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How long do tires last?
Usually, tires are not at the forefront of thoughts in what parts play in your car’s overall safety, but they do play a critical part. If you think about it, they are the only part of your car that actually makes contact with the ground, leaving them subject to lots of abuse.
Worn and damaged tires can compromise your car’s ability to respond to your inputs while driving. Steering, braking, and handling are the components that suffer as a result. The longer one continues to drive on bad tires, the bigger the risk for a blowout or separated tread; both could cause you to lose control of your vehicle. Driving on tires that need repair or replacement compromises your and your passenger’s safety and the Utah drivers around you.
Here are 3 ways to look and decide if your tires require replacement or repair.
Check Your Tire’s Age
The primary way to get an idea of your tire’s lifespan is to check for the expiration date. A rule of thumb is a set of tires should last about six years before needing replacement. Your tires can last longer, but it’s recommended that you don’t push past the 10-year mark. That is because rubber degrades over time due to environmental conditions, so even when your tires look in good shape on the outside, there could be structural damage. If you’re at the 10-year mark, regardless of how well you maintain your tires, they are just too old, and you should get them replaced.
Use a Penny
An easy way to tell if your tire treads are worn down and in need of replacing is the penny test. Grab any penny and hold Abraham Lincoln’s head toward the tire, place it between the treads, and if the top of the head is visible, your tires are too worn down, and it’s time to start shopping to replace your old set of wheels.
Tire Tread Indicators
It is pretty common for tires to have tread wear indicators embedded in the rubber near the outside edge. When tread has become worn down, these indicators will be easily visible and make an annoying noise while driving, letting you know it’s time to get them replaced. As with any strange noise coming from your vehicle, please don’t ignore it. Go and replace your car’s tires.
These are just a few of the ways you can tell it is time to go and replace your tires. If you are still unsure that it is time to change your tires, head over to your trusted local Utah auto repair shop or tire store, they will be glad to help.
Hinckley Automotive is Utah’s highly rated auto repair shop and offers comprehensive repair and replacement of tires.
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