Motoring

6 signs your car tires aren’t safe anymore

Philstar.com

August 31, 2015 | 8:43pm

MANILA, Philippines – Are you sure your vehicle’s tires are safe?

You might not realize it but unsafe tires can cause not only complications to the other components of your vehicle but also road accidents, including deadly ones. Regular tire maintenance is therefore just as important as making sure your car’s gassed up for an important trip.

How can you tell whether it’s still okay to drive with your old tires? Here are at least six signs they’re already unsafe:

1) Uneven wear

Irregular tire wear tells you one or more of at least three things: First, your tires are not correctly balanced. Second, your wheels are misaligned. And lastly, the issue might be on tire pressure.

Center wear means tire pressure is too high, while excessive wear on both sides of the tire means tire pressure is too low. If one side of the tire has excessive wear, it is most likely a periodic rotation issue for which you need to visit a tire shop to have your tires rotated according to the owner’s manual of your vehicle.

2) Difficult steering

Misaligned wheels not only cause your tires to wear off sooner but also make steering and handling quite uneasy. The more obvious problem is your vehicle won’t go and brake in a straight line. There can also be some negative effects to your vehicle’s suspension components.

If you find that your wheels have alignment issue, go to a trusted mechanic as soon as possible. A computerized alignment machine in some auto shops these days can provide a more accurate solution.

3) Cracks and blisters on sidewall

It’s easy to do a visual check of sidewall problems. Look for cuts in the sidewall that is visible to the naked eye. This could be a sign that your tire is developing a leak. So if the cracks in the sidewall are starting to look serious, go to your nearest tire center and talk about having your tires replaced. Better safe than sorry.

4) Bulges on the tire

Driving through a large pothole or over a curb, or driving with low tire pressure can cause bulges on your tires. Continuing to drive on a tire that has a sidewall bulge is dangerous. It greatly increases the likelihood of a blowout. Any tire with sidewall bulges should be replaced immediately, regardless of the tread status.

5) Flushed tread depth indicator

Tires these days have a tread depth indicator. When this indicator is flushed along with the rest of the tread it’s time to change your tires. The tread on your tires should never fall below1.6 mm in depth. If you regularly drive on slick, wet surfaces, you'd be even better off with twice that much. You can buy a gauge to measure the tread depth the way the professionals do.

6) Too much vibration

A certain amount of vibration is expected when driving, especially on poorly paved roads. But if you've been driving for a while, you probably know how much vibration feels right and how much means that something's going wrong.

There can be any of a number of causes for the vibration—maybe your tires are misaligned or unbalanced, or your shock absorbers are starting to go. But it could also indicate that there's some sort of internal problem in the tire itself.

Even if the tire isn't the root cause of the vibration, the vibration could damage the tire and pretty soon you'll have a problem. So if your car has a bad case of the shakes, especially if you notice this when you aren't driving on bad roads, take it to the mechanic right away to have it checked out. Too much vibration is almost always a sign that something is wrong.

You might have been noticing a couple of these tire problems but haven’t been really concerned about the dangers they could bring. Remember, your safety rides on your tires as they are the only interface between your entire car and the road.

Proper care and maintenance not only extend the performance and life of your tires but most importantly improve motoring safety. That is why having a trusted brand like Bridgestone is the most important upgrade you can invest in for your car to ensure a safer driving experience. Upgrade to Bridgestone and stay secure and safe on the road.

You can learn more about proper tire care and find Bridgestone tire shops near you by visiting Bridgestone Philippines’s Facebook page and website.

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