How do I know If my Tires are bad? Tires have a shelf life, a useable tread wear life and can be damaged during use and need to be replaced. Tires and traction are important especially on the pot hole ridden and often wet streets of New Orleans. There are a few factors that we use to judge the health of a tire.
Here are some factors Tim’s considers when evaluating a tire:
1. Useable tread left on tire.
While legal limits of minimum tire tread vary state to state Tim’s chooses to use National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommendation. NHSTA recommends replacing tires when they reach a tread depth measurement of 4/32 of an inch. According to NHSTA and AAA studies vehicles with under 4/32 tread depth have increased stopping distances, an up to 33 percent reduction in handling. The Crew at Tim’s is here to keep you safe and will recommend replacing tires at 4/32 to help keep you in control on the uneven and often wet streets of New Orleans.
2. Low Tire Pressure.
If your tire regularly looses air pressure, or if we check it and the tire is low the tire Pros’ at Tim’s will check for a leak. While most punctures are repairable it must be within the approved limits to repair. The size of the puncture, location of the puncture, angle of the puncture, and number of punctures all determine if a tire is fixable. If a tire injury is not repairable we can help by replacing the tire!
3. Cracks, Bulges or Uneven Wear.
Many times a good visual inspection is all that is needed to determine a tires health. Deep cracks or cuts on the side wall or tread. Bulges or the appearance of a “bubble” in the side wall or tread. Areas that look like they have significantly less tread than others are all signs of tires that may need to be replaced.
4. Vibrations or Shakes While Driving.
If you feel a slow speed wobble or a high speed shake in your vehicle you may be experiencing a tire problem. While high speed wobbles can often be fixed with a re balance of the wheel it is important not to ignore changes in your vehicles ride. A change in the way your vehicle drives could be the first indication of a tire problem.
5. Age.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration supports the recommendation to change tires every six years. Old tires are more prone to failure. The bonds that hold the steel belts and tread of the tire to the carcass of the tire degrade over time. Your tires rubber is not as supple after 6 years. Old tires do not have the same traction as newer tires so your stopping distance and handling will be negatively affected. At Tim’s we check the age of every tire with every Digital Vehicle Inspection. We will keep you safe by recommending tires starting with a reminder when they reach 5 years old.
We are here to help keep the drivers of the New Orleans area in safe and reliable transportation. Tires are one of the main safety systems on your vehicle.
If you are having a tire problem or unsure of the condition of your tires, we can help!
Make a reservation today!
You may also be interested in: What kind of tires does my car need?
