How Often Should Tires Be Replaced: The Complete Guide

Photo Source:vehq.com

When you purchase a new set of tires, the manufacturer will usually give you a range in which they expect the tires to last. This is commonly known as the TREAD>END Warranty range. What this means is that the tire manufacturers expect that if you drive your vehicle with these new tires between the TREAD and END markers, they will last you for that amount of time.

That doesn’t mean that they won’t last beyond those points. but they don’t expect them to! And while in most cases, this is true, there are plenty of occasions where we see drivers getting much more than what was expected out of their tires. In this article, we’ll take a look at how often you should be replacing your tires based on their conditions.

How Often Should You Replace Tires?

Photo Source: bumper.com

If you want to get technical, the correct answer would be – “When they wear out.” But that’s not very helpful for anyone, is it? While you could replace your tires when they lose their tread and function as an additional safety measure, it is important to understand that there are other indicators that your tires are old and need to be replaced.

When it comes to tires, it is best to not let them reach their end of their lifespan. Not only does it affect your safety, but it will also cost you a pretty penny. When tires lose their tread and their ability to grip the road, it puts you and everyone else on the road in danger. As much as it is important to replace tires when they are worn out, it is just as important to replace them when they are at the end of their lifespan.

6 Months: Tread Is Almost Gone

When your tires are almost worn out, they won’t be gripping the road very well at all. You will notice that your car will be struggling with acceleration and braking. When you are driving on almost bald tires, you are also putting yourself and other drivers at risk of tire blowout.

While reaching this point, you should be replacing your tires as soon as possible. Driving with almost bald tires can cause damage to the tires themselves, your vehicle’s differential and its brakes.

12 Months: Tires Are Causing Damage To The Rim

Driving on tires with low tread also puts damage to your rim at risk. As your low tread tires are rolling over the road, they are also putting pressure on the rim. This pressure can cause serious damage to the rim and make it unserviceable.

18 Months: Differential And Rotors Are Causing Damage

When your tires are wearing out, you will start to notice a thumping sound when you are driving on low tread tires. This thumping is the sound of your tires hitting the wheel well or the fender of your vehicle.

When your tires are hitting the wheel well, it is putting the wear and tear of the wheel well on the tires. This can cause the material that makes up the wheel well to be stuck to the tires. When this happens, it can cause damage to your tires and the wheel well.

24 Months: Tires Are At The End Of Their Lifespan

There are some indicators that your tires have reached the end of their lifespan and should be replaced immediately. The most obvious sign that your tires have reached the end of their lifespan is if you notice a bulge in one or more of the tires.

When your tires reach the end of their lifespan, they need to be replaced immediately. Driving on tires that are at the end of their lifespan will cause unneeded damage to your vehicle.

What To Look For When Replacing Tires

Photo Source: cars.com

When replacing your tires, it is important to keep in mind the factors that affect how often you should be replacing them. While there are some serious indicators that you should be looking out for, there are also some that you might miss.

• Tread Depth – The most important thing to be aware of when replacing your tires is their tread depth. The tire’s tread depth refers to the distance between the tire’s uppermost surface and the road surface. Despite what some might tell you, the tires’ tread does not have to be worn out for you to replace them. In fact, the general rule you should follow when it comes to tire tread is that you should have one-third of the tire’s tread left at all times.
• Rim Damage – When replacing your tires, you need to be aware of the damage that the old tires might be causing to the new tires.
• Tire Age – While the tire’s age does not have anything to do with its tread, it is something you should be looking out for. When you purchase tires, they should have an expiration date on them. It is important to know how long a tire has been sitting in a warehouse before you purchased it.

Photo Source: micdot.com

Conclusion

Drivers should be familiar with the signs that their tires are worn out or at the end of their lifespan. A vehicle with poorly maintained tires is a dangerous vehicle to operate. Driving on tires that are close to needing replacement or are at the end of their lifespan can cause damage to the vehicle’s suspension, brakes, and even the engine. For this reason, it is important to follow your vehicle’s tire maintenance schedule and watch for signs of wear and tear.