The tires on your car are the only point of contact with the road and affect handling, traction and safety. To ensure optimum performance, tires should be inspected regularly. Continue reading this blog to learn more about tire inspection!
Performing a visual tire inspection can help you catch problems before they become serious. This inspection guide will walk you through the basics of checking for tread depth, uneven wear and other common issues.
Tread Depth Analysis Is One of the Most Important Aspects of Tire Inspection!
The depth of a tire’s tread is what allows it to grip the road, providing the traction required to control your car during wet or snowy conditions. Tires that have too little tread will create unsafe driving conditions. In fact, it’s illegal to drive on tires with less than 2/32 of an inch of tread in many states.
There are a few ways to check your tread depth, including using a tread wear indicator bar or the penny test. With the latter, you place a Lincoln penny into the grooves of your tire’s tread. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, your tread depth is too low and it’s time for new tires.
Wear Bars
Many things can cause a tire to go flat and need replacement, but most of these are avoidable with routine inspections. One of the most important indicators is a set of raised bars that sit inside the grooves of your tires, lower than the tread itself.
These are known as tread wear indicators, and they allow you to see how close your tread is to the legal minimum. They can be used in conjunction with the penny test or a tread depth gauge to help you determine when it’s time to buy new tires.
You can find them by looking between the ribs of the tire, as shown in this image.
Blisters
It’s important to get into the habit of performing a visual inspection of your tires regularly. This will allow you to catch problems that require professional attention, such as tire pressure and tread depth.
You should start by jacking up your car safely and placing it on jack stands or wheel chocks to give the tires a thorough examination. Look at each tire for signs of damage, severe wear or dry rot. You should also feel for any bumps or bulges that don’t belong in the tires. Bulges are indicative of air bubbles that have formed between the rubber layers in your tire and could cause a blowout.
Splits
A tire that is punctured with a nail or screw can leak air and pose a dangerous driving condition. Visual inspections can reveal these punctures by looking for egg-sized lumps that feel softer than the surrounding rubber.
Visiting a professional auto shop for routine tire inspections ensures that you get the most out of your vehicle’s tires. When tires are properly inspected, rotated, and inflated they will wear evenly and provide the best performance from your vehicle. Using technologies like UVeye to automate the inspection process in your shop can elevate the value of this service and improve customer satisfaction. Learn more about this new ‘inspection as a service’ solution here.
Bumps Can Be Detected in a Tire Inspection
Just like with a health check at your doctor’s office, it’s important to get into the habit of regularly checking the condition of your tires. Any blisters, bulges or cracks in the sidewall need to be examined. While minor cracking is normal due to weather and age, a deep gouge that exposes metal belts or fabric strands means it’s time for a new tire!
Visiting an auto shop for a routine inspection is the best way to keep your tires in top shape. A simple visual inspection can prevent expensive and dangerous problems down the road! Schedule an appointment today!
Bulges
The tires on your car perform important functions like supporting the vehicle load, transferring traction and braking forces to the road surface and absorbing road shocks. Visiting a professional auto shop for routine tire inspections will ensure that they are in good condition and performing properly.
Irregular wear patterns like depression, cupping and wavy wear can point to misalignment of the drive axles. In addition, a regular air pressure check will reveal whether the tire is over or under inflated, which can negatively impact fuel economy and driving maneuverability.
Contact Us For a Tire Inspection
If you are in need of a tire inspection in Las Vegas, contact us to learn more today!