Have you ever noticed small rubber bars that stand out in the tread of your new tires? These are wear bars and once they have worn down, that is an indication that the tire has about 1/16th of an inch of tread remaining. That is typically a proper time to get a new tire.
The tread void of a tire is the part that is made up of the tread grooves located between the tread blocks, which allow for tread flexibility. Additionally, the tread grooves are responsible for deflecting and removing water as your tire is rolling.
Does it seem like a waste of time checking the pressure of your tires on a regular basis? Experts say that tires in excellent condition will lose an average of 1.5 pounds of pressure in a month – usually more in the summer than the winter. It’s inevitable that your tires will become under-inflated if you don’t check the pressure regularly.
Periodically inspecting the sidewall of your tire is one of the easiest things you can do to see if you need a new tire. If the sidewall appears to be chipped, gashed, or "stripped," this usually means that a new tire is needed.
Experts say it’s important to consider the type of driving you do and the normal conditions you encounter – whether it’s snow and ice on the highway or dirt and mud off-road – in order to purchase the best tires for your vehicle.
Did you know that every new tire contains what is called a wear bar? In fact, the wear bar is a kind of built-in early-warning system that allows you to know when your tire needs to be changed. Located within the tread groove or void, this little device will essentially become visible when a new tire is needed.
