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The best way to know if it’s time to buy new tires for your vehicle is to have them inspected by a professional, but there are ways to check them yourself. To meet legal safety standards in the U.S., a tire’s tread needs to be at least 2/32” deep. If the tires do not meet the 2/32” standard or are approaching not meeting it, you should replace your tires. When replacing tires, it’s important to select the right tire size for your vehicle. Not sure what size you need? Learn more about determining tire size.
Tires should also be free of sidewall damage and irregular wear for optimal performance and safety. It’s also a good idea to learn what types of damage can be repaired vs. replaced so that you can safely extend the life of your tires.
You can evaluate your tires on your own through a visual inspection. Start with the tread — the part of the tire that contacts the road surface. Make sure the tire tread is deep enough and worn evenly all the way around without any irregularities. All DOT-regulated tires feature built-in treadwear indicators, commonly called “wear bars”, that will help you see when the tread is getting low. These indicators can be found in various places throughout the tread and will be even with the tread surface when the tread is worn to two-thirty seconds (2/32) of an inch. You should also examine each tire’s sidewall to ensure there is no visible damage.
You can also use the Penny Test to check your tire tread. This test can be performed in your own driveway in just a few minutes.
The idea of the penny test is to check whether you’ve hit the 2/32” threshold. Here’s how it works:
Check all four tires, especially in areas that look the most worn. If any parts of your tire fail the penny test, it may be time to replace the tire.
Consistent wear around the whole tire is normal. Uneven tread wear could be a sign of improper inflation, wheel misalignment, or a variety of other things. If you see uneven tread wear, you should have a technician inspect your vehicle.
If your tires pass these tests, you may not need to buy new tires just yet. It’s a good idea to reassess the tread every few thousand miles, or once a month, and even more often if you’re putting a lot of wear on your vehicle or driving long distances.
No matter how new your tire is, Bridgestone recommends checking inflation pressure every month and scheduling regular inspections with a pro.
After five years, an inspection is essential to determine if a tire is still road-worthy.
We recommend tires that were manufactured 10 years prior (or longer) be taken out of service and replaced with new tires. Same goes for the spare. If it’s 10 years old, it needs to be replaced, even if it appears new.
It’s important to note that the age of a tire is not the only indicator of whether it needs to be replaced. Many tires will need to be replaced before 10 years of age due to routine tread wear and other conditions such as punctures, impact damage, improper inflation, overloading and more. If a tire is worn out or otherwise unserviceable from damage or conditions of use, it should be replaced regardless of when it was produced or purchased.
Another common tire-buying question is if it’s necessary to replace all four tires at once.
The simple answer is yes. It is recommended to replace all four at once because your tires are key to the performance and handling of your vehicle, it’s important for them to be as identical as possible. If your tires don’t match, one end of your vehicle may not be able to respond as quickly as the other, making it difficult to control. Your tires are what keep your vehicle connected to the road, so having an even surface is vital.
If you are in a situation where you will be replacing fewer than four tires, select tires that are similar to what is currently installed on your vehicle. If you are replacing just two tires, those two tires should only be installed on the rear axle. You should only consider tires that are within the same category as your existing ones.
If you have a vehicle that came equipped with a staggered fitment (different size tires on the front and back) then you should check your vehicle owner’s manual for replacement recommendations.
There are a lot of risks associated with buying used tires.
Since you don’t know the history of the tires, it can be difficult to know if they’ve been previously run under inflated, overloaded or have other unseen internal damage which could lead to an unexpected failure. Used tires might also have uneven wear, which can cause noise, vibration or other problems and may need to be replaced much sooner than new tires. It is best to replace tires with new tires of the same category, size, load capacity and speed rating as recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer.
When it comes to recalled tires, there is only one position to take. We do not want anyone driving on recalled tires. We are committed to replacing, free of charge, any Bridgestone or Firestone tire (or other brands warranted by Bridgestone) subject to a customer satisfaction, quality and/or safety recall, at any time. The easiest way for consumers to get answers to questions about recalled tires is to call 1-844-293-7514 or locate an authorized Bridgestone or Firestone dealer to examine the tires in question.
You can also check current tire recalls online at the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration site.
