Hi, my name is Jesse. I recently moved to the country, and with the extra space on my new property, I have bought a lot of new "toys". Now, I have everything, from a ute, to recreational vehicles, to all-terrain vehicles, to a small jeep. Each of them, I have learned, need different qualities from their tires and wheels. I love thinking about tires and wheels, repairing them, buying them and maintaining them, but I also know the issue isn't always as simple as it seems. If you have questions or just want to learn something new about tires, I invite you to explore my blog. Thanks for reading.
Tires and Wheels for Country Living: Jesse's Blog of TIps
How To Tell If You Need To Change Your Car Tyres
Herbert Morrison
Worn out car tyres are among the top causes of road accidents. Worn out tyres are susceptible to puncture, heat build-up, and air leakage. All these tyre problems can cause road accidents. A tyre puncture, for example, may result in an accident by causing a blowout. Tyre treads protect tyre casings from puncture, but when they wear out, it becomes easy for objects such as glass to penetrate through the tyre. The end result is obviously a sudden blowout that may force you to lose control of your car, and perish in an accident.
To protect yourself and your car from such unfortunate events, check out the following points that explain about the right time to replace car tyres.
Check The Depth Of Tyre Treads
Treads do wear out eventually, especially if you cover between 12,000 to 15,000 miles a year. Tread wear is best indicated by the decreasing depth of the treads. One way of checking depth of the tread is by using a penny. Grab a penny and insert it into the tread. If the depth has reduced, the president's head will stick out. But if the head of the president is covered up by the tread, it implies the depth is still intact, and the tyre is safe for use.
Check The Visibility Of Wear Bars
Modern tyres are manufactured with wear bars. Wear bars are bits of rubber fitted in the tyres at a specific depth, and run perpendicularly to the tread. When tyres are new, wear bars are barely visible. After covering some miles, though, they become visible because the treads get to their level. At this point, you should change your tyres.
Look Out For Cracks
When tyres age, or when they are exposed to harsh weather conditions, they may develop cracks. This occurs because rubber starts to lose elasticity. But not all cracks prompt a change of tyre. Consider changing your tyres only when there is a lot of splintering, or when there are lots of noticeable cracks on the sidewalls.
Look Out For Blisters And Bulges
Blisters and bulges are more pronounced signs of tyre wear. They occur when the outer surface of the tyre starts to weaken. Just like a puncture, blisters and bulges may also cause a tyre blowout, and hence, result in an accident.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), tyre failures result in 11,000 crashes a year. The body advises that you should also check for other tyre problems that may endanger your life such as under inflated tyres on a regular basis.
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