Knowing When To Change Your Tires

By Cornelius Nunev

Do not let your car slip into a dirty ditch someplace. Check your tires regularly. And discover why your tires are faltering so you do not make the same stupid blunders.

Might get more than a flat

There are a lot of things you can do to stay away from a flat tire. Usually, someone will get a flat since the tires have been neglected. This consists of bad driving habits, worn tire treat and inflation problems. More than likely, you have not gotten the flat because some punk in the neighborhood slashed the tires or you ran over a nail on the highway. You may want to consider these few suggestions for helping your tires in the future.

In case you were concerned, you are not the only person who abuses tires on the road. The tires are underinflated by as much as 30 percent by 80 percent of the drivers on the road, according to the United States DOT. This causes your tire to pop and get a hole when the sidewalls are rubbing because of under inflation.

Consider age

Are you guilty of elder tire abuse? Check the sidewall for the manufacturer's date code. It's a four-digit number that states the month and year the tire was produced. While there is not a specific expiration date on a tire, it's not a good idea to put tires on your car that are more than five years' old, notes Popular Mechanics.

Hot under too little pressure

Tires get much hotter when they are underinflated than when they are at the correct inflation. Make sure you have the right PSI for your tires. When the vehicle is moving, the rubber and fabric of the tire degrade much faster if there is a ton of friction. The easiest way to understand your tire pressure is to tire gauges it and test it regularly. The info can be found in the owner's manual or the sticker on the driver's side door frame.

Attempting to grip the road

Make sure your tires are not too fat either. Over-inflation is almost just as terrible as under-inflation. In fact, your tires will go bald in the middle much quicker if they have too much air in them. The tread will be misshapen, which means gripping the road is less likely also. Whenever you hit a pot hole or something, your tire is more likely to go flat and pop.

Insane from the heat

Summer is knocking at the door, and the UV rays of the sun can do a real number on your tires. Add ozone and road chemicals to the mix and things get even worse for the sidewall rubber. Using aftermarket protectants will remove the essential oils prematurely, oils that are there to protect the rubber in the first place. In general, the driver should watch for cracking. Just a little alligator-like cracking in the sidewalls of your tires is normal. But if the cracks reach down to the fabric sidewall plies, you need new tires quickly.

Damage to the tire and vehicle

Your tires may be struggling if you see a flapping radial belt. Getting a puncture will obviously lead to a flat. Make sure you learn more about how you can keep your tires from damaging the automobile if you get a flat, but stay away from penetration as much as possible. Sometimes, you can get a little puncture filled, but other times you have to replace the tire right away.

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