There’s no reason to guess. Talk to a tire dealer or other authorized professional so you can make certain you’re choosing the best tire option for your vehicle. Find out if tire rotation and balancing are included with your new tires. If they are not, see if you can bundle the maintenance service. Ask the dealer to outline the manufacturer’s warranty and replacement options to make certain your new investment is protected in the long run, and inquire about any specials they may be offering. With these tire-buying tips and some trusted ratings in hand, you should be able to confidently pick out new tires.
Bridgestone consistently strives to connect with drivers through our stores, dealers and media campaigns to raise awareness and educate consumers on safe driving and tire safety.
We encourage all consumers to learn all they can about tire safety and why it's important to have their tires, including the spare tire, regularly inspected by a qualified professional.
Position on Recall Awareness and Tire Age
Bridgestone Americas, Inc.
bridgestoneamericas.com/safety.com to learn about tire safety and why it’s important to have their tires, including the spare tire, regularly inspected by a qualified professional.Learn about our mission, our achievements, and our ongoing commitments
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Every year in the U.S., tire-related crashes cause 200 fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Thankfully, it’s easy to monitor your tires, and how to tell if you need new tires, with a quick video and some basic information.
The primary functions of the tread on your tires are to grip the road and to divert water that causes hydroplaning. Tires with plenty of tread can help you maintain control and reduce your chances of getting a flat. With a quick monthly check of your tread and tire pressure, you’ll know if you need to replace your tires.
Tread wear bars are small, raised bits of rubber that run between the tread blocks. As these bars become even with the top of the tread, it is likely time for new tires. See more about tread wear bars below.
Tires will wear down over time, even if you don’t drive much.
Sunlight, heat, and chemicals used to melt snow and ice can reduce rubber flexibility, causing tires to crack, lose air, and eventually fail.
There are many factors that may cause uneven wear, which could shorten the life of your tires. Vehicle alignment, tire pressure, lack of rotation, and/or worn steering and suspension components can all contribute to this problem. To prolong the life of your tires and reduce uneven wear, consider getting them rotated at consistent intervals. At Les Schwab, we recommend getting them rotated every 5,000 milles. The pros at Les Schwab will also conduct a free visual inspection of your steering and suspension components. Schedule your free, pre-trip safety check today.
All tires deflate slowly over time, usually about 1 PSI (pounds per square inch) per month. Check yours monthly to keep them properly inflated. If your tires continually lose air or seem to completely deflate without warning, you may need to stop by Les Schwab for tire repair or replacement if necessary.
Does the TPMS (Tire Pressure Monitoring System) light often appear on your dash? This could mean your tires have developed a slow, continuous leak.
If you hit a curb, pothole or other obstacle, your tires can develop sidewall bulges due to a break of the inner liner. These bulges can rupture causing a potentially unsafe situation. If you spot a bulge on your tires, get to your nearby Les Schwab and have your tires inspected.
If you experience new vibrations or thumping while driving, it could be a sign that one of your tire/wheel assemblies is out of balance. It could also indicate a suspension issue. Stop by your local Les Schwab and our professionals will check your tires, steering, and suspension.
All tires sold in the United States today have what are called tread wear bars. The tread wear bars on your tires are there to help you see how much tread you still have.
These wear bars are small, raised bars of rubber in the grooves of your tire. Look at the tread pattern and you’ll see these bars running between the tread blocks.
Look at the tread pattern and you’ll see these bars running between the tread blocks. As your tires wear, these bars will become increasingly flush with the tire’s tread. It’s important to replace your tires before this happens.
Depending on where and how you drive, and the conditions you face on the road, you might consider getting new tires before they reach that point. City driving in mild conditions may allow you to wait until the tread is closer to the tread wear bar before replacing your tires. More adverse conditions, such as rain, snow, and unpaved roads, may require you to replace your tires earlier.
An easy way to check the tread on your tires is to do the penny test. Take a penny and place Lincoln’s head in one of the grooves of the tire tread.
If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, it’s time to replace the tire.
If the penny goes in enough that the tire tread is at least as deep as Lincoln’s forehead, your tires are generally considered safe and do not need replacing. Check all four of your tires when conducting the penny test.
You’ll find your next set of tires at Les Schwab. You also find our world-class customer service at a tire shop near you that cares about your safety on the road.
SHOP TIRES
Checking the condition of the tire tread is primarily a safety measure.
