Healthy tires are vital for safe driving. A good tire will stop faster when required and provides a more secure grip on the road surface. Your tires will wear out and need replacement. As your Nissan dealer, we care about your safety. We’d like you to know a few signs that you need to visit us for new tires.
Cracked Tires
Modern tires are made from high-quality rubber, but they can develop cracks over time. Your tires are exposed to heat, cold, water, mud, and snow. In addition, they heat up due to friction with the road surface and then cool down when you park your car. As rubber gets older, it loses some of its elasticity. When this happens, temperature changes can cause the rubber surface to crack.
A crack in a tire may seem a small thing, but it will gradually widen and deepen. If a crack goes deep enough into the rubber, a leak can develop or your tire could even blow out. If cracks develop in your tires, it’s time to plan for their replacement, as cracks can’t be repaired. We will carefully check any cracks in your tires and can advise if they need replacement. We can also fit new ones for you if the originals are damaged.
Worn Tread
The tread is the raised section of your tires and is separated by grooves. These grooves are designed to funnel water or mud away from the tires as you drive. This reduces the chance of liquid accumulating underneath your tires, which can make driving dangerous. The tread will slowly wear down due to abrasion with the surface as you drive.
Healthy tread should be a minimum of 2/32″ thick, measured from the deepest part of a groove. You can check the depth of the tread with a tread depth gauge, or you could use a Lincoln penny. Turn a Lincoln penny upside down and insert it between the treads. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, your tread is severely worn, and the tire must be replaced immediately. We can quickly fit and balance replacement tires for you.
Visible Wear Bars
Wear bars are built into your tires. They’re thin strips that run perpendicular to the tire tread. These bars are invisible on a healthy tire. As the rubber slowly wears down, the bars will become visible.
Since wear bars are a sign that a tire is wearing down, we recommend visiting our service department ASAP if you spot them. Our technicians will closely examine your tires, and we can advise if your tires are still safe or need replacement.
There are many other signs that your tires could be in trouble. Visit us today at Ed Martin Nissan, and get an expert opinion on your tires.
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