Your tires are the only part of your vehicle in direct contact with the road. That’s why it’s so vital for you to ensure your tires are always in good condition. Tires that are poorly maintained or too old can pose a safety risk, not only to you and your passengers but also to other motorists around you. Here’s a helpful guide put together by our auto service experts at Panama City Toyota on how often to replace your tires.
How Long Do My Tires Last?
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There are two factors to keep in mind when you’re considering how long your tires can last. The first is their age, and the second is tread wear. Both of these factors can be influenced by your driving habits and the environment you live in, so it’s essential to regularly check your tires’ condition to ensure they’re still up to standard. Our certified auto technicians will be happy to help you with this at our service center.
On average, your tires will need replacing after about six years of driving. This rule should be followed even if their tread appears to be okay. After around six or seven years of driving, the rubber can become more brittle, increasing the risk of a blowout.
However, if your tires’ tread wears down to unsafe levels before the passage of a six-year period, you’ll need to change your tires sooner. Your tires may wear out sooner if you do more driving than average or you regularly apply your brakes sharply.
How Can I Tell When I Need New Tires?
There are two simple ways to determine the age of your tires and their tread wear. First, each tire has a code on its side that tells you when it was manufactured. The four-digit code provides you with the week and the year the tire was produced. For example, if the code is “3215,” it means that your tire was manufactured during the 32nd week of 2015. The four-digit code is usually preceded by the initials DOT, which stands for Department of Transportation. If the code shows that your tires are more than six years old, it’s time to start looking for a new set.
You can determine if a tire’s tread is safe by performing the coin test. To perform the test, all you need to do is place a quarter or a penny into the center of the tire’s tread with the head pointing down. If you’re using a quarter and the tread is in line with the top of Washington’s head, the tire will soon need replacing. If you use a penny and the tread is in line with the top of Lincoln’s head, you’ll need to replace your tires immediately as the tread depth is already too low.
Why Is It Important To Replace My Tires?
Driving with tires that are too old can result in reduced performance and cause accidents. Therefore, it’s illegal to drive with worn-out tires.
A tire with less than the legally required tread is unsafe because it is less able to grip the road. With this reduced level of control, you’re more likely to collide with another vehicle. You’re also likely to experience poor tire performance during spells of heavy rain or snow. If your car has worn out tires, you’ll also need a longer distance to come to a stop, which can make the difference between you averting an accident and causing one.
The older tires get, the more prone they become to punctures and blowouts. This risk is especially present for tires over the six-year age limit we discussed earlier. A flat tire can leave you stranded in the middle of nowhere, while a blowout at the wrong moment can have far more severe consequences.
To avoid these dangers, you should make tire care a key part of your vehicle’s routine maintenance regime. If you get your oil changed, fluid top-ups, and brake pad changes performed at our service center, our expert technicians can regularly inspect your tires to confirm they’re still safe to ride on. They can also perform regular tire rotations, which can help lengthen the life of your tires.
How Should I Choose A New Set Of Tires?
One way to decide the best type of tires to purchase for your vehicle is to check your owner’s manual. You’ll find it contains information on the tires used by the manufacturer when they built your car. If you can’t find your owner’s manual, you can check the size of your tires by locating a code consisting of numbers and letters on the side of your tire. The first three numbers in the code tell you what the width of your tire is in millimeters. The two digits following the slash provide you with your tire’s aspect ratio, which is the height of your tire as a percentage of its width. For instance, if the number is 60, it means that the height of your tire is 60% of its width. You need to know all of this information to buy a set of tires with the correct dimensions.
If you’d like assistance in picking the right tires for your truck or SUV, consult our auto experts here at Panama City Toyota. We know each vehicle in the Toyota lineup inside out, which allows us to advise you on the tires you choose to ensure the best performance.
Choose Panama City Toyota’s Service Department For Your Tire Needs
From checking that your current tires are safe to order a new set for you, we can take care of all your tire-related needs here at Panama City Toyota. You can rely on our service and parts department to provide you with a prompt and professional service when you trust us with your vehicle.
If you have any questions about your tires or any other auto servicing concerns, don’t hesitate to contact our friendly team today. We’ve established a strong reputation with customers in Panama City and throughout Florida, and we’re looking forward to welcoming you into our dealership.