The ability to control a vehicle depends largely on the condition of the vehicle's wheels and road surface. Therefore, from a safety point of view, you need to know when it makes sense to change tires.
To some extent, we can assess the condition of our tires ourselves.
It is better to measure the tread depth with the wheel removed. Indeed, according to the letter of the law, the minimum tread depth must be at least 1.6 mm and must be on the entire surface of the tread, and since the rubber could wear out unevenly, there may be areas with a smaller depth, which is unacceptable, according to the law, and the tire in this case will be considered worn.
Ukrainian standards allow the use of tires with a tread depth of at least 1.6 mm. Most often, tires are equipped with a wear indicator or TWI (Tread wear indicator) mark, which indicates when the tire has reached the 1.6 mm limit. The wear indicator is the badges in the grooves in the center of the tread. On the other hand, the TWI inscription is most often located on the side of the tire. However, many tests and expert opinions have shown that the required tread depth of 1.6 mm is not enough for the tire to fully retain its original traction properties.
According to the average data, new summer passenger tires have a tread depth of 7.5 - 8.5 mm, and winter tires - 8.5 - 9.5 mm.
For winter tires, if the tread depth is 4 mm or less, they must be replaced. Tires with such a worn out tread no longer provide proper traction, so they do not fulfill their role.
How to measure the tread depth? You can use a caliper, pen, pencil, coin or match. The most accurate way is to measure with a caliper. The easiest way is to insert a match and use a thin marker to mark the depth of the tread on the match, and then use a ruler to measure the marked segment on the match. For blondes, in extreme cases, there are special projector depth gauges on sale.
Among the well-known tire brands, Michelin boasts long-lasting rubber. Michelin engineers have achieved a high level thanks to the latest technology.
In addition, as the tread wears, Michelin tires continue to perform their tasks effectively on the road. Thanks to the latest EverGrip technology, the essence of which is that as the tire wears out, new drainage layers and gripping sipes are revealed. Something similar to how a shark grows new teeth after losing the previous ones. EverGrip technology is used in many Michelin tire ranges. Among them is the famous Michelin Alpin 6 is an excellent tire with outstanding properties for all winter conditions. Michelin Alpin 6 often appears in tire tests by independent companies (Autocentre, Auto Bild, TÜV SÜD, ADAC) in which it takes pride of place on the winners' podium, and in addition takes a leading position in the discipline " wear resistance ". The price of the Michelin Alpin 6 is reasonable, making this model a great value for the money. The cost can be viewed on the website https://shinaprof.kyiv.ua/
protector.
If the tire tread has characteristic cuts along the edges, the suspension geometry may not be set correctly, if the tread has grooves, the wheels are most likely poorly balanced. If you find any of the abnormalities listed above, your tires will most likely need to be replaced. With such tires, it is better to turn to a professional vulcanization service for a more thorough inspection.
Looking for uneven tread wear. If the tire is worn more at the edges of the tire than in the middle, or when the opposite is observed, it is likely that the tires have been under low pressure for a long time or, on the contrary, have been over-inflated. We should also pay attention to any changes that are felt while driving, such as: pull of the steering wheel / wheels to the sides, increased noise, steering wheel tremor. Such tires may no longer be suitable for further use, in which case it is also best to contact a tire fitting specialist.
In addition, tires may have other defects that are not visible to the naked eye and which can only be found out by a tire repair shop.
. According to the majority of rubber manufacturers (Michelin, Nokian, Continental, etc.), the maximum service life of a tire is no more than 10 years from the date of its production, and it does not matter whether it was used or simply collected dust in a warehouse.
Winter tires provide grip and handling on snow and ice thanks to three key features: tread pattern, flexible compound and adequate tread depth. If a tire lacks any of these characteristics, the other two, regardless of their potential, will not give the desired results. Since engineers can develop a "biting" tread pattern, and chemists can develop advanced rubber compounds, the last factor, tread depth, is often decisive for winter performance.
Greater tread depth is required in winter conditions as the tires must compress the snow in the grooves and remove it (clear the tread) while driving.
If the tread depth is too shallow, the pieces of snow that stick to the tires with each revolution will be so small that traction will be greatly reduced.
