When should you change your car tires?

Tires that are unevenly worn, deformed, bulging or cracked or have exceeded their useful life should be replaced with new tires as soon as possible to ensure safety.

"When to change tires?" - a question many car users ask. Although tires are a part of the car, they are very important. The performance of the car also depends a lot on the tires. According to estimates from the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there are about 200 tire-related deaths every year.

Tires are designed to provide performance throughout their life. However, over time, tires can become worn, distorted, cracked, or bulged, which can cause loss of traction, reduced braking performance, and increased safety concerns. Here are some steps to identify and inspect your tires.

Apply manufacturer standards

Every tire has a tread or tread pattern, the main function of which is to conduct water to improve traction and prevent hydroplaning on wet roads. According to most manufacturers' standards, a tread depth of less than 1.6 mm means the tire is worn and unsafe.

Intuitive

Look at the tire surface, the rubber lug in the tread groove is exposed when the tire needs to be replaced.

Use coins

Americans often use a penny with the image of President Lincoln's head on it to check tire wear. Place the penny in the center of the tire's tread groove, with Lincoln's head lying down. If the entire president's head is visible, the tire is too worn.

Use professional measuring equipment

Use a specialized device to measure the tire tread wear. If the tire tread or tread depth is less than 1.6 mm, it means the tire is worn and unsafe, and the tire needs to be replaced.

Law requiring tire replacement

There are states in the US that clearly stipulate that tire replacement time is mandatory if the tire tread depth is less than or equal to 1.6 mm and after 6 years of use.

According to VNE