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5 Telltale Signs You Need New Tires

Don't risk an accident and spot bad tires before it's too late with this list of 5 telltale signs you need new tires immediately.

Do you feel like the tires on your car are nearing the end of their life? If so, then you need to keep an eye out for several telltale signs that it's time to get them switched out.

Learning about the signs of a worn-down tire is half the battle. The other half is merely acting on it and getting them replaced as soon as you notice that something is off.

Be sure to learn about the several different ways that you can indicate it. Here are several telltale signs you need new tires. Be sure to consider them all while looking at your car.

1. Balding Tires

Almost every car owner has heard the expression "your tires are balding", but many still don't know what that means. A balding tire refers to when the tread on a tire is starting to wear out.

The tread on each car tire is responsible for making contact with the road, grabbing it tread by tread as the wheel rotates. Over time, the friction that it makes with the ground causes it to wear out.

Many people have the misconception that tire tread only wears out after you've driven thousands of miles. However, if you have to stop more often or take more turns than a typical commute, they might wear out just as fast.

As soon as you notice that your tires are starting to go bald, be sure to reach out to a trusted tire corporation for more information.

2. Sidewall Is Starting to Crack

The bottom of your tires isn't the only place where your tire's air might be escaping from. There might be cracks on the sidewall of your tires.

Try looking at each of your four tires and look for any weird grooves or lines on the side of the tires. These won't be minuscule; if they're there, you'll see them almost right away.

If the sidewall is noticeably cracked, then you can bet there is air that's escaping from it. Be sure to contact a tire expert right away in order to get a new set of tires put on.

3. Vibration While You Drive

If you're driving along and you notice that you're experiencing a bit more vibration than usual, pull off to the side of the road.

Many modern drivers make the mistake of thinking that problem was always there, and that they'd just never noticed it before. If you feel like it's a new vibration, then take it as a fact and pull over.

While you're on the side of the road, be sure to check each tire and see if one is noticeably more flat than the others. If not, then it could be something to do with the shock absorbers or the alignment of your tires.

Try to contact an expert and they'll walk you through a checklist of things that you can check for. From there, you can ask them whether they feel that the car is safe enough to drive or if you should arrange for it to be picked up.

Don't try to drive off if the tires aren't flat. Even if your tires aren't the issue, the heavy vibrations could damage the tires, thus giving you two issues that you need to sort out.

4. Bulges on the Tire

One of the culprits that are causing those heavy vibrations while you accelerate is a bulge or blister on your tire. Check the sidewall of each tire to see if you notice the side to be sticking out abnormally.

If so, then it's a sign that the tire is about to pop. You just got lucky enough to catch it and pull over before it actually happened. Don't drive any further. Arrange for a tow truck to swing by and carry it to a nearby shop for repairs.

A tire blister, on the other hand, is a tiny (yet noticeable) bubble on either the sidewall, the tread, or in-between the two. As you can imagine, the blister will only continue to worsen until it inevitably pops your tire. 

5. You're Past Your Tire Warranty

You only ever want to purchase a car tire that comes with a warranty. The warranty lives are quite long, and serve to ensure you get the most return for your investment.

Contrary to popular belief, those warranties aren't the tire manufacturer trying to get you off their back, they're also a warning sign. A warning sign that the more miles you tack on after you've passed the warranty, the closer they are to the end of their life.

At the very least, take your tires to get looked at once the warranty is passed. Worst case scenario, you're setting yourself up with new tires and a new warranty to protect you!

Lastly, your spare tire is not an additional tire. It's a wheel that should only be used in emergencies, not driven on every day.

Too many people make the mistake of driving on their spare tire until it pops. Then they're left on the road with no choice but to pay for towing to take it away.

Take These Signs You Need New Tires to Heart!

Now that you've seen all the signs you need new tires, be sure to store them away for future use.

Be sure to read this page on several tire care tips that you can use to make your tires last longer.

For more inquiries, please be sure to reach out via our contact us page and we'll be happy to assist you further!