When to replace your tires
Most tires do not fail without warning. They show signs first, and catching those signs early is far better than finding out on the side of the road. A few minutes of looking at your tires every so often is usually enough to know whether they need attention.
Check the tread wear bars
Tires have small raised bars molded across the bottom of the main grooves. When the tread wears down level with these bars, the tire has reached the common wear limit of 2/32 inch. At that point the grooves are too shallow to clear water well, and grip on wet roads drops. If the bars are flush with the tread anywhere across the tire, it is time to replace it.
Try the penny test
If the wear bars are hard to see, a penny works as a quick check. Put the penny into a tread groove with Lincoln's head pointing down into the groove. If you can see the whole of his head, the tread is at or below 2/32 inch. Try it in several places across the tire and around it, because tread rarely wears perfectly evenly.
Other reasons to have a tire inspected
Tread depth is not the only thing that matters. Have a tire looked at if you notice any of the following:
- Cracks in the sidewall, which can mean the rubber is aging or has been damaged
- Bulges or bubbles, which point to damage inside the tire
- Repeated pressure loss, where one tire keeps needing air
- Vibration that was not there before, which can come from a damaged tire or a balance problem
- Age; see our guide on reading the DOT date code
- A puncture that cannot be repaired, such as damage in the sidewall or shoulder
Do not wait for a flat
A worn or damaged tire is more likely to go flat at a bad moment, and a flat that happens at speed can do more damage than one caught early. Replacing a tire on your own schedule is far less stressful than dealing with it as an emergency. If you are unsure whether a tire is worn out, having it looked at in person can answer the question.
When you do replace tires, check the others at the same time. Tires that have worn unevenly can point to a cause worth fixing first, which our guide on tire wear patterns explains.
Getting replacement tires
Read the size off your current tire or the driver-door placard before you call. If we do not have your size on the racks, it can usually be sourced from nearby warehouses the same day, and prices are quoted by phone.