Best way to tell when tires need replacing?

[BassBomb]

What is the best way to tell when tires need replacing?

I can't exactly do the abe penny test since I don't have any American coins on me.

I've noticed my car slip a considerable amount more at acceleration in the rain or snow, more so than my old Civic or I30

 

[CRXican]

should be wear bars in between the tread

 

[fstime]

Originally posted by: CRXican
should be wear bars in between the tread

/thread

I would also check the tire's wear bar on the inner most groove, most alignment places only adjust your front toe-in and don't touch your camber or caster resulting in conned tires.

 

[AsianriceX]

Also note that tire age can be a factor.

US NHTSA recommends erring on the side of caution and replacing tires after they get past six years of age. Some manufacturers say 10 years is the absolute max.
http://www.safercar.gov/

Tire age is calculated from the date it was made, and not when it was purchased. The rubber deteriorates as soon as the tire is made and stores can have old stock when they sell them to you.

I think there was some hidden investigation in the news that brought this issue to light. People thought they had reliable "new" tires that were in fact 4+ years old when they bought them. The old tires would blow out and at highway speeds, that's a very very bad thing to have happen.

 

[DivideBYZero]

Don't go under 2mm of tread depth. Some change at 3mm. You choose.

 

[BassBomb]

Originally posted by: AsianriceX
Also note that tire age can be a factor.

US NHTSA recommends erring on the side of caution and replacing tires after they get past six years of age. Some manufacturers say 10 years is the absolute max.
http://www.safercar.gov/

Tire age is calculated from the date it was made, and not when it was purchased. The rubber deteriorates as soon as the tire is made and stores can have old stock when they sell them to you.

I think there was some hidden investigation in the news that brought this issue to light. People thought they had reliable "new" tires that were in fact 4+ years old when they bought them. The old tires would blow out and at highway speeds, that's a very very bad thing to have happen.

The tires are the originals from the car.

I think it might be a camber/toe issue as one wheel does seem to look like it has positive camber. I'll check the wear indicators today

 

[Turin39789]

Dime?

 

[Pacfanweb]

When you can see the air in the tire, it's worn out.

 

[thecritic]

Six years or when you have 4/32" remaining. I do realize that 2/32" is the legal minimum, but tests have proven that traction significantly decreases once you drop below 4/32".

 

[Koing]

Car back end starsts kicking out after they are warmed up...

Koing

 

[rh71]

Originally posted by: BouZouki

Originally posted by: CRXican
should be wear bars in between the tread

/thread

I would also check the tire's wear bar on the inner most groove, most alignment places only adjust your front toe-in and don't touch your camber or caster resulting in conned tires.

I didn't let mine get to the wear bar (didn't see it yet) but the things were obviously worn and after I got new tires on, even turning the wheel was easier. I've hydroplaned before - I would never again take chances with balding tires. Never again.

I've seen the warning signs but never thought twice about them... maybe you will..

- friend's sister died after hydroplaning on a highway.
- driver's ed's wife is permanently crippled after a guy with bald tires rammed her vehicle in bad weather. You should've seen this man's face as he told us the story in class. I think he would love 2 minutes alone in a room with that guy.

If you're close to replacement, the cost of your life isn't worth the extra few miles.

 

[mooseracing]

I go for the wear bar or if the tire is starting to dry rot. If tires are kept out of the sun and stored age is less of a factor, I can tell you this from experience.

The hyrdo planing acident sucks, I've started to hydro plane, then I slow down. You can recoginize the symptoms and if you don't freak out (like people tend to do when they drive off the shoulder) it's not hard to correct. You don't instantly hydroplane then lose control just like that. There are symtoms that are easy to read if you know your car.

Bald tires are a different story, also every one that is running wider than stock tires can have the same problem as bald tires in any wet/snow/ice condition compared to stock or skinnies.

Honeslty I think people need to take advanced drives ed classes, push your vehicle to the limits before you are allowed to drive it on the road so you understand what is going to happen when the person 10ft in front of you slams on the brakes, or you try to change lanes as they are doing that.

 

[BassBomb]

It looks to be about 4mm before the marker on all 4 tires..

Would I last the winter?

I am buying new rims in the spring-time so if I were to replace the tires on this I would just buy winter tires

 

[mooseracing]

Originally posted by: BassBomb


Would I last the winter?

How is your driving style, how many miles do you drive, will you be driving in snow, water or just pavement?

What pressure are your tires going to be kept at, how much of a load is the car going to handle?

How do you expect us to give you an answer on how long your tires are going to last?

Is it that hard to look at them as you walk by them everyday when you get in or out of your car? Or if you feel like you don't have good control of you car go out and buy some tires.

 

[BassBomb]

Originally posted by: mooseracing

Originally posted by: BassBomb


Would I last the winter?

How is your driving style, how many miles do you drive, will you be driving in snow, water or just pavement?

What pressure are your tires going to be kept at, how much of a load is the car going to handle?

How do you expect us to give you an answer on how long your tires are going to last?

Is it that hard to look at them as you walk by them everyday when you get in or out of your car? Or if you feel like you don't have good control of you car go out and buy some tires.

I'll be driving about 8km each way on my commute from Jan-Apr

Dec I won't be driving much since my Univ will be out

I don't drive aggressively or with a heavy foot (in Winter) I take it pretty easy when it snows. The conditions will likely be snow and or dry pavement.. I just outside Toronto and our last winter was bad.

32-34 PSI, the car is a 2007 Accord and I'll be the only passenger so no more added weight than that.

 

[hoorah]

When you can smell the glass of the car in front of you.

 

[angry hampster]

Be safe and put a set of blizzaks or comparable snow tires on your stock rims. You said you're buying new ones in the spring anyway. No reason to skimp on tires going into a northern winter.

 

[mooseracing]

Originally posted by: BassBomb

I'll be driving about 8km each way on my commute from Jan-Apr

Dec I won't be driving much since my Univ will be out

I don't drive aggressively or with a heavy foot (in Winter) I take it pretty easy when it snows. The conditions will likely be snow and or dry pavement.. I just outside Toronto and our last winter was bad.

32-34 PSI, the car is a 2007 Accord and I'll be the only passenger so no more added weight than that.

How many stop and go's you are in also change the situation, along with outside temp, since that reduces the air psi inside you tires.

There is toooooooo many variables, if you feel unsafe just change them.

The back tires on my truck are 35x12.5x15, they have no siping left, are just barely above the wear bars, inflated to 12psi, and a rear locker......yet I still fell safe in them and in control. Granted on ice it sucks, but everyday driving, cars that can have better control are driving super slow.

I'm still searching for a deal on tires, as currently replacements are going to run $1200.