Have you ever wondered if the time has come to change your car tires? Tires are a fundamental component of any vehicle because they actively affect driving safety, performance and efficiency. It is well known that tires do not last forever; at a certain point, due to wear, they lose their ideal traction and braking capacity. If you want to know when it's time to start looking for a new set of tires for your car, this article contains several useful tips.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Examine the condition of the tires
Step 1. Check the tire wear recommendations in the country or area where you live
The main function of a tire tread is to expel as much water as possible that separates the rubber from the road surface when it rains, to ensure better grip and avoid the phenomenon known as "aquaplaning". When the tread depth is less than 1.6 mm, the tires are no longer able to guarantee optimal performance and, according to the laws in force in most countries of the world, they must necessarily be changed. Refer to the rules of the highway code in force in the country where you reside to know precisely what is the limit of wear of the tread beyond which it is necessary to change the tires of a car.
- Call or write an e-mail to the ACI or the ministry of transport for detailed information on the regulations in force in your country or visit their websites.
- In some states of the world it is considered legal to use a vehicle whose tires have a tread depth of less than 1.6mm.
- For example, in the United Kingdom the minimum depth that the tire tread must have on the central 3/4 of the entire circumference is 1.16 mm.
Step 2. Replace the tires on the car if the wear indicator on the tread has reached the same height as the tread
These are some small rubber blocks inserted inside the tread pattern: when the residual height of the latter has reached the wear indicators, at that point the tread pattern is no longer visible; this means that the residual tread depth has reached the legal limit of 1.6 mm and therefore the tires must be replaced immediately.
To find the tread wear indicators, look at the tire surface in its entirety, not just a specific section
Step 3. You can check the tread wear status quickly and easily using a 1 euro coin
Place it as a cut inside one of the center tread grooves. If you can see the stars on the outer edge of the coin, it means that the rubber needs to be changed. If not, it means that the tires are still valid and do not need to be replaced.
- If it is winter and your vehicle is equipped with snow tires, you will need to use a 2 euro coin. Insert it cut into one of the central grooves of the tread; if the silver edge of the coin remains visible, it means that the tread is less than the minimum limit of 1.6 mm and therefore the tires must be replaced.
- Remember that the tires do not wear evenly, so be sure to check several places on the tread, starting on the outside and moving inwards. Normally the tires tend to wear more on the inside, but in the case of tires inflated with excessive pressure the greater consumption will be in the central part.
- If you need to measure more accurately, use a depth gauge, also called a depth gauge.
Step 4. Use a depth gauge to take a more accurate measurement
Insert the tip of the measuring tool in the center of one of the grooves on the outside of the tread. Remove the gauge, being very careful not to touch the probe on the tip, then take note of the tread depth detected. Repeat the measurement in other points of the same tread groove, at a distance of at least 35 cm, then calculate the average of the values obtained. If the residual tread depth is less than 1.6mm, you will need to replace the car tires.
- Repeat the measurement on the other tread grooves, the outer and the inner, then calculate the average of these values as well.
- To calculate the average, divide the total sum of all measured values by the number of measurements taken.
- Before using the depth gauge, place the probe on a flat and hard surface, then make sure that the reading is zero after pushing the instrument all the way down.
- When taking the measurement, be sure not to place the tip of the depth gauge either on one of the wear indicators inside the tread grooves or on a raised or deformed spot on the tread.
Method 2 of 2: Look for Signs of Tire Damage
Step 1. Take the car to a tire shop if you notice that the tread has worn unevenly
This effect can be an indicator of incorrect wheel alignment, incorrect inflation pressure, the need to reverse tires, or a combination of these factors. In any case, regardless of the specific reason causing the problem, uneven tread wear indicates the need to take the car to a qualified tire dealer for a check-up.
- In the event of extremely uneven or rapid tread wear, have the suspension checked by a tire specialist before replacing the tires (and if necessary, have any required adjustments carried out). If the toe-in or wheel alignment is incorrect, or if the suspension needs to be changed, tire life could be dramatically reduced.
- Swap the tires on the front axle with those on the rear axle to prevent the tread from wearing out unevenly. Remove both front wheels, fit them in place of the rear ones and vice versa.
Step 2. Check for any abnormal bulges or bubbles along the shoulder or outer side of the tires
The shoulder of a tire is the part that joins the tread to the sidewall, while the latter is the outer surface of the tire that goes from the shoulder to the rim. The presence of bulges and bubbles in the indicated areas suggests that the inner carcass of the tire has been damaged, thus allowing the air pressure to reach the outermost and flexible layer. When a tire exhibits this type of damage it should be replaced immediately, regardless of the state of wear of the tread.
- This type of problem can be caused by hitting a deep hole, hitting the curb in a violent way, or driving the vehicle with too low tire pressure.
