Without tires, your car is pretty useless. Save yourself a lot of hassle and frustration by replacing worn tires before they pop and leave you scratching your head on the side of the road. There are several simple ways to see if you must replace your tires.

Tread Wear Indicator

Many tires have a tread wear indicator that exposes solid rubber bars when the tread is worn down. This indicates that it is time to replace the tire.

Check the Tread

Measure the depth of the tread. In most cases you should replace a tire when its tread depth reaches 1/16 inch or less. You can buy a tread depth measuring tool at your local automotive store. According to Goodyear Tires, an easy trick is to stand a penny in a tread groove with Lincoln's head upside down and facing you. If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, it's time to replace the tire.

Cracks

If there are cracks in the sides of the tire, replace the tire. These cracks weaken the durability of the tire and will slowly expose its interior, releasing air and causing the tire to burst.

Tire Pressure

If you notice your tire keeps losing air, test the air pressure. You can buy a tire pressure instrument to check this. Some gas stations with air machines have these tools also. If the air pressure in the tire decreases over time, even after being refilled with air, the tire has a hole or leak in it. Take the car to a shop to identify the source and see whether the tire can be fixed.

Source:

Goodyear Tires

Patlob Tires