Many drivers rarely think about their tires, yet tires are essential for your vehicle. They ensure your car is balanced, keep you on the road when you turn a corner, and improve your engine’s performance. Your tires will eventually wear out, though, and you’ll need replacements. Your Toyota dealer can fit new tires for you when that happens. Below are some of the common signs of wear and tear to be on the lookout for as your tires approach the point of needing to be replaced.
Your Tires are Bald
Bald tires have lost all their tread. The tread is the part of your tires that’s in contact with the surface. Different manufacturers have different tread patterns, but all serve the same purpose. The tread allows your tires to grip the surface and keep your car steady while you drive. The tread slowly wears down as you drive, and minute parts of the rubber will flake off.
When your tire tread gets to 1/16″ thick, your tires are at the legal minimum limit and would need to be changed. If the tires continue to wear, the tread will disappear. Your tires have no grip on the surface without tread. If you drive on a wet surface, your tires will hydroplane, and you’ll lose control over your car. If your tires are bald, they need to be replaced immediately.
Cracked Tires
Modern tires are manufactured from the highest quality rubber and are designed to last longer than any previous tires. Rubber, however, is still subject to degradation due to time, water, and environmental factors. Tires also have a slight elasticity due to their natural rubber construction. Heat, both from driving and from the environment, will slowly damage the rubber, and it becomes less elastic.
Less elastic tires become prone to cracking. Surface cracks will form and grow larger over time. These cracks are weaknesses in the rubber, and heat and water can cause these cracks to become a hole. Air leaking from your tire will quickly turn a tire into a flat. We recommend replacing cracked tires ASAP to prevent more serious problems.
Bubbles in the Tire
A bubble in the tire is a small pocket of gas that forms in the sidewall or the tread. Bubbles can be caused by several issues, including a nail, internal separation of the tire layers, or a missing piece of the tread. Bubbles can also vary in size from very small to quite large, depending on their cause.
You may be able to drive with a bubble, but it can lead to a flat. Depending on the size and position of the bubble, we may be able to remove it. If you have a large bubble, we recommend replacing your tire for safety.
When it’s time to replace your tires, call us at Priority Toyota of Chesapeake. Our experienced service technicians will get your beloved investment back onto the road as quickly as possible, after a service well done.
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