Sooner or later, the tires on your vehicle will need to be replaced, but how do you know when and why?

Why Should I Replace My Tires?

As you’re moving down the road, the speed of your vehicle increases, which causes the tire to generate heat, which in turn, causes the tire to deform over time.  Also, the more your car is driven, the more the tires rotate, again, causing the tires to deform due to the heat being generated – it’s a vicious cycle, really, but you get the idea. 

Also, when tires become worn out, deformed or have lost a good amount of tread, your ability to keep the car under control diminishes, and could lead to reduced traction in snow and ice, hydroplaning in wet weather and accidents.

You may also need to replace your tires due to an alignment problem; the tires are not rotating properly or something else.  If the problem isn’t one of simple wear and tear, you’ll need to have the problem corrected so it doesn’t continue to damage new tires. 

When Should I Replace My Tires?

Most states have laws which say that when your tires have worn down to 2/32 of remaining width of the tread, it’s time for new tires. On some newer model vehicles, a warning will let the driver know tires need to be replaced soon, but if your vehicle isn’t equipped with this kind of detection device, here’s an easy trick you can do:  

Using a penny, turn it head down and stick it between your tire tread. If you can see Lincoln’s head fully, your tires legally need to be replaced.

Also, tires have molded indicators that are referred to as “wear bars,” which are visible across the tread pattern, so if you can see the wear bars, it’s time to get new tires. 

Can I Buy Just One Tire?

Sure.  If you’ve had a blow out, a flat or you’ve got one tire that has seen better days, while the remaining three still look pretty good, buying one tire is perfectly acceptable, as long as the replacement tire is exactly the same or a very good match to the other three.  You want to choose a tire that is the same line, brand and size as the remaining tires. 

Can I Buy Just Two Tires?

Again, as long as the tread on the remaining two tires looks pretty good, buying two is acceptable. Replace this pair with exactly the same brand as the previous pair, or which come as close to matching the remaining tires as possible.  

Do I Really Need To Buy a New Set of Tires?

If all four tires are wearing out or have worn out at the same time, you’ll need to replace all four tires with a new set at the same time.  

Do I Need More Than One Set of Tires?

This decision depends on where you live, how much you drive and your individual preferences.

For example, if you live in an area where you have summer and winter, you may want to have two sets of performance tires; one set for the fall/winter seasons and one for the spring/summer seasons.  You want to choose your tires based on worst case driving conditions for your area.

On the other hand, if you live where the weather basically stays the same all year, you can get by with one set.

All season tires are a good choice if weather conditions consist of light snow in winter, a little rain in the spring and a mildly warm summer.

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