When should I get new tires?
Many customers come to Southern California Ford Dealers for new tires well after they should have sought them out. It’s natural to wonder if you really need new tires, or how often they should be replaced.
Those are good questions to ask. After all, you have a lot
depending on your tires. They’re the only part of your car that touches the
road. Excessively worn tires reduce braking and handling performance, posing a
real safety risk. The worst thing you can do is ignore this essential component
of your vehicle.
Mileage
It’s common to ask that you replace tires after how many miles? The answer is a little complex.
Some tire manufacturers will warranty their tires for a certain number of miles. But, you have to follow the maintenance schedule exactly, otherwise that warranty doesn’t apply.
Not only does maintenance affect how many miles you can drive on a set of tires, so do other factors. Your driving style is a big one. If you take corners fast, do quick starts, and in general are aggressive on the road, your tires will wear out sooner. Driving on roads with potholes, broken pavement, or speed bumps can also accelerate tire wear. Extreme heat and cold, rain, ice, snow, oil, and various chemicals contribute to the breakdown of tires. The more of these factors that are in play, the less mileage you’ll get out of your tires.
Time
Another common question is: You replace tires after how many years? There’s not a single answer, but there are some good guidelines you should follow.
Keep five years in mind. That doesn’t mean you necessarily should or shouldn’t replace your tires after they’ve been on your vehicle for five years, but it is a key milestone. If the tires are still in good condition, have them inspected by a professional once a year starting at year five. That professional will look for risk factors signaling the tires need to be replaced.
The absolute maximum you should keeps tires on your car is ten years. Even if the tread is still in good shape, the rubber compound is too old to be reliable, so you’re taking a tremendous risk driving on them.
Other Factors
One of the easiest ways to tell if tires need to be replaced is to look at the tread for wear indicator bars. They run from one side of the tire to the other, opposite the direction of the tread pattern, and only appear once the tire is worn down to the point it needs to be replaced.
Of course, you don’t have to just sit around and wait for your tires to wear out. Proper maintenance will help them last longer. Follow the tire manufacturer’s recommendation for rotations and balancing, keeping all four tires in about the same condition. Applying tire shine to the sidewalls can guard against sun damage, plus it makes the tires look presentable.
Check the air pressure at least once a month. Underinflated and overinflated tires will wear unevenly, so following the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendation for tire inflation.
Don’t ignore problems with alignment or suspension components. Those issues will cause uneven tire wear, accelerating your next tire purchase.
Remember that for all your tire needs, Southern California Ford Dealers can provide honest and expert service.
Sources:
https://www.michelinman.com/US/en/help/do-I-need-new-tires.html
https://auto.howstuffworks.com/5-warning-signs-you-need-new-tires.htm