When Should Tires Be Replaced?
There are many different areas of your vehicle to keep track of, each with their own set of potentially faulty mechanics. Some parts of the car that are experiencing issues can be ignored for a bit of time 
before needing maintenance, while other areas require immediate attention before getting back on the road. The tires fall in a bit of a grey area of maintenance because each tire must be inspected separately to determine the current lifespan. Sure, we all know that if we’ve developed a flat, it’s time for new tire installation, but what about a tire that is prepared to fail before you began driving? Here are a few key indicators that it’s time for your tire(s) to be replaced in order to avoid difficulty on the road.
Pressure & Placement Woes
One of the most critical factors in developing uneven wear across each tire has to do with pressure. Unlike the old days, we don’t have to eyeball the situation or wait until we feel an enormous amount of wear because many modern vehicles have tire pressure indicators. By keeping an eye on the pressure of each tire and adjusting the inflation accordingly, you can steer clear of more drastic tire services such as replacement. Be careful, however, when performing a tire service such as reinflating a deflated tire because pumping too much air into a tire can result in a blowout.
The placement of your tires matter immensely because, through normal driving, each tire will accumulate what is known as “wear”. In order to evenly disperse the wear damage across each tire, a tire rotation must be performed routinely. By reconfiguring where each tire sits, the patterns of wear across each set of rubber will be more consistent. If you’re unaware of how often you should be receiving tire rotation services, simply check your car manual for information.
Checking Tread Wear
Many modern tire manufacturers today include what is known as a “tread wear bar” on the design of their tires. This special indicator appears as a set of grooves within the treads, allowing drivers to see how much their tire is wearing down over time. Each tire usually has multiple wear bars, sometimes as many as six, to alert the driver when it’s time for a change. These modern innovations have eliminated many headaches of the past, however, if your tires don’t have tread wear bars, you can always rely on President Lincoln to set you straight. Simply insert a penny facing downwards in between one of the treads of your tire. If you can still see Lincoln’s head, you have a problem because that means your rubber has significantly worn down past safe usage. If you cannot see President Lincoln’s head after placing him in a tread, that means your tire has some time left before you need a new tire installation.
Whether it be worn down treads that cannot be relied upon anymore, tire rotation as an equalizing measure, or simply repairing a flat tire, Jiffy Lube has the tire services available that you need to get back on the road. While each car manufacturer today has standard recommendations for the maintenance intervals of each component, the type of driver you are, plus the kind of weather your vehicle handles on a daily basis may accelerate the need for shorter intervals. Proper tire installation is another huge factor in how well your tires will perform, so be sure to handle each replacement carefully.
