Four tips to know when it’s time to replace your tires

Whether you’re out for a joyride or headed to work, everything is riding on your tires. Nobody likes having to change a flat on a busy highway, and a blowout at speed could spell tragedy, so making sure your tires are in good shape is a good way to save yourself some major hassle and delay, or even your life.

But when, exactly, is the right time to change your tires? One good way to figure it out if you’re looking for tires in Norman, Moore or Oklahoma City is to stop by the service center at Landers Chevrolet of Norman, where we stock tires for all models at prices from the brands you trust, at prices to fit nearly any budget.

If you’d rather figure it out yourself, though, we understand. Seen below, check out five tips for when it’s time to reshoe your four-wheeled friend. And when you’re ready for a new set of tires, give Landers Chevy of Norman a chance to earn your business with the selection, service and prices that are second to none.

KNOW YOUR MILEAGE

Everybody loves a tire swing, but that might be the only reason you should like old tires. If your tires are more than a few years old — no matter how much you drive — they may have degraded significantly just due to heating and cooling from the seasons, changes in internal pressure, or molecular breakdown of the components in their rubber. Most manufacturers suggest that tires should be replaced if they’re more than six years from installation. If your tires are getting close to that, even if your car is parked most of the time, you likely need a new set.

HOW LONG HAVE YOU HAD ‘EM?
Tires are often sold by how many miles the manufacturer expects you can put on that set of tires before they will need to be replaced, but that’s really only an estimate. People use their vehicles — and their tires — differently, so a truck that does a lot of towing, for instance, might need new tires sooner than the same model truck, with the identical tires, whose owner doesn’t do a lot of towing. Given that, when you buy tires, be sure to make note of their suggested mileage. Cheaper tires will often have lower estimated mileage ratings than more expensive tires, so you need to also factor that in: that if you buy cheaper tires, you’ll get fewer miles out of them.

WHAT’S THE DAMAGE? 

Damage to your tires can happen any time, anywhere, from nails on the highway to sidewall damage from glancing off a curb while trying to parallel park. While tires are extremely tough and designed to take a lot of wear and tear, their overall integrity can also be compromised if a slash, cut our gouge is deep enough. If you do go off-roading, or have an incident where you hit a piece of debris or accidentally ran against something, but sure to inspect your tires carefully to make sure they’re shipshape and ready for further duty. Are there any major gouges or cuts you can see? While the tread around the outer rim of the tire is heavy rubber that can shrug off most problems, the sidewall is thinner so as to be flexible and that makes it more susceptible to damage that can cause a failure. So be sure to inspect the outer sidewalls periodically for cuts, splits or gouges.

WEAR, TEAR AND HONEST ABE

The most common reason people replace their tires, though, is that they’re just plain wore out. Like everything, tires have a life, and as the rubber on your tires gets thinner, the depth of the tread that helps your car stick to the road gets less and less effective. Let it go on long enough, and your tires can even begin to float on heavy rain at speed, risking what’s called “hydroplaning,” where the tires lose all grip, which can lead to an accident. One simple way to check whether your tires still have enough tread to go the distance is by trusting Honest Abe. Find a Lincoln head penny, and insert it with Lincoln’s head down into the tread. If you can see all of Abe’s forehead, it’s probably time for some tires.

These tips are only guidelines, so the best way to know if you need tires is to come see the folks who know your vehicle the best: Landers Chevrolet of Norman. We sell tires for all makes and models, and our full-service tire shop can get them on and you back on the road in no time. Looking for new tires in Norman? Stop in and see us today, or check out our website for the latest deals right now.