Tires age whether they are driven on or not—be sure to check tires on recreation vehicles, trailers, collector cars, community vehicles and 15-passenger vans, too. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends checking your vehicle’s tires
at least once a month
.
How long should tread on tires last?
It may be tentative, but tires do have an expiration date. There is a general consensus that most tires should be inspected, if not replaced, at about six years and should be absolutely be swapped out after
10 years
, regardless of how much tread they have left.
How often should you check your tire pressure and tread?
It is recommended that you check your vehicle’s tire pressure
each month
, especially if the weather is changing. Changes in temperature can have a major effect on your tire pressure, so it is important to be checking more often if there’s drastic shift in temperature.
How do I check my tire tread?
Place a penny head first into several tread grooves across the tire
. If you always see the top of Lincoln’s head, your treads are shallow and worn. If this is the case, your tires need to be replaced. If part of Lincoln’s head is always covered by the tread, you have more than 2/32 of an inch of tread depth remaining.
What is the minimum acceptable tire tread depth?
Most states require a minimum of
2/32 of an inch
(approximately 1.6 mm) of tread, but two require less, some have no requirements, and some defer to the federal criterion for commercial vehicle safety inspections.
Why should I check my tires?
When checking your tires, it is important to
take a look at their tread
. If the tread is beginning to wear down, then your tires will lose traction and won’t grip the road as well when driving through bad weather.
What are signs that you need new tires?
- Falling air pressure. Jes2u.photo/Shutterstock. …
- Low tire tread. The penny test. …
- Uneven tire tread wear. You Touch Pix of EuToch/Shutterstock. …
- Odd vibrations or noise. Getty Images. …
- Bubble on the side. photowind/Shutterstock. …
- Cracked rubber. …
- Old tires.
How do I tell if I need new tires?
For years, motorists have been told the “penny test” is
an accurate indicator of whether or not you need new tires
. The test is conducted by sticking a penny head down in a tire tread; if you see all of Lincoln’s head, then you should change the tires. … The one with an eighth of an inch of tread stopped in 300 feet.
How long can you drive on a tire with tread showing?
The only safe distance in such situations is the distance that you will drive to get to the nearest tire shop for a replacement. Any tire whose wires are on the show should not last for longer than
about 87 to 94 miles at most
, though it is very difficult to be exact really.
At what tread depth should a tire be replaced?
New tires typically come with 10/32” or 11/32” tread depths, and some truck, SUV and winter tires may have deeper tread depths than other models. The U.S. Department of Transportation recommends replacing tires when they reach
2/32”
, and many states legally require tires to be replaced at this depth.
Is 4mm tire tread OK?
For safe driving, tires
must be replaced at 3 or 4 mm remaining tread depth
.
How much should you fill your tires?
Air pressure in tires is measured in pounds per square inch, or PSI; usually, the recommended pressure ranges
between 30 and 35 PSI
.
Is the penny test for tires accurate?
For years, motorists have been told the “penny test” is
an accurate indicator of whether or not you need new tires
. The test is conducted by sticking a penny head down in a tire tread; if you see all of Lincoln’s head, then you should change the tires. … The one with an eighth of an inch of tread stopped in 300 feet.
Can I drive on overinflated tires?
Driving on overinflated tires can
cause a serious safety risk to you
and your passengers. This is due in large part to the increased blowout chance from the excess pressure on the tire.
What’s the best month to buy tires?
And here’s the secret: Buy your tires in
October or April
to save the most on your new set of wheels. Tires go on sale in October to encourage consumers to buy before winter and again in April when the weather gets warm enough for people to start thinking about road trips and joy rides.
