Ever wonder when to replace your worn car tires? The
performance of your car tires is critical to the safety,
performance and efficiency of your vehicle; the NHTSA
estimates that about 400 fatalities annually may have been
attributed to tire failures.[1] Most tires are designed to
provide similar performance throughout their lives. However,
at some point they start to lose performance in terms of
their traction and braking ability. Here are a few tips that
should help you decide if it is time to start shopping for a
new set of tires and avoid spending more than you need to.
!! Steps !!
* Understand the purpose of tread on a tire. Tire tread provides the
gripping action and traction needed to prevent your vehicle from
slipping or sliding, especially on icy or wet roads. Tires become
unsafe when they're worn, and once the tread is down to 1/16th of
an inch, the tire is no longer safe.
The wear bars are the vertical bars between the treads in this photo.
Look at the tread pattern. All tires sold in the United States and
other countries have what are called "tread wear bars". These are
small bridges that form between your treads. Look at the tread
pattern and you'll see the beginnings of these bars start to form
between the treads, or running across the tires. As the tires wear,
these bars will become flush (level or even) with the tire's tread.
At this point, it's time to replace the tires. Abe's
hair, showing clearly. Check the tread by using the "penny test."
Take a penny, and place it upside down with Lincoln facing you in the
center of the tread (at the thickest part of the tire).
* If you can see the very top of Lincoln's head or the copper above
it, replace the tires immediately.
* If Lincoln's hair on the top of his head is partially visible, it
is time to go shopping for tires.
* If you cannot see the hair on the top of his head (if the
coin is inserted enough that the tire tread is at least as deep as
Lincoln's forehead), your tires do not need replacing yet.
Use a tread depth indicator or gauge. Obviously, not everyone can
get hold of an Abraham Lincoln penny. Either use the tread pattern
test, or resort to using a special tread depth indicator or gauge
tool to measure your tire's tread. If you don't already own one,
the gauge is cheap to purchase from an auto parts dealer and it's
easy to use.
* Alternatively, it might be easier to pop in to your regular tire
place and ask them to check it for you; likely they'll do this for
free if you're regular customer.
* Know the legal requirements. Worn tires should be replaced as a
matter of common sense to assure safety, but in some
jurisdictions, there are also legal requirements to replace worn
tires. In many US States, tires are considered to be legally worn
out when they have worn down to 2/32'' of their remaining tread
depth.[2] In the UK, the minimum depth of the tread on tires
(tyres) is 1.6 millimetres, across the central ¾ of the tread
around the whole tire (tyre).[3]
Make note of any irregular tread wear. This could indicate a wheel
misalignment, the need for a tire rotation, or both. Uneven tread
wear is a sign that you need to take your car in for servicing.
* If uneven tire wear is extreme or if tires wear out much faster
than expected, have a competent tire workshop check your
suspension and correct as necessary before replacing tires.
Improper alignment or worn suspension parts can dramatically
shorten a tire's life.
* It is a good idea to rotate your tires from front to rear in
pairs. Take both front tires and move them to the rear and vice
versa.
* Replace the tires at least every 6 years. If you're not sure, the
minimum replacement time that is recommended by the NHTSA is six
years regardless of use, with 10 years being the maximum service
life for tires. Check your owner's manual for specific
recommendations related to your car. And always err on the side of
caution if you suspect your vehicle has tires that are over six
years of age.[4]
!! Video !!
!! Tips !!
* On 4-wheel-drive or all-wheel-drive cars you should replace all
four tires if it is recommended in your service manual.
Differences in tire diameter can permanently damage differentials.
* If you see uneven wear on a front tire, chances are that the front
end is out of alignment. You should have this checked and rotate
the tires to the rear if possible (some vehicles have different
sizes on front than the rear). The tires from the back should be
fine and the uneven tires moved to the rear will start to correct
themselves.
* Tires do not wear perfectly evenly, so be sure to insert the coin
at several points from the outside to the inside of your tires.
Tires generally wear more on the inside but over-inflated tires
will wear more in the middle.
* Test all of your tires and if possible, replace them all at the
same time. Mismatched tires will not provide the same safety,
performance and efficiency as a matched pair will.
* Keep your tires properly inflated.
* Treadwear grades are an indication of a tire's relative wear rate.
The higher the treadwear number is, the longer it should take for
the tread to wear down.
* Tire age is dated from the date of manufacture, not sale, as tires
deteriorate even in storage.
* Tires age faster in warmer climates.[5]
* A quarter can be substituted for a penny; just use Washington's
head as the point instead of Lincoln's.
!! Warnings !!
* Be careful to buy tires that are the right size and type for your
vehicle and rims (wheels). Changing to low-profile tires may
require you to buy larger rims so that the outer circumference of
the tire remains unchanged. Incorrect tire size or mismatched
tread can also cause a low tire pressure warning to come on if the
vehicle is equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
* Tires should never rub against your fenders or any other part of
your car. If your new tires rub during turns or when going over
bumps, they don't fit, no matter how cool they look. Fix this
before you suffer a blowout and crash.
* Be careful when rotating tires, and especially when moving tires
to different rims. Many modern tires have a specific rotational
direction and corresponding rotation method. Refer to your tire
manufacturer or dealer for details.
* If you happen to see wires on your tread or notice wear on the
sidewalls of the tire, don't even bother with the penny – just
get the tire replaced. The wire thing is rare, and even if Abe
says the tread is still good, the wires indicate an immediate need
for replacement. It happens and it's better to replace the tire
than get the blowout as you're speeding along the road.
* Hydroplaning is an increased possibility with bare tires.
!! Things You'll Need !!
* Penny
* Tread depth indicator
!! Related WikiHows !!
* How to Get a Good Deal on Tires
* How to Change a Tire
* How to Fill Air in a Car's Tires
* How to Understand the Basics of Car Maintenance
* How to Change the Oil in Your Car
!! Sources And Citations !!
* Safer Car.gov, Tire tread,
http://www.safercar.gov/Vehicle+Shoppers/Tires/Tires+Rating/Tire+Tread
– US government public domain information
!! Article Tools !!
* Read on wikiHow
*
0 comments:
Post a Comment