How Do You Know When You Need New Tires On Your Car?

If you have been visiting your auto repair shop more frequently than normal for urgent tire repair, it is probably time to change your old tires.  Though, it may cause you some anxiety thinking about putting out so much money on new tires although you realize that your car will trip smoother and be safer to drive. You find yourself wondering if your tires could last a little while longer.

So how do you know when you need new tires on your car?  Here are two easy ways in which you can determine it’s time to purchase new tires:

• Penny test. Place a Lincoln penny upside down into the tread on several spots about 15 inches apart around the tire. If you can see most of Lincoln’s head over the tread, it is definitely time for new tires.
• Wear Bars.  Many of the new tires have built-in “wear bars.”  If this bar becomes visible, you may notice your tires start to roar as you drive down the road.  

If your tires still have plenty of tread wear left, there are various maintenance tips to help keep them on the road for a few more miles:

• Inspect inflation pressure frequently.  It can change with changing temperatures.  Your vehicle will handle better with better fuel efficiency.
• Rotate tires.  A tire rotation about every 6K to 8K miles will help the tread wear more evenly.
• Inspect wheel alignment about every other oil change.  It is quick and easy to have the alignment adjusted if needed.  This will help the rubber and tread on your tires wear in more even patterns.
• Inspect the overall condition.  As well as inspect the tread wear, inspect for cuts in the rubber and sidewalls on a regular basis.
• Avoid Overloading.  Overloading the maximum load capacity of your vehicle adds excessive pressure on your tires.

What should you do if you feel unusual vibrations or steering issues?  Slow down and drive carefully to a tire repair shop.  Or, it may be compulsory to replace the bad tire with the spare, or in the worst case, call a tow truck.

Have more questions about how do you know when you need new tires on your car?  Call our ASE Certified Mechanics at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about tire repair service and to request an appointment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto repair shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.

When Should You Get New Tires For Your Car?

The answer to this question can have several variables.  Although most tire manufacturers say that tires on a new car can last for about 50K miles, the actual number of miles you can drive on a tire is dependent upon various factors, such as:

• What is the quality of the tire?
• Are your tires all-purpose for year-round driving, or snow tires?
• How is the tire mounted on your car?
• What is the tread-wear rating, or the expected tread life?
• How and for what purpose is the car driving? 

So how do you know when should you get new tires for your car?  By following the tire service tips below, the life of your tires is extended, preventing emergency tire repair:  

• Inspecting the inflation pressure – The right inflation pressure will ensure optimal contact with the road; improving fuel economy and helping the tread wear more evenly. 
• Rotating tires – Rotating tires to a different position on your car helps ensure they wear out in an even pattern. Many tire service shops don’t charge for a tire rotation service if you have it done at the same time as another service, such as oil changes.  Tires should usually be rotated every 6 months or 6,000 to 8,000 miles.  
• Wheel Alignment – The wheels are aligned with the suspension so that the angles of the tires maximize their contact with the road.
• Tire Balancing – Weights placed on the rim of the tire help balance the tire if one component of the tire is heavier than another portion.  This will ensure that your tires roll down the road as smoothly as possible. 

So why is quality tire service so important?  Because tires are the only components of your vehicle that really touch the road, taking good care of them will not only save you money on having to replace them, but it also increases the safety of your vehicle.

Did you know…Most tire manufacturers are rated with the specific lifespan of the tire so that car owners know how many miles to expect out of their new tires?  

Have more questions about how do you know when should you get new tires for your car?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about basic tire repair service and to request an appointment. Our family-owned auto repair shop has proudly served car owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.

How often should you replace your tires?

Whenever you take your car out on the road, your tires become a little more worn.  This doesn’t mean you are a bad car driver; it’s just the nature of tires.  They are the only part of your car that actually touches the road. Thus, it’s vital that you take good care of them with regular tire service.

If you have a tire blow out or a tire goes flat while you’re driving, especially at a high speed, the result could be disastrous!  You may be stranded in the middle of nowhere, or even worse, be the cause of an accident.  The time to take care of any needed repairs is before something goes wrong!  

