Car tires in good shape are vital for safe driving, and good tire maintenance ensures a smooth ride, good gas mileage, and most importantly, safety. Regular tire maintenance is an investment in your safety and the longevity of your car, and that’s why it’s important to know the signs that it’s time to have your tires repaired or replaced.
Visual Inspection:
- Tread Depth: The tread is the grooved surface of your tire. It’s designed to channel water away and provide grip on the road. If the tire tread is worn down, it can increase the risk of skidding and accidents. Most tires have tread wear indicators built into the grooves that are small raised sections that become even with the rest of the tread when it’s time for replacement.
(You can also use a penny test. Insert a penny head-down into the tread groove. If you see the top of Lincoln’s head, your tread depth is low and it’s time for new tires!)
- Uneven Wear: Tread wear shouldn’t be uniform across the entire width of the tire. Here’s what different wear patterns can indicate:
- Center wear: This suggests overinflation. Overinflated tires make contact with the road in a smaller area, leading to faster wear in the center.
- Edge wear: This is a sign of underinflation. Underinflated tires bulge outwards, causing the edges to wear faster.
- Feathering: This appears as diagonal wear across the tread blocks. It’s caused by misalignment, which means your wheels are angled incorrectly.
- Cupping: This shows as scalloped wear across the tread blocks. It can be caused by worn-out shock absorbers or imbalanced tires.
- Sidewall Damage: The sidewall is the part of the tire that runs alongside the tread. Look for cracks, bulges, or cuts, which can be signs of internal tire damage and can lead to blowouts.
While Driving:
- Vibration: A vibrating steering wheel or shaking in the car at highway speeds can indicate imbalanced tires. This can happen due to weight variations in the tire or wheel, or even a bent rim.
- Pulling: If your car constantly pulls to one side while driving on a straight, level road, it could be a sign of uneven tire pressure, a damaged tire, or tire misalignment.
- Low Tire Pressure Warning Light: Most modern cars are equipped with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) that will illuminate a warning light on the dashboard if the pressure in one or more tires falls below a certain level. Don’t ignore this warning light!
How Often Should You Check Your Tires?
It’s a good practice to visually inspect your tires at least once a month. You should also check the tire pressure regularly, ideally every other week, and before long trips. Refer to your car’s owner’s manual for the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle.
Additional Tips:
- Rotation: Regular tire rotation helps ensure even tread wear and extends the life of your tires. Consult your owner’s manual for the recommended rotation schedule for your car.
- Alignment: Proper wheel alignment is essential for good tire wear and optimal handling. Get your wheels aligned periodically, especially if you hit a curb or experience any front-end damage.
- Storage: If you’re storing your car for an extended period, inflate the tires to slightly above the recommended pressure. This will help prevent flat spots from developing.
What to Do When You Notice Signs of Tire Trouble
If you spot any of the signs mentioned above, take your car to a qualified tire technician as soon as possible. They can assess the problem and recommend the best course of action. This may involve tire rotation, balancing, alignment, repair, or replacement.
Roadside Assistance from the Independent Drivers Guild (IDG)
If you run into a flat tire while on the road and end up needing a tow or professional assistance, the IDG has your back. They offer free roadside assistance to rideshare drivers who sign up and become dues-paying members.
To enroll and activate the IDG’s Roadside Assistance program, members can visit the website here.
If you are already a dues paying member and need help from your Roadside Assistance program while on the road, simply:
- Call 1-800-559-0097.
- Tell the operator you have roadside assistance.
- Give them your Plan – Letter B, your driver ID number (the number on your TLC license), and the following 6-digit producer code – 106736.
- If they ask for the date you enrolled, it is always the 1st of the month.
