It’s important to look after the tires of your car. Not only does the condition of your tires affect your safety, but it also impacts overall vehicle performance and even maintenance costs. Here are a few key indications that it’s time to visit your local GMC dealer for a set of new tires.
Excessively Uneven Tires
Car tires wear down unevenly for a number of reasons. The different weights and pressures at either end of the vehicle are a major cause of uneven tire wear. Sometimes underlying problems like misaligned wheels or improper tire inflation can make the problem worse.
If your tires are slightly uneven, you can probably resolve the problem by having them rotated. But when a set of tires has become excessively uneven, it might be too late for rotation. With uneven tires, your handling will suffer and you’ll face an increased risk of blowouts, so it may be best to have them replaced.
Worn Down Tire Treads
When new, tires typically have a tread depth of around 10/32 or 11/32 of an inch. This steadily wears down over time until the treads become too shallow to maintain proper traction on road surfaces. If your tires reach 2/32 of an inch in depth, it’s time to swap them out for new ones.
Cracked or Damaged Sidewalls
The sidewalls of tires should be regularly inspected for signs of wear or damage. Tire rubber can slowly become dried out and degraded by exposure to UV rays in sunlight, extreme temperatures, or various chemicals on the road.
Eventually, this will cause the sidewalls to develop cracks. Too many cracks weaken the rubber, making the tire unstable to drive on. Sometimes impacts with curbs or potholes can also damage tire sidewalls, creating blisters or bulges. This kind of damage also means the tire has to go.
Deep Cuts or Gauges
A few small cuts in the treads of tires are usually harmless. But if you ever find deep cuts of long gauges, the tire may be in danger of blowing out. Have a trusted technician inspect the damage to see whether it can be repaired.
Too Many Years or Miles Have Passed
All tires have a recommended lifespan, after which it’s safest to replace them with new ones. The time limit on your tire warranty will provide a good indicator of when to replace your tires. Most tires should be replaced before they reach six years of age, and the mileage limit will usually be around 60,000 miles.
Visit Hart Motors GMC today to have a new set of tires installed. We’re a local full-service dealership offering terrific vehicles, financing, and customer service.
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