How do you know when you need to change your tires?

Question

I don't know if I need to cange my tires....i'm at 46000 miles.. and this is my first car...

i have a kia spectra....also

Answer 1

There are little bars on the tire called tread wear indicators. if they are at the same level as the tread then it is time. These run side to side deep in the tread. You can probably see them but if they are not at the same level as the tread You're still OK.
46,000 miles....Good Job. you cared for the tires well.
These tires are a good match for the car. I would recomend using them again.
Most folks are lucky to get 30K out of a set. Another way is an old school way. Take a penny and put it in the tread so lincolns head is down, if the tread touches the top of his head then you're OK. If not then that is the equivelent to over worn tires. THe law actually states that if you get in an accident and your indicators are showing then they rule it you lost control.

Answer 2

As mentioned before there are wear bars, just more of the rubber the tire was made from, that starts to show between the treads when the tread starts getting low. There are also many things that can lead to replacement. You need to look all the way around each tire and check each area across the treads for spot wearing and pattern wear. Driving habits, affect wear. In shop manuals, there will be a maintenance section that tells you how much down to the thousand of how much tire tread is not enough. You can also, ask a local mechanic or tire store, or buy a pocket measure at parts stores that you stick in the tread and read your tread. It's inexpensive.

Answer 3

The tires have wear markers across the tread. When the markes start to show its time for tires.
An Eric Peters Article


How (And When) To Get The Best Deal On New Tires
By Eric Peters

People often end up paying more for tires than they need to for one simple reason: They wait until they're in desperate need of tires before they begin shopping for them.

Just as people in a hurry to buy a new car because their old one conked out unexpectedly often make a hasty (and costly) purchase, so it is with buying tires when the primary object is to get it done -- not necessarily get the best deal.

The good news is that tires wear gradually -- so the only real excuse for being in a hurry to buy new ones is an unanticipated emergency, such as a severe puncture or sidewall damage that renders a tire beyond repair.

Emergency situations aside, it's easy to anticipate the need to replace tires months before it becomes necessary to do so for safety's sake. Provided one takes the time to do a period check of their physical condition.

A tire is considered worn beyond safe limits when one or more of the grooves in the tread reaches 2/32 of an inch deep. Most modern radial tires have "wear markers" -- horizontal strips that become visually apparent as the tread wears down to the 2/32 of an inch mark. You can also measure tread depth with a tread-depth gauge -- or simply take a penny and insert it in each groove, with Lincoln's head facing down. If you can see the top of Abe's head in any of the grooves, the tire should be replaced. (Any bulges in the sidewall, rips or tears are cause for immediate replacement. Avoid driving the vehicle, if possible -- and if you must drive it, keep your speed down. Sidewall bulges and other signs of major deterioration/damage could foretell an imminent -- and sudden -- catastrophic failure of the tire.)

By checking the tires' condition every 4-6 months or so, you'll know well in advance when it's time to begin shopping for new ones. And that will give you plenty of time to check with local merchants and take advantage of sales -- including online sales offered by retailers who may be able to significantly undercut the costs of a local "storefront" merchant.

The key point is you're not desperate to get the tires "today" -- so it doesn't matter if the sale isn't effective until the end of the month, or if it takes a week or so for the tires to be shipped to you and then a another couple of days to take them to a shop for mounting.

It's also ok to buy replacement tires a couple of months before you need them, so long as they are stored properly (see the manufacturer's recommendations or ask the tire seller about this).


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Answer 4

The short answer is take a penny and stick it in your tire tread with Lincolns head facing down, if the tread doesn't reach his head it time to change tires. Also, if any wire is showing you need to change them and when you check this be careful to not cut your hand on the wire. And one more thing, there are wear bars on your tires somewhere, all tires have them. They are strips of rubber that go across the tire and when they begin to wear its time to change tires.

Check this site out, itll tell you everything you need to know.

http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible.html

Answer 5

You need to get all your tires change! Safety comes first it is just not worth by saving on the tires.

It is adviseable to replace a damaged (not the minor puncture due to nail etc) or worn out tire immediately.

Replace all the tires at a good 30,000 to 35,000 miles or over a 2 or 2.5-year period provided you take good care of the tires and way you drive. Quality of the tire (rubber and wires) drop as time goes by even it look good externally.

Answer 6

best way is a visual inspection take a penny and stick it into the tread on the tire. if it isn't deep enough to cover the head of Lincoln then this is telling you that the tires are getting slick time to replace them. also run your hand around the tire feel for uneven rubber wear this means shocks are bad need replacing. hope this helps you.

Answer 7

there are wear bars on the tires. usually between the tread and about 2/32 of an inch about the lowest part of the tire (the tread area) if not then i believe its 2/32nd or 4/32nd for commercial vehicles. anybody know for sure? also if its uneven wear or if you have feathered edges either of those you also need an alignment or ball joints or.. just take it to a shop.

Answer 8

Take a quarter and stick the edge of it into the tread in the middle of the tire. Now if you remember when that quarter would buy you a cup of java at the McDonalds...you probably need new tires.

Answer 9

Wake around and look at the tires. Do they show any wear? Are they waring evenly? How are the inside and outside reads? Do you squeal when turning or accelerating from a stop? Take a penny and put it in the tread if Lincoln's head is not touching it's time to change them.

Answer 10

when the tread is just about gone