When Is It Time to Retire Your Tires?

We understand everyone is busier than ever these days but that doesn't mean you should neglect your tires. Driving on old or worn tires can be extremely dangerous for both you and other people on the road. The truth is that old tires, even with low mileage, are unsafe. Rubber degrades over time causing old tires to become more and more dangerous, even if they're unused. Old tires were in part what attributed to the death of Paul Walker. The tires of his Porsche were more than twice the suggested age for such a car.

Signs Your Tires Need to be Changed

Tires require good traction to work properly. Simply, the transference of your engine's energy into your tires is what propels your car forward. Without your tires, your car couldn't work and without traction, tires are no good. Tires lose tread and thus traction over time resulting in dangerous driving. Tests showed that well-worn tires increased stopping distances by 87 feet and increased loss of control by 33%. Therefore, it's very important to keep up with regular tire maintenance and change your tires as appropriate. Signs you may need a change of tires include:

• Lack of tread depth
• A visible tread wear indicator bar
• Cracked sidewalls
• Bulges or blisters
• Vibration while driving

How Long Do Tires Usually Last?

So how long can you expect your tires to last? While estimates do range, most original-equipment tires can be expected to begin degrading around 50,000 miles. Family-car tires can easily last for up to 70,000 miles though ultra-high-performance tires usually only last for 25,000 to 30,000 miles. Tires should be replaced after six years of use or ten years after they're manufactured, no matter the mileage. These are still all estimates depending on varying factors. For one, proper tire rotation is imperative. But there are other factors that also increase the degradation of your tires, including: wheel alignment, tire pressure, weather, the way your car is driven, and the make and model of your car. Either way, proper tire maintenance is critical for maintaining a well-performing car. Contact us today for more information and to help keep your car and tires safe.