- If a tire has a bulge or bubble on its side, stop using the vehicle. It clearly indicates that the structural integrity of the tire has significantly reduced and, under these conditions, the chances of a sudden puncture or blowout increase when driving at high speed, for example on the motorway.
Step 3. Perform tire balancing if you experience abnormal steering wheel vibrations while driving
If the tread has worn unevenly, you may feel vibrations in the steering wheel as you drive the vehicle. If the vibrations start at a speed between 60 and 80 km / h and intensify with increasing speed, it means that you will most likely have to re-balance the tires. If this solution does not solve the problem, the tires are most likely damaged and should be replaced.
- If the tire tread is not damaged, but you are experiencing abnormal steering wheel vibrations while driving, try balancing the tires in addition to aligning and adjusting the shock absorbers.
- If the vibrations you feel behind the wheel occur in conjunction with obvious damage to the tires, such as a bubble on the outside or uneven tread wear, the optimal solution is most likely simply to buy a new set of tires.
- If you have noticed that the tread of the tires has worn unevenly only in some places (for example, there are areas where the tread is very worn interspersed with areas where the wear is normal), it means that most likely they have not been reversed in the correct way or timing.
Step 4. Check the condition of the tires by inspecting them carefully and replacing them if necessary
When you notice that the surface of the tires has small cracks over its entire extent, it means that the rubber has hardened due to time and is therefore starting to break. In this case, the rubber the tire tread is made of could peel off and separate from the inner wire mesh, causing damage to the car body or wheel arches. In some more severe cases, the rubber may begin to deteriorate even before the tread has begun to wear out. If so, consult an experienced tire dealer to find out if tires need to be replaced.
- Examine the car's tires for signs of deterioration or cracks before embarking on any journey and check your tire shop regularly.
- To prevent tire rubber from hardening and cracking, clean it carefully especially if you live in an area that is exposed to many hours of sunlight.
Step 5. Replace your car tires at least every 6 years
Check the side of the tires for a 4-digit number. Refers to the date of manufacture. Regardless of the country, most transport ministries require manufacturers to also put the date of manufacture on each tire. The first two numbers represent the week of the year in which the rubber was produced, while the last two refer to the year. For example the number 1208 indicates that the tire was produced in the twelfth week of the year 2008. If your car's tires are more than 6 years old, you should replace them.
- If you can't find this information, look for "DOT" followed by a series of letters and numbers. The number indicating the date of manufacture of the tire should be printed after the "DOT" code and should not contain any letters.
- Remember that even if the maximum life of tires is 10 years and must be calculated from the date of manufacture, they should never be used all this time.
- Always be cautious and alert if you suspect your car's tires are over six years of age.
- Remember to replace the tires when the wear of the tread exceeds the minimum limits imposed by the regulations in force, which in Italy is 1.6 mm.
Advice
- Check often that your tires are inflated to the right pressure.
- The age of a tire must be calculated from the moment it is built and not from the date of purchase, this means that the rubber will begin to deteriorate even while it is in stock.
- Check the wear of all four tires; if possible, change them at the same time. A vehicle equipped with tires at a different level of consumption cannot guarantee the same driving safety, the same type of performance and efficiency as one equipped with four identical tires.
- If you have a vehicle with all-wheel drive, try to replace the tires at the same time, unless otherwise noted in the vehicle's owner's and maintenance manual. A difference in tire diameter or even a difference in tread wear conditions can cause permanent damage to the vehicle's differentials.
- Some tires have an indicator called "tradewear" printed on the shoulder, the value of which gives an estimate of the possible life of the tread. The higher the value indicated, the longer the tire life should be.
- Remember that in countries where the climate is very hot, the normal life cycle of tires is reduced.
- To measure the tread wear, you can use either a 1 euro coin or a 2 euro coin.
Warnings
- If you can see the tire plies placed along the shoulder or side with the naked eye, it unequivocally means that you need to replace the tires on the car as soon as possible.
- The tires should never come into contact with the fender, wheel arch or any other part of the car's bodywork. If when you steer the new tires touch the fender or wheel arch, you have purchased a set of tires of the wrong size and need to fix the problem right away.
- Buy a type of tire that has the correct height and measurements based on the vehicle on which they will be mounted. When switching from normal tires to low-profile tires, you may need to purchase wider rims, so that the outer circumference of the wheel remains the same as before. Tires with an incorrect size or with a tread different from that indicated by the car manufacturer could activate the sensor that detects insufficient tire pressure if your vehicle is equipped with it.
- Be very careful when reversing tires, especially when moving them from rim to rim. Many modern tires are designed to have only one direction of rotation, so you have to take this into account when reversing them. For more information, refer to the tire manufacturer or dealer who sold you the car. Remember that some sports cars use rims of different sizes between the front and rear axles; in this case you will not be able to reverse the tires.
