June 27 to July 3 is National Tire Safety Week, when we remind consumers how to properly care for their vehicle tires. Proper tire care will ensure your tires last as long as they can, and they’ll help with your overall fuel economy.

It’s the perfect time to dive into tire safety, and learn when it’s time to say goodbye to the old ones are your vehicle. This post will give you tips on tire maintenance, tire care and tire safety.

So, pop open a bottle of your favorite celebratory beverage, while we in the tire industry celebrate National Tire Safety Week! 

Tire Safety FAQs

We understand things are tight right now, and the thought of buying new tires could give you anxiety. But the last thing you want to do is drive around on bad wheels and risk your and your family’s safety. Here are some ways to know when it’s time to buy new tires, along with ways