Your tires are the heart and soul of your vehicle. They get you where you need to go and keep you safe while you’re getting there. But too many people let their tires go until they fail an inspection, and if you go that long, it could be too late to avoid an accident due to lack of traction or a blown tire.
Cavalier Mazda’s customers in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, and Chesapeake want to safely drive their car for many years. Watch out for these telltale signs of tire wear to keep your driving experience pleasant and safe.
Bulges, Cracks, and Gouges
Your tires are made of rubber. They’re sturdy and thick but still vulnerable to the elements and wear. If you notice bulging at the sides of your tires, cracks in the sides, or anything else that looks wrong—grooves in the wrong places, for example—have your dealer check it out.
Low Tread
The penny test is a great way to keep an eye on your tire tread. Put a penny into the grooves in your tire tread with Lincoln’s head facing the inside of the tire. If you can still see the top of his head when the penny is in all the way, your tread is low and your tires need to be replaced.
Air Pressure
You’ll generally lose 1 pound of pressure from your tires per month. Keep an eye on your air pressure by checking it regularly. Certainly if your air pressure indicator light comes on, it’s time to put air in your tires.
Your owner’s manual should have information on the ideal inflation rate; for most tires, it’s around 32 to 35 PSI. Don’t overinflate your tires, either, as this can cause them to wear unevenly or even burst.
Vibration and Uneven Ride
When your tires begin to wear down, you’ll feel it as you drive. Have you noticed an uneven, bumpy ride? Is the vehicle difficult to steer or control? Does the steering wheel vibrate? If you have anything less than the smooth ride you expect, you should take your car to get checked. It could be issues with your tires or it could be something more serious.
Skidding
When you stop at a red light then hit the gas when the light changes to green, do your tires spin and skid? Have you experienced slippage when you make a turn? This is almost certainly a sign that your tire tread is low and your tires need to be changed.
Tire Wear and Tear
Wear and tear on your tires is nothing to play around with. Over- or underinflated tires can create genuine safety issues as well as making your drive unpleasant. Accidents happen every year due to environmental conditions that may have been avoided had the driver maintained tire upkeep on his or her vehicle.
If you think that your vehicle might need a tire checkup or rotation and you live in Norfolk, Virginia Beach, or Chesapeake, stop in to Cavalier Mazda today for a checkup. You can never be too safe!
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