When to change car tires?
Car tires are the only part of the vehicle that comes into contact with the road surface, so tires need to be checked regularly to ensure safety.
Here are some common signs that will tell you it's time to take your car to the garage for a check-up.
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Tire tread less than 1.5 mm |
There is a simple way to check if the tire tread is still enough to drive safely: Wear indicator lines are molded in many different positions right under the bottom of the tire grooves. When the tire wears down to the point where these indicator lines are exposed, it is time to replace the tire.
In addition, you can use a comprehensive tire testing tool (pressure gauge, air deflation gauge, glass breaker, tire tread gauge...) which is sold quite a lot in auto parts stores for about 200,000 VND.
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Wear in clumps on the tire surface |
Dents on the tire surface, in addition to reducing tire life, are also a sign that the vehicle's suspension or steering system has a problem, causing the vehicle to "jump" on the road and become unstable.
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Sawtooth tire wear |
Run your hand over the tire surface, if you see sharp wear marks horizontally (only one direction) or vertically, you should take it to a tire garage to realign the wheel alignment.
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Tire worn on one side |
Incorrect wheel alignment can cause the tire to lean inward or outward; in this case, you should take the car to a garage for adjustment. This problem can also be related to the suspension system, or it may be a problem with the tires that have not been rotated for a long time.
Age is the main cause of abnormal cracks on the tire sidewall. Roads with too many potholes or strong impacts on the tire sidewall (sidewalks, boulders, etc.) will gradually cause the tire's elasticity to no longer be as uniform as before. In these cases, for the safety of yourself and your loved ones, it is best to replace the tire rather than repair it (patch, glue, etc.).
In addition, in the case of worn tires on both sides, it is because you have been driving with under-inflated tires for too long. This is the most unsafe case, because it not only reduces the tire's lifespan and wastes gas, but the biggest problem is that it is very easy to lead to tire explosion while driving due to increased friction. Meanwhile, in the case of over-inflating tires, it will also make the vehicle unsafe and make the vehicle more bumpy, especially on bad roads.
