The best way to tell when your tires need to be changed is to take a couple of minutes once a week and check them. Of course, if your car suddenly starts making noise or the ride becomes rough, you need to do the check immediately.

The things to look for are:

1) Sufficient tread - take a copper Lincoln penny and insert it into the tread with the top of his head pointed toward the tire. If you see ANY space on the penny above his head the tread is too low and the tire needs to be replaced.

2) Uneven wear - one side of the tire treads look more worn than the other. If the difference is not too great you may be able to fix the problem with an alignment; but usually the tire will also need to be replaced.

3) Wires on the tread are showing - this is an automatic immediate replacement sign. It means you have actually worn through the tread of the tire in one or more places.

4) Are there any "bulges" - if you see a raised area it means the tread is starting to separate and needs to be replaced.

5) Is the tread broken - are there pieces missing out of the tread pattern. This does require replacement before more damage occurs.

6) Check the sides of the tire - aproximately 1 - 2 inches from the tread, check and see if the rubber looks like it is "lifting up" from the side of the tire. If it is; then, your tread is starting to separate and the tire must be replaced.

Regular inspection of your tires can keep your car running smoothly and efficiently.

Learn more about this author, Ginger Kazay.
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