Replacing tires that are not completely worn out may seem like an uneconomical solution, but it is worth considering that replacing tires with a new one is cheaper than repairing a car if, God forbid, you manage to catch up with a moving vehicle in front, for example, in the event of emergency braking.
The modern tire industry is getting better and better. Versatile products can feel great on dry pavement, evacuate water, provide traction, as well as provide acoustic comfort and reduce fuel consumption.
Many kits are available for today's machines with a variety of treads and compounds. This versatility has one drawback. The tread pattern is different on the halves of the tire. Therefore, there are Rotation, Inside or Outside marks on the tires, indicating the correct direction of rotation.
In this article we will talk about marking the direction of tire rotation, types of rubber, directional and non-directional tread pattern, and also talk about all the pros and cons of such products.
Contents:
The main factor to pay attention to is the tire tread. A well-chosen pattern maximizes the contact patch with the road and helps to drain water and slush, preventing rubbing. Wheels come in both directional and non-directional patterns or asymmetrical designs. They differ in technical characteristics, production cost and recommended conditions of use.
A set with a symmetrical non-directional tread is considered universal. In addition, the technological process for the production of such tires is much simpler than special tires, which has a positive effect on the price.
In addition, it is easy to install tires with such a tread, because it is impossible to mix up the seats.
These wheels have their own designation in the form of the Latin word Rotation. The direction of movement is determined by the corresponding arrow. The disadvantage of such tires is that the wheels can only be put on a certain side without removing them from the disk due to the fact that the tread pattern is different. If you want to put the left wheel on the right side, you need to dismantle the rubber.
The most expensive and high-tech kits installed on cars are considered asymmetrical and directional tires. Such tires are able to provide the maximum contact patch between the tire and the road, a high level of grip, and a confident response to steering turns.
Such characteristics are provided by a different pattern on the inside and outside of the tire, where one part has a "rain" and the second - a "dry" tread.
The outer segment of the treadmill is more rigid and guarantees excellent traction and stable vehicle movement during fast turns.
Inner segments typically have smaller blocks and better performance in the rain, allowing water to be efficiently evacuated from the tread. Conventionally, such wheels can be divided into left and right, because they have a different inner outer side of the tire and they are not interchangeable.
The outside marking tells us about the outside of the wheel. This designation helps when installing tires with your own hands. A similar inscription can be found on the sidewall of the wheel, next to the dimension indicators.
Tires are sometimes labeled inside. Everything is simple here - this is the designation of the inner side of the tire with an asymmetric pattern. Such labels with facilitate the installation of asymmetric wheels, because they must be installed according to strict regulations.
Otherwise, the kit will not provide proper traction.
There are wheels that have both directional and asymmetric patterns that deserve the best reviews. Such kits allow you to effectively cling to the asphalt and provide maximum grip in a situation where the rest of the tires are already giving up. The only drawback of such tires is the high cost. The price of tires from the same manufacturer will be 10-15% higher. To help calculate the cost of a suitable kit, a special calculator will help.
It's easy to recognize directional rubber. On the sidewall there may be an arrow and the inscription Rotation, indicating the movement of the car forward. If there is no such marking, then we have a non-directional tread and the direction of the tire does not matter.
The direction of tire rotation can also be determined visually. For effective water removal from the tread, the guides should go from the center of the disc to its edges.
If the pattern matches, then the wheels are correctly installed. If not, then perhaps this direction of rotation is incorrect and it is worth focusing on this by checking with the marks on the side of the wheel.
Often there are additional symbols on the kits that carry useful information. For example, you can see the twi marks on the tire, these are indicators that indicate the degree of tread wear. The last mark is at the minimum allowable height of 1.6 mm. Such marks help you understand which tires need replacing and monitor your rubber.
Often there is interest in questions, which means M+S. M + S labels are primarily placed on all-season tires. The literal designation is Mud + Snow, that is, the ability to work effectively on mud or snow. However, it is worth remembering that there is no universal solution and it is impossible to fit the best rubber in one set.
All-season tires work best at near-zero temperatures, so in fact these wheels are demi-season.
With a significant fluctuation of the thermometer column in any direction, the performance of the tires deteriorates significantly compared to the installed seasonal kits. Therefore, it is desirable to have summer and winter tires.
The marks on the outer or inner side of the tire are extremely important in order to correctly install the rubber. Therefore, let us briefly summarize the material presented above:
