Healthy tires are vital for your driving safety, and a good tire makes braking easier and faster and provides good traction on any surface. Your tires can get damaged or worn out, and Coughlin Chevrolet of Pataskala can fit new tires when you need them. These are some signs your tires could be damaged.
Old Tires
Modern tires are scientifically designed and engineered, and they last longer and are safer than ever before. Despite this, your tires will still age. Rubber tires are regularly exposed to abrasion, water, mud, and snow, and extreme hot or cold temperatures can cause the rubber to degrade faster. Sunlight can also play its part over time in wearing down your tires.
As rubber ages, it loses its natural flexibility. The loss of flexibility can make the rubber prone to cracking, which can lead to a puncture. The tread will also wear down, and a low tread reduces your control while driving. Every tire has a warranty, and if your tires are out of warranty, it’s advisable to get them checked. We will examine your tires and advise you if we need to replace them.
Visible Wear Bars
As you drive, the tread will gradually wear down. This is unavoidable, but in time, a low tire tread will make driving more difficult. Your tires have tread wear indicator bars built into them as an early warning that your tires are wearing out. These bars are barely visible on a new tire but will become more prominent as the rubber wears down.
Tire wear indicator bars look like flat lines across a tire that run perpendicular to the tread. It’s advisable to check your tires regularly for any signs of damage. If you spot these visible lines on a tire, it’s time to visit us for a tire check-up. Our highly trained technicians will examine your tires and let you know if they need to be replaced.
Slow Leaks
A slow leak is caused by a sharp object that pierces the tire. Sometimes, this object isn’t visible in the tire, but air will continue to leak out. The air inside a tire is more pressurized than the external air, and as time passes, the hole will become larger as more air is forced out of the tire.
As a tire loses air, the tire will slowly flatten out, and more of the tire surface is exposed to surface friction. If you have a slow leak, we may be able to repair the tire. We’ll identify the source of the leak and fix a small rubber plug into the hole to seal it. If the hole is too large to plug, we can fit a replacement tire for you.
Driving with worn or damaged tires is dangerous. Call us today at Coughlin Chevrolet of Pataskala.
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