Tires are important parts of your car that stay in contact with the ground while driving. They are the medium through which your car translates power from the engine for acceleration, braking forces from the brakes for slowing down, and the steering wheel for turning. Without tires, these actions would be impossible, and so it is critical to keep your tires in good condition.
Tire Wear, Damage, and Proper Inflation
Tires are made of rubber and reinforced using other material depending on the purpose of vehicle usage; most consumer grade tires will last 60,000 or more kilometers under normal conditions. So, how do you know when your car’s tires have worn down too much and it’s time for a new set? Well, many tires nowadays will have a wear indicator manufactured into them. This typically takes the form of a small, raised portion of rubber within the tire tread. Once the rest of the tire has worn down to that point, it’s time to go grab a new set of tires. Alternatively, you can buy tire tread testers to give you a more accurate reading. Every day before driving, when you do visual inspection of your car, make sure to check if your tires are wearing evenly or unevenly all over the surface.
Tire Inflation
Proper tire inflation is required for good performance. When your tire is not filled correctly, either with too much air or too little, it will hamper the performance of the tire and may even put you at risk of experiencing a tire blowout. All tires will have a proper inflation pressure labeled somewhere along the sidewall measured in PSI (pounds per square inch). Underinflated tires provide less traction, causing increased braking distance, and hurt fuel economy. Overinflated tires are more prone to damage and popping (blowing out) like a balloon. If you see any abnormal tire wear not mentioned in this section, it would be best to bring your vehicle to an alignment shop or a mechanic as most abnormal tire wear can indicate either improper wheel alignment or potentially broken or worn-out components in your suspension/steering system.
Tire damage can take many forms:
- Puncture
- Sidewall bulging – a bulge in the sidewall of your tire. This is typically caused by hitting a pothole or speedbump at too high a speed and indicates that some of the structural cords within the tire have been broken, so the air is pushing the tire rubber out.
- Cuts or slices on the sidewalls of your tires.
If you encounter any of these problems with your tires you should replace them as soon as possible.
Read our post on winter tires for information on winter tires as well!
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