Tire Talk: When To Replace

So, it’s getting close to the time to replace your tires, and you don’t know what to do. Rest easy! Here are some tips and facts and tricks for replacing your tires.

There’s no real way to know exactly how long a tire will last for. There are a lot of factors that go into the ageing of a tire, like the design of the tire itself, the habits of the driver, the climate, the condition of the roads, and the amount of care put into taking care of the tires. A good age to keep in mind is five years – that is, if the tires are cared for and inspected by a professional at least once a year. Ten years is the absolute maximum you should have the same set of tires on your car. Even if they look okay, they’re still too old to drive on and should really be replaced.

Some things that can damage your tires include:

Physical factors:

• Age

• Wear and damage

Road conditions:

• Potholes, obstacles,curbs ,sharp objects, speed bumps

Climate:

• Extreme temperatures

• Rain, snow and ice

• Oil, grease and other chemicals

• Strong sunlight and ozone

Driving habits:

• Speeding

• Quick starts and emergency braking

• Driving on damaged roads

• Failure to notice a change in handling, noise or vibration

• Failure to consult a professional when something changes

Neglecting basic tire maintenance:

• Air pressure

• Not routinely checking for wear or damage

• Alignment and rotation

• Neglecting to get a professional tire inspection in the event a tire has been impacted or sustained damage

• Not balancing tires after they are installed

• Improper tire storage

• Use of sealants that have not been approved

Improper usage:

• Using summer tires on snow and ice

• Mixing tire types

• Using tires on damaged wheels

• Using wheel and rim sizes that are not compatible

• Fitting tires that do not have a speed capability and load index at least equal to or higher than those originally specified by the vehicle manufacturer

• Reinflating a tire that has been run flat or seriously under inflated

• Using a spare tire of a different size at speeds in excess of 50 mph

Make sure your tires are healthy and you’ll be able to drive on them for longer. If you need your tires replaced, it is possible to do it yourself but you should stop into your dealer or local shop to get them looked at and replaced by a professional if possible. The technicians at King Volkswagen will be happy to help you with anything tire-related, including finding the best fit for your vehicle and your budget.

Happy driving!