How Are Your Car’s Tires?

Tires are one of the big variables when it comes to car maintenance. HRS Auto Care knows that can be frustrating to hear as a car owner because even though there are mileage recommendations, there are ways your tires might not make it to those expected mileage markers.

You can tell a lot about your car’s tires by paying close attention to how your car handles when you’re driving. If you’re hearing a “whomping” sound when you speed up, that could be an indication that your tires are out of balance or that they’ve got some uneven tread wear happening. Something else to pay attention to is whether you can feel the car vibrating or even wobbling from side to side a bit as you drive. These are all signs that you need to take a closer look at what’s happening with your tires, just to be on the safe side.

The first thing to look at when you’re inspecting your tires is the tread itself. If you can’t tell whether the tread is still good or not, try the penny test. This involves just grabbing a penny and turning it upside down, facing you. Hold the penny against the tire, in one of the tread grooves. If you can see all of Abraham Lincoln’s head, that means that your tread is too worn to be as effective as it should be. But if you’re not able to see all of Abe’s head, then you’ve still got some usable tread left. Keep in mind, though, that if you’re close to wearing away too much tread, you might want to think about new tires now.

There’s more than just tread at risk, though. Your tire’s tread is what’s directly in contact with the road, but that’s not the only failure point on your tires. Your entire tire is made of rubber, and that rubber breaks down over time. What you’re looking for on the side of the tires are any blisters, bulges, or scrapes that look as though they might compromise the integrity of the tire. This can lead to a blowout, and that’s certainly something you want to avoid if at all possible.

Want an expert opinion on your tires? Give us a call at HRS Auto Care in Nicholasville, KY. We can set up a time for you to come in and we’ll inspect your tires and let you know how long you can safely continue to drive on them.