September 11 2023,
With all the high-tech features found in a modern vehicle, it's easy to overlook the importance of its tires. For such a humble and everyday component, tires play a vital role in a vehicle's safety and performance levels. Old, damaged, and/or worn tires should be replaced as soon as possible for several important reasons.
What Are the Dangers of Worn Tires?
Tires create grip with the grooves in their surface, known as treads, which slowly wear down the more you drive. The shallower the treads, the less grip the tires create, and the less control you'll have over steering and braking. This affects everyday safety, making braking less efficient and cornering less predictable.
As well, tires don't always wear out evenly. If one tire is more worn than the others, your vehicle will tend to drift to one side even when you're trying to drive straight ahead, increasing the risk of accidents for even the most careful drivers. If this starts to happen, it's a good idea to book a tire inspection to see if they need to be aligned, balanced, rotated, or replaced.
Badly worn tires can fail completely with a sudden blowout, which can be especially dangerous when travelling at highway speeds. In addition, worn tires work less efficiently, which means your vehicle uses more fuel while suffering greater wear and tear on its suspension, steering, and other essential components.
Knowing When to Change Your Tires
Outside of regularly scheduled winter and summer tire changeovers, it's important to watch out for signs that your tires are wearing out so that you can replace them before they threaten your safety.
1) Maximum Age
All tires degrade over time, and their compounds get stiffer and less able to grip the pavement. Even if a tire seems to be in perfect condition, once it's approaching its maximum recommended age (as found in the owners' manual or service notes), a replacement is necessary.
2) Shallow Treads
In Canada, treads should be at least 1.6 mm deep on every part of the tire. However, it's wise to err on the side of caution and change the tires before they reach this legal minimum.
3) Visible Damage
If there are any visible bulges, cracks, or blisters in the tire compound, a tire change is urgent because you're likely to be headed for a blowout sooner rather than later.
4) Unusual Vibrations
If your steering wheel starts to vibrate when driving, it could be a sign of uneven tire wear. It could also be caused by something even more serious, such as poor wheel alignment or faulty suspension, so having it checked out is highly recommended.
5) Poor Tire Pressure
Lastly, if you find you need to inflate your tires more often to keep them at their correct pressure, it is likely a sign of either a faulty valve or a slow leak somewhere in the compound. In both cases, it’s recommended to get an inspection to identify the problem before it gets any worse.
Book a Tire Inspection Today
Worn or damaged tires have a huge impact on your vehicle's everyday safety, performance, and fuel efficiency. Dilawri’s expert technicians will spot any developing problems before they become a danger, and can advise you on how to fix the issues most quickly and efficiently. To book a tire inspection and service, please contact your local Dilawri franchised dealership's Service department today.
