8 Signs You Might Need To Change Your Vehicle’s Tires

Tires are possibly the first thing out of all car parts that need changing. Of course, the time that your tires last highly depends on your driving habits, but a tire change remains inevitable even if you aren’t a harsh driver.

Most tire companies agree that you should change a 6-year-old tire. Luxury tire companies like Michelin or Continental have a 10-year tread warranty with around 40,000 miles on their tires, but if your tires have passed the 6-year mark, you should start looking for the following signs:

1. Low Tread Depth

You may have wondered, at what point will a tire be considered worn? How much wear is too much wear? Is it time to get my tires changed?

The lines and grooves of a tire are called its tread. Tread helps the tire to have friction with the road. If the tread wears down, the tire will slip and slide. This increases the risk of accidents. 

A handy way to check tread wear is the penny method. You take a penny and hold it inside the groove of a tire. If you can’t see the head on the penny, your tires are still in good shape, but if you can see part of it, your tires have worn down, which is a sign you probably need new ones. 

Too much wear is indicated by being able to see a significant part of the penny and also that you need a tire change. 

1. Your Tires Appear to Be Cracked 

If your tire’s exterior appears to be breaking, this is an alarming situation and means you need to change it. 

Cracked tires result from direct damage that may be caused by hitting curbs, potholes, etc. A cracked tire could be a warning of a blowout waiting to happen. 

In addition, if a tire steadily leaks after a puncture, it will appear cracked and might even slump to one side. Again, this is an obvious sign you need new tires. 

1. Tire Wear Is Evident

There are three types of uneven tire wear; one is down the middle, which is a sign that your tires have been over-inflated. If the tire is worn out from one side, it may be misaligned. Lastly, tire wear towards the sides is a marker they have been under-inflated. 

Uneven tire wear will pose several safety risks while consuming more fuel. So, if you see uneven tire wear, as mentioned above, you need new tires. 

1. Your Tire Appears To Have a Bulge

Sometimes a tire bulges, like a balloon from one side. This can be because of direct damage to the tire from hitting a pothole or a curb. If you keep driving with a bulge in your tire, it will eventually burst. A tire bulge is a sign you need your tire immediately changed.

1. Indicator Bars Are Showing

Indicator bars are small squares in the grooves of your tire which appear after a significant amount of tread wear, and they are mostly made of vibrant color, so they’re pretty hard to miss. 

If indicator bars start showing, this is a clear sign your shows to tell you that your tires have worn down and need changing. 

1. Warning Light 

There is a tire warning light that shows up on your dash screen. It is a “U” with an exclamation mark in the middle. This light means that the air pressure in one of your tires is less than the manufacturer’s recommendation. 

Low air pressure is normal, but if it starts to happen often or the tire warning light consistently stays on, it’s time to get your tires checked. 

If tires on your vehicle consistently lose air pressure, this could point towards a bigger problem; you might have a puncture and need an immediate tire change. 

1. Your Tires Are Old

The tire sidewall has a date stamp. This date stamp indicates the manufacturing date of the tire. The first two digits, a combination of letters and numbers, are the plant code for where the tire was manufactured, and the last four numbers represent the manufacturing date. 

The first two numbers represent the manufacturing week, and the last two represent the year. So, for example, 0319 means the tire was manufactured in the 3rd week of 2019.

Once you know how old your tires are, you can easily determine if you need to change them. Most tire companies recommend changing tires every 5 to 6 years; however, if your tires are nearing the ten-year mark, you might need new tires. 

1. Tire Vibration 

Tire vibration is unnecessary and excessive shaking of the tires while driving. This could be because of several reasons. Improper wheel and tire balance, uneven tire wear, cracked tread, out-of-round tires, damaged wheels, and even loose lug nuts can cause tire vibration. 

You will also feel your steering wheel vibrating if your tires are out of balance or vibrating. Misaligned or out-of-balance tires wear unevenly over time and require changing, as driving with them is a safety hazard. 

If you’re experiencing this, you must get your tires checked out as soon as possible. 

Conclusion

The state and quality of your tires are directly related to your safety. So, it is vital to maintain and service your car’s tires frequently. If you notice any of the signs mentioned above on the tires of your vehicle, bring your car on over to Auffenberg of Carbondale, we are conveniently located at 1015 E WALNUT ST., CARBONDALE, IL. 

Our certified tire service experts will help you find the right tires, and guide you through everything tire related for your GMC or Buick, so schedule service now!