Categories: Tires

Car Tires: When Should you Change Them?

Proper and regular maintenance will enable your car tires to serve you for a relatively longer period. This includes proper inflation, balancing, and rotation. They will also wear out evenly unless the suspension system is itself worn out.

When you carry regular maintenance, there are ways by which you can determine normal wear so that you can establish when you need to replace the tires.

Checking the tread pattern

The most important thing you should check to determine wear on the tire is the tread pattern. There are tread wear indicators or bars that resemble small ridges, which may either extend over the treads or rise between them. The treadwear bars will start showing when the tread is worn to 1/16 of its surface layer, which is the legal limitation in many parts of the United States.

When you notice that the indicators show in at least two sections within a 120-degree radius, it is time to replace the tire.

The penny test can help you to measure the tread. This involves placing a penny between the thickest tread areas with Lincoln’s head facing up. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, then you need to replace the tires.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Liquid Tire Repair

When your car develops a flat tire along the road, a liquid tire repair can save your day. There are liquid tire repair kits that you can use to fix the problem temporarily so that you can take it for proper repair. Some of them can serve you for many miles, which will be very helpful if there is no repair shop nearby.

The Liquid tire repair has its benefits and drawbacks that you should be aware of.

Advantages

One of the greatest benefits of liquid tire repair is that it helps you to avoid getting stranded where help may be difficult to come by. It can seal a leak and patch a small tear instantly, allowing you to use the tire for several miles.

In addition to being quick, liquid tire repair is relatively cheap. The prices of different kits range from $5 to $50. You will thus save both time and money.

Disadvantages

The efficiency of a liquid tire repair is also it’s undoing, as it may create a false sense of security. Always remember that it should only be used as a temporary fix. Using it for extended periods may lead to such problems as tire blowouts.

You need to take great care because the liquid tire repair can easily turn messy. Take care so that the sticky liquid does not get onto your hands or other parts of your car.

Making Proper Use of a Tire Repair Kit

It is a good idea to carry a tire repair kit in your vehicle for those emergency situations that can leave you stranded in a secluded place along the road. Do not assume that your new and strong tires cannot fail.

A tire repair kit contains vulcanizer, self-sealing strip tape, a tool for enlarging small holes, and another one for pushing the strip into the hole.

You should also have a pressure gauge that can measure from 0 to 50 psi. A pair of pliers will also come in handy when you need to remove the thing that punctured the tire. In addition, buy an extra plugging strip because you can use them in all types of punctures.

You need to remove whatever caused the puncture completely before you start sealing. Apply some rubber cement to the tip of a patch-kit probe and insert it into the hole. Twist the probe from side to side and slide it in and out so as to clean the puncture and apply the rubber cement.

Take a repair strip and apply it to the probe’s eye until it reaches about the center. Add some rubber cement and push the probe into the puncture for just about ¼ of an inch.

Remove the probe by twisting it, leaving the patch in the tire. Place the repair strip very close to the surface of the tire. Then re-fill the tire with air to the required pressure.

Is it Risky to Use Patched Tire Sidewall?

The tire sidewall plays an important role in the safety of your vehicle. The tire sidewall simply refers to both sides of the car tires. Although you will not face many complications in regard to your tire sidewall, there are instances where some problems may develop.

In many instances, you will deal with tire problems along with the tread, for this is where different items like nails and other sharp objects may get stuck, resulting in a flat tire. However, there are times when you may have to deal with such things as a tear along the sidewall. Repairing the tire sidewall is relatively more challenging than repairing the tread area.

Although the tire sidewalls do not develop complications often, problems eventually arise. This may happen when you are on the highway and driving at a relatively high speed, which is a very dangerous situation because a tire sidewall that has been punctured can shred the whole tire immediately. This is a very dangerous situation that can put the lives of different people at risk, both those aboard and others who are nearby.

Is it risky to use a patched tire sidewall? Yes, it is very risky. You are strongly advised to avoid using a tire whose sidewall has been repaired.

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About Us

I am Derek Patrowsky, editor of AutoSportCatalog.com. I have over 17 years of experience in the automotive service industry and am part owner of a service facility in his hometown. Together with other writers, I hope this website will help you with your auto repair needs making better decisions when it comes to your vehicle.

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