When do tires need to be replaced

But a sharp object like a nail or screw is another matter. If you see such a penetrating object:. You can try repairing a small puncture yourself after removing the object , which is fairly straightforward with kits you can get at your auto parts store. Leaks can be caused by cracked or dented wheels, too, so have a qualified mechanic check for the source of the leak. Vibration in the ride or the steering wheel can be caused by worn tires, but the more common reason is wheel balance.

For example, a balance weight may have fallen off. A hum, buzz, or whine that seems to be coming from your tires also may indicate a balance issue. Tire shops can check this balance easily and having a wheel rebalanced is much less expensive than replacing a tire, so look into this before settling on replacement.

Tires should be replaced when their tread is too worn, but how worn is too worn? The answer is twofold: first, if the wear is dramatically uneven i. Step 1: Take out a penny.

Step 2: Put the penny in the tire. Step 3: Find a nickel. If there is more than 2mm of groove i. The top of his head is 4mm from the edge of the nickel, so if you can see all of his head you have 4mm or less of tread. See the table below. Step 4: Turn the penny around. Finally, if you have more than 4mm of tread go back to the penny but turn it around. Deciding when to replace a tire can depend on where you live and what you expect. In very hot climates tires may age even faster than that.

Forgot username or password? Not a member? Need further assistance? Please call Member Services at When to Replace Your Tires. How to determine whether the tires on your car, SUV, or truck need to be replaced—before they fail. By Jon Linkov. Last updated: March 20, Sharing is Nice Yes, send me a copy of this email. Send We respect your privacy. Oops, we messed up. Try again later. When you shop through retailer links on our site, we may earn affiliate commissions. Learn more.

More From Consumer Reports. Best Tire Brands of The CR Testing Difference Consumer Reports tests more than 40 tire models every year—for cars, SUVs, and trucks—putting them through their paces in up to 12 tests, mostly on our test track in Connecticut. All-season tires are made to perform well in a wide range of conditions and achieve a long tread life.

Performance all-season tires tend to grip better and provide better handling—but sometimes at the expense of longevity. However, you should keep in mind that different driving styles, road conditions, and levels of maintenance can also impact treadwear.

AA is the best rating a tire can receive, followed by A, B, and then C. A is the highest rating, followed by B and then C. Some people, in an effort to save money upfront on the tire replacement cost, turn to old used tires as replacements. However, this can be a risky strategy, even if it does save money initially.

However, even spare tires need to be replaced after a certain amount of time. Be sure to check the date of production on the spare before deciding not to replace it. Whether a tire has been driven or not, its lifespan can be affected by its storage condition and treatment.

If you know you will be parking your vehicle for a period of time, it is a good idea to protect the tires from sun and freezing temperatures, move the vehicle periodically to prevent flat spots, and even jack the vehicle up safety to prevent damage.

If you are storing winter or summer tires, it is best to store them in a cool, dry location away from sun and other weather elements.

Although this answer does depend on a number of factors including the type of car, your driving style, etc. In general, most vehicles travel about 15, miles per year, which equates to around 45, miles every three years.

If you to take into account the tire mileage warranty and amount you drive over the course of a year over 15k miles , this will give you a good indication of how often you will need to replace your tires. This is a topic of much debate. However you will find most vehicles, regardless of if they are front wheel drive or all wheel drive, will wear the tires on the front more rapidly than the rear.

The front tires are responsible for the steering, acceleration and braking, while the rear wheels typically just follow.

Most vehicles also have most of their weight on the front of the vehicle, causing the front tires to handle more load than the back tires. Since the wear and tear on the front and back wheels can be different, the answer to which tires wear faster, is typically the front tires.

All-wheel drive vehicles must have all four tires replaced at once. Because tires wear unevenly front to back, regular rotations will allow you to get longer use out of your set of tires by wearing the tread more evenly. Front tires will wear the outside edges down more quickly, so rotation allows you to always have the most tread on the outside of the tire. Not rotating will result in one set of tires wearing and likely needing to be replaced sooner than the other set.

Tires should be rotated roughly every six months or every 6, to 8, miles. A good rule of thumb is to rotate the tires every other time you get an oil change. Placing a penny head into the grooves of your tire can help you determine if the tire needs to be replaced soon.