It’s not always easy to tell if you need new tires for your car, especially if they seem like they’re in good shape to you. Erik’s Automotive has these tips for you that can help you to spot when things might not be quite right with your car’s tires.
You Can’t Keep Air in the Tires
Any time that you’re spending a ton of time putting more air into your tires, that’s a good indication that there’s something wrong. There could be something in the tire, causing a slow leak, or there could be something wrong elsewhere, like a problem with the tire valve. Regardless, it isn’t normal to have to put air in the tires every few days, so if that’s happening they at least need to be inspected.
The Car Vibrates While You’re Driving
Your car’s tires connect directly to the road, so if there’s something wrong with the tires, you’ll feel that as the tires unevenly travel the road. Vibrations aren’t something that you should be feeling, and they can indicate a variety of different issues. If they tend to increase the faster that you go, that’s an indication that the problem is likely in the tires.
The Tires Don’t Look So Good
This is about more than just aesthetics, but you really do need to look at your tires. First, this helps you to spot issues with uneven tread wear. But the other reason to keep an eye on your tires is that as they wear out and weaken they start to look worse overall. You might notice scuffs and scrapes along the sidewalls. You might even see weak spots or blisters long the edges of the tires.
You Know that the Tires Are Old
If you already know that your tires are getting up there in age, it’s very possible that they’re close or have passed their recommended mileage. Tires also have a recommended age in years, and if you haven’t replaced your tires within that timeframe, it’s possible that you do need new tires even if the tread seems okay. Rubber breaks down over time, and that can lead to weaknesses that aren’t easy to see.
Want an expert to help you to determine if your tires are okay? Contact us at Erik’s Automotive in San Antonio, TX. We’ll be happy to inspect your tires for you and recommend a plan of action based on what we find.