When should I replace my tires?

Written by Jay M. Kelley III in Uncategorized on February 10, 2021

Many Americans moan about the negligence of other drivers. While it is true that the conduct of fellow motorists can seem questionable at points, making sure that you are doing everything on your end to prevent catastrophic car accidents is also imperative.

One of the most important things that you can do to keep yourself and your family safe is ensuring that the tires on your vehicle are in good condition. According to NerdWallet, you should replace your tires when the depth of tread becomes too low or at least every six years.

What does tread have to do with it?

Tread refers to the grooves in your tires. Naturally, the tread on your tires will become more shallow over time due to the friction between the tires and road surfaces. If the tread on your tires is too shallow, your tires will not be able to grip the road very well. This becomes very apparent if you are driving in snowy or wet conditions.

If your tires lose too much tread, this exponentially increases the likelihood of a car accident. Tires with good tread save lives.

How can I check my tread?

A common way to measure your tire tread depth is by using a penny. If you put a penny down into the center of your tire’s tread, you should not be able to see Abraham Lincoln’s head. If you can, the tread on your tires is too shallow and you should replace them.

Depending on how much you drive, you may be able to get around 6 years of use out of your tires. Once you have passed the 6-year mark, you should replace your tires.