No matter how many safety features or advanced tech your vehicles come with, the chances are that having good tires will help reduce your risk of an accident the most. Yet, do you know when the right time to replace your old worn-out set is? Read on to find out what factors you should consider before deciding to change your tires.
What Contributes to Worn-Out Tires?
Even if they are identical, no two sets of tires are the same. Two of the most significant factors affecting tire wear is the kind of roads you drive on and the conditions you drive in.
The materials used to build roads vary depending on what road construction companies in the area can procure locally and how abrasive they make the surface.
People driving up and down twisting and uneven rocky roads will also wear out their tires faster than those operating on flat, straight roads most of the time. City dwellers who deal with all the strain of continually starting and stopping traffic will also wear out their tires quicker than those racking up the miles on the open highways.
Other Important Considerations
Two drivers with identical sets of tires will still have different wear rates even if they have the same kind of vehicle. Variations will also show up thanks to how uniformly tires are rotated, different suspension designs, weight, and alignment.
Other factors to remember are whether you keep them appropriately inflated, swap them out during winter, and of course, keep an eye on your mileage warranty.
The Penny Test
The simplest way to check if your tires are worn out is to try the penny test. Place the edge of a penny, with Abraham Lincoln’s head facing you, in one of the tire’s tread grooves. Make sure the top of Abe’s head is pointed at the tire. If the top of Abe’s head is still visible with the penny in the groove, your tire has about 2/32 inches or less of tread depth, which isn’t enough to grip the road. In this case, you need new tires! If you have been rotating your tires front to rear regularly, it’s best to replace all four tires simultaneously.