To make sure your tires are in as good condition as possible, here are 4 simple tire service tips that you can do yourself:

1. Inspect tread depth – The tread on your tires should not fall below 1/16 of an inch—double that if you regularly drive on wet slick roads.  You can see how much tread depth you have left by inserting a penny into the tread.  If Abe’s entire head remains visible, you don't have enough tread to drive safely.   Fresher tires now have built-in tread-wear indicator—flat rubber bars that run perpendicular to the direction of the tread.  It’s time to purchase new tires if you see these bars begin to seem on any of your tires.
2. Inspect for cracks in the sidewall – Crack may indicate air is leaking out of the tire and your tire is losing pressure. If the cracks look very serious, schedule a tire service as soon as possible. 
3. Inspect for bulges and blisters in the rubber – When the outer surface of the tire begins to wear out, bulges and blisters can show up, weak spots that are vulnerable to a blowout.  
4. Feeling excessive vibration – If you are an experienced driver, you know how much vibration is usual, and when it is too much.  More than usual vibration is usually a sign of issues so schedule a tire service to inspect for unstable tires, worn-out shock absorbers, or issues.    

Don’t endanger yourself, your passengers, and other motorists with a flat tire or blow-out on the road. Keep up with regular tire service and replace tires as needed.

Are you wondering how often should you replace your tires?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about regular tire service and to make an appointment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto repair shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.

How Often Should You Get New Tires On Your Car?

Some drivers may not think about the condition of their tires as long as they are still able to drive their vehicles. Inappropriately, if their tires are not in good shape, they could be endangering themselves and their passengers. Statistics say that nearly 11,000 tire-related accidents happen every year, many of them because of tire failure.  

There are 3 main signs indicating a needed tire repair:

• Uneven tread wear. This means one or more tires may wear faster than the others, or there are is an irregular wear pattern on one of the tires. 
• Vibration.  At speeds of 45 mph and upper, you may feel a vibration due to uneven tread wear. 
• Deflation.  If a tire is losing air faster than any of the others, it may have too much pressure put on it.

So how often should you get new tires on your car?  Most tire manufacturers to provide the specific lifespan of tires so that drivers know about how many tires a new tire should last, normally,  about 50,000 miles.

Of course, the actual life of your tires depends on some factors:

• The quality of the tire. 
• Is it a performance summer tire?
• Treadwear rating, i.e., the predictable length of tread life.
• How the car is driven. 
• The type of vehicle and how the tire is mounted. 

Wondering how often should you get new tires on your car?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about our tire repair services and to make an appointment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto repair shop has proudly served vehicle owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.

Are you wondering how often do you need to Buy New Tires?

Normally, the tires that come on a new vehicle will last for about 50,000 miles.  Most tire manufactures will state the specific lifespan of their tires so that you should be informed as to how many times they are good for when you purchase new tires.  

Of course, the actual life of your tires depends on some factors:

• The quality of the tire. 
• Is it a performance summer tire?
• The type of vehicle and how the tire is mounted.
• Treadwear rating, i.e., the expected length of tread life.
• How the car is driven. 

Did you realize that the four tires on your vehicle are the only parts of your vehicle that actually touch the road?  So it is important that you keep up with regular tire repair and maintenance, such as:  

• Correct inflation – This will ensure optimal contact with the road, improving fuel economy and helping the tread wear more evenly. 
• Tire Rotation – Moving your tires around to a different position on the vehicle will make sure they wear out in an even pattern. Usually, tires should be rotated every 6 months, or 6,000 to 8,000 miles, about every other oil change.  
• Wheel Alignment – Alignment refers to an adjustment of the vehicle’s suspension so that the angles of the tires affect how they make contact with the road.
• Balancing – Balancing is done with wheel weights to achieve smooth rolling of the tire. 

Quality tire service performed on a regular basis will ensure you get the most miles out of your tires while maximizing the safety of your vehicle.

Wondering how often do you need to buy new tires?  Call our ASE Certified Technicians at Clausen Automotive, The Hybrid Shop, for more information about tire repair and maintenance and to Make an appointment. Since 1975, our family-owned auto repair shop has proudly served car owners in Madison, WI, and the surrounding communities.