How Do I Know When It’s Time to Replace My Tires?

The simplest answer is:  when your auto repair technician advises you to replace your tires.  

By having your vehicle regularly serviced, you allow your auto repair technician the opportunity to rotate your tires, balance your tires, and perform wheel alignments when necessary thus ensuring you get the most out of your tires.  Additionally, your auto repair technician will be regularly inspecting and assessing your tires in order to communicate with you when they will need to be replaced.  Most times, tire technicians will be able to warn you that you will be needing new tires at least 6,000 miles beforehand which allows you time to plan.

But how does a tire technician determine when tires have reached their lifespan?

Tire technicians use three primary factors to determine when it is time to replace tires:

• Tread:  Tires require a certain amount of tread in order to allow water from the road to pass through without causing you to hydroplane.
• Climate:  Extreme cold, infrequent driving, and parking outside can all accelerate aging process of tires by causing cracking and additional wear and tear.
• Age:  Tires are designed to last a certain amount of mileage rather than a certain amount of time, but regular maintenance, proper storage, and maintaining proper air pressure all play a role in a tire's aging process.

At Wilton Auto and Tire Center, we continue to champion preventative maintenance at consistent intervals for all vehicles which includes regular tire maintenance.

Source: continentaltire.com