Is It Time for New Tires?

When to Replace Your Tires

Your tires are such an important part of your vehicle, you cannot wait until they start failing to have them replaced. Failing tires means increased chances of skidding across the road, an inability to stop, or even loss of control of the vehicle. Instead, the best way to keep track of when your tires need to replaced is by visual inspection. The technicians at So Cal Mobile Maintenance, a mobile fleet repair shop servicing the Los Angeles and Ventura counties in Southern California, have put together a few tips on what to look for during your visual inspection.

Tread Depth

The grip of your tires is directly affected by the tread. Through use, the tread is worn down, millimeter by millimeter. If left unchecked, they would wear down to look as smooth as a rubber inflatable tube. For safety, your tread should never fall below 1/16 of an inch. An easy way to check this is to take a penny and insert Abraham Lincoln’s head in the tread: if the tread covers his head, there is enough there for safe driving. If you can see Abe’s head, it’s time to replace your tires.

Tread Wear Indicator

New tires have a built-in indicator for tread depth. Manufacturers have put perpendicular lines deeper in the tread. As your tread wears, the lines will appear and become more prominent. Just in case you don’t have a penny handy!

Cracks

Inflation is almost as important for your tire and driving safety as tread. Aging rubber, especially if it’s had a life on the road, can develop cracks. On your tires, these cracks may appear on the side wall and they are a serious concern for a potential blowout. Cracks are weaknesses, and when your tires are under great strain and pressure, any cracks will be the first to cause trouble.

Bulges

Tires don’t always wear evenly, and where they end up being the weakest is where the evidence usually turns up. Bulges appear at the weak points in the tire where the rubber bubbles or blisters out of shape. Even if it doesn’t burst immediately, any weakened point on the tire is more likely to cause a blowout while you’re driving down the road.

Your Mobile Fleet Repair Experts

If it weren’t for your tires, you’d never get where you’re going! For fleet vehicles this is crucial as keeping these vehicles on the road is imperative to the ongoing operations of your business. Make tire health a priority and your tires will see you safely to your many destinations throughout the course of a busy day. Call on the experts at So Cal Mobile Maintenace at 310-702-7509, servicing all of Los Angeles and Ventura countees in Southern California, where we come to YOU, to provide advice on preventative maintenance and tire replacement options on your entire fleet of vehicles.