News

We sure do get attached to our machines and inanimate objects, and cars in particular tend to take a special place in our imaginations. In the case of something like a car or truck, we depend on them so much that they start to take on a personality and an identity, at least in our own minds. Why not show your car or truck how much you “love” it and care about it with a set of tires for Valentine’s Day?

How long has it been since you got a set of tires?

With the right driving habits, a good set of tires can easily go 50,000 miles before needing replacement. You’ll start to notice some changes in drivability as tires wear down, though. Worn tires tend to get noisier and ride harder, as there’s less rubber to insulate against road noise and the bumps and shocks of irregularities in a highway surface. You’ll also notice a loss of traction on wet pavement or while turning, and obviously this can lead to some real problems. Here are some good ways to be sure that your tires are worn down to the point of needing a new set:

Tires are designed with “wear bars” molded into the rubber. These wear bars are at the base of the tread grooves and are at a right angle to the grooves themselves. It’s not a problem for the wear bars to be visible, but once the wear bars are flush with the surface of the tread, it’s definitely time.

Your tires’ tread depth should never be below 1/16”, the minimum legal tread depth in most states, and really should have about twice that depth for wet surfaces. Here’s an easy way to check. Insert a penny into the tread, Lincoln’s head down. If the tread reaches the top of Abe’s head, that’s 1/16”. Now try again with a quarter – if the tread reaches the top of Washington’s head, that’s 1/8”. Now try one more time with the penny…if the tread is at 3/16”, it should reach the Lincoln Memorial.

Inspect the tires carefully for uneven wear, which could indicate a need for wheel alignment. Wear might show itself along the inside or outside edge of the tread, or might be a “sawtooth” pattern across the entire surface that can be felt by running your hand along the tread.

Check the sidewalls for cuts, cracks, scuffs or gouges. Sometimes the sidewall can weaken to a point where a bulge occurs; if you ever spot a bulge in a tire, it means that tire failure is imminent and you need to replace that tire very soon.

Are you noticing a vibration while driving? Sometimes a vibration is due to a wheel going out of balance, but often it’s because a tire is starting to fail internally. If that’s the case, you run the risk of that tire coming completely apart while you’re driving – replace it soon!

If it’s at all possible, you should replace the entire set of four tires at the same time for even wear and the right drivability, handling and ride properties. If you can only afford a pair of tires, remember to mount them on the rear of the vehicle and make sure they’re a match in size and design with the old tires.

Show your vehicle a little Valentine’s love, make an appointment with Van’s Tires & Service and let us get you set up with a great set of tires from Goodyear, Michelin, BFGoodrich, Dunlop or one of our other premium brands!