It's easy to check a tire for it's condition.

1.) You want to look at the tire closely and see if it has any fine cracks on it. If it has fine cracks all over it and it looks dry it is dry rotted and needs to be replaced. A dry rotted tire has less pliability and can blow out when hitting a bump. A dry rotted tire is also less adhesive than a softer stickier tire. You need a new tire.

2.) You should check inside and outside tread. If the outside tread is worn down but the inside is good you have an alignment problem. Vice versa is also true. You need a new tire.

3.) If both inside and outside treads are worn down then you have an under inflation problem. Not enough air pressure and you need a new tire.

4.) If the inside of the tread is worn while the outside is fine then you have an over inflation problem and you need a new tire.

5.) Now to check the tread depth you look at the valleys in between the treads. There should be a small bar of rubber linking the treads together. This is called a tread wear indicator. If there are solid rubber bars across the tread breaking up the valleys with solid rubber then it is time to get a new tire. These bars or tread wear indicators only appear when the tire tread is too low.

6.) If you have any gouges, nails, or bubbles in the side wall you need a new tire

7.) If you have a slow leak chances are you have a nail in the tire and you should get it plugged immediately.

8.) The myth of winter and summer air is true if you tires look low at any time check the pressure and fill as needed. There should be a sticker on the driver's side door or door jamb that tells you the proper inflation for the tires by size.

9.) Always get a tire that is the exact same size to replace the tire that is bad. Never buy smaller or larger tires when you buy a set unless recommended by the shop you are buying the tires from.

10.) get your tires rotated at about every 5,000 miles or every other oil change at 6,000 miles. This will insure they wear correctly. Last but not least when buying a new tire record the mileage of the car and frequently check the tire after each rotation. Remember rotate your tires and you will get the full life expectancy out of them forget to rotate the tires and you will have to buy new ones all the time.

Learn more about this author, Eric Haschert.
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