires monthly. It can be dangerous to let your tires get worn down this far. Champtires mentioned that you could lose traction on the road. Without the treads, your tires will not be able to grip the road. This can cause you not to be able to stop quickly or stay on the road and this is even more dangerous if weather is bad, making the roads slick and icy. It can also make it harder for the tires to maintain its air pressure. Tires with low pressure are more likely to have sudden blowouts.
Buy the Best
Everyone wants to get out of the tire shop as cheaply as possible. Cheap may not be the best option. Direct Line gives us a little behind the scenes of why we should spend a bit more. One thing that makes tires more expense is the materials that are used to make them. Tires made with better quality materials have better tread patterns that not only last us longer, but they will keep us safer! Check your tires monthly to ensure you are safe. No one likes spending money on tires, but you may want to ask about more than just the price next time you are tire shop
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