Angie’s List: Tips and tricks for tire maintenance

You may have had a flat tire before, brought it into a repair shop to have it fixed and been told that it needed to be replaced. How can you know when your tires need to be replaced or simply repaired?

A flat tire isn’t always as obvious and dramatic as one might think. More often than not you’re driving down the road and feel a vibration in the steering wheel, or your vehicle starts to pull to one side. Both situations are often a sign of tire trouble.

The best way to maintain your tires is to do a periodic, just visual inspection of your tires. If you see cracks on the sidewalls, it may be time to get them replaced. If you see a bulge in the side of your tire, you definitely want to get it replaced because you’re likely going to have a blowout soon.

Your tires need to be replaced when they’re under 1/16th an inch of tread. And you don’t need any special equipment to check them.

Stick a penny upside down in the top of your tire, and if you can see the top of Abe Lincoln’s head, then your tire tread is way too low and you need to replace your tires.

If just one or two tires need to be replaced, you don’t need to buy a whole new set. The other tires still need to be somewhat new, however.

“If you have an all-wheel-drive vehicle, if you replace one tire, there can’t be more than 5/32 of tread difference between the other three. If so, it can create problems with the differential, the drive-line system,” said tire expert Chris Fox.

Just as making any other large purchase, make sure any new tires you buy really are new. Check the D.O.T. number on the sidewall. The last four digits indicate the week and the year that tire was made. While it’s common to see new tires that are actually six to twelve months old, don’t consider anything older than that.

It’s always best to replace all four tires at the same time if you can afford it, but Angie says it’s okay to patch a punctured tire as long as the hole is less than a quarter-inch wide and located on the crown of the tire, not near the edge or sidewall, if you’re unsure if you need a repair or replacement, it’s best to stay safe and check with a pro.

Background Links:

Angie’s List Tire Guide: https://www.angieslist.com/research/auto-tires/

How much do tires cost? https://www.angieslist.com/articles/how-much-do-tires-cost.htm

 

May 17, 2019 | Posted in