The tires on your car, truck, or SUV play a critical role in your vehicle and every vehicle on the road around you. The tire's job includes keeping your car safely in contact with the road surface, and they contribute to the ride and handling of the vehicle. New tires are an essential purchase, but knowing when to purchase new tires and what to buy can be confusing, but it is not as challenging as it may seem. 

Tread Depth

The most significant indication that the tires on your car or truck require replacement is the tread depth on the center of the tire. Most manufacturers recommend that the new tires are installed when the tread depth on the old tires reaches 2/32nds of an inch or less. Most passenger vehicle tires start with 10/32" tread on them, and it can take a long time to wear down to replacement depths on cars that are only used around town or sit a long time, but monitoring the depth is pretty easy if you know what you are looking for. 

If you suspect the tread is wearing thin on your tires, there are wear indicators molded into the tire's surface in the grooves of the tread that can help determine wear. You can also purchase a tread depth gauge at most auto parts stores that are very simple to use. 

If you don't have any of these things to reference, pull a US penny out of your pocket and place it in the tire's groove with Lincoln's head pointing down. If the tread does not touch the top of his head, the tires need replacing. It is a simple trick but is accurate for general purposes, and most people have a penny available. 

Tire Damage

Any tire damage on the tread or sidewall of the tires is also critical to the performance and safety of the tires, so it needs to be addressed right away. Tire shops can not fix most sidewall damage, so a cut, puncture, or other damage to that part of the tire often means replacing it with new tires. 

If the damage is in the tread, the tire repair shop may be able to put a plug in to stop a leak, but if the hole is large or there is a significant cut in the tread, new tires may be the best option to ensure the vehicle is safe to drive. 

Choosing New Tires

If the shop determines you need new tires on your car or truck, one option is to replace the tires with the stock-size tires that the manufacturer recommends. There are specifications for the tire sizes and ratings in the owner's manual of your vehicle, and the tire shop can look the information up to ensure you get the right tires if you don't have the owner's manual.

Share