Getting
new tires is an important part of maintaining your car and ensuring
you stay safe while driving. As tires wear down, they become less
efficient, increasing the risk of a crash. If you are going to be
buying new tires soon, however, you need to learn several terms.
Understand
more about how your tires work to better prepare you for taking care
of your wheels. Check out these five terms you need to know when
getting new tires so you can care for your new tires properly.
Alignment
The
tire alignment process adjusts your car’s suspension, which
connects your car to the tire, so the tires better interact with the
road. If your car has poor alignment, one area of a tire will carry
too much weight while others won’t carry as much, instead of evenly
distributing the vehicle's weight. Poor alignment is a main cause of
uneven tire wear.
You
can easily spot if you have problems with your alignment when
driving. Tires that are not aligned correctly will pull to the left
or right so you have to constantly adjust the wheel to keep the car
straight. If this happens, your steering wheel will be slightly
rotated even when you are driving straight.
Tread
Tread
refers to the indents in the tires. Without these indents, the tire
would be too smooth, causing the tires to slide when you stop or
drive over water. With good tread, however, the rubber can better
grip onto the road, giving it traction.
Your
tires should have a tread of about 4/32
inches or
deeper. Once they are about 3/32 inches, consider replacement soon.
If they are less than 2/32, you need new tires immediately or risk a
blowout.
Wear
Bar
Most
tires come with a wear bar, which is a feature that shows you when
your tires’ tread is too shallow. Wear bars are at the base of big
groves in the tire. While the tire is in good condition, you
shouldn't be able to see these bars.
Once
the tread begins to wear down, however, you begin to see more and
more of the wear bar, giving you a good indication that you need new
tires.
Load
Carrying Capacity
All
vehicles are designed with a maximum carrying capacity. Basically,
every car can only hold so much weight before it starts to wear down
the car. Tires also have their own load carrying capacity. When your
car is manufactured, the tires are given a tire load index number,
which indicates how much it can carry.
For
example, if your tires have a load index number of 100, you can carry
1,764 pounds per tire. For this reason, it's important that all your
tires have the same load index number and that the load index number
is at least as high as the original tires.
Rotation
When
the mechanic rotates your tires, they move each tire to a new
position. For example, your front passenger-side tire will become one
of your back tires.
Have
your tires rotated about every 5,000 miles. The biggest reason for
rotation is that it helps better distribute wear and tear. Your
tire's tread may be looking a little worn, but a quick rotation can
make it look new again, saving you money.
If
your tires are worn, your car isn’t as safe to drive. While you can
slow wear and tear by treating your tires well, tires still don't
last forever. If you would like to know more about tire maintenance,
or if you need tire services, contact
us at
Radial Tire Service today. We’ll be happy to help you with whatever
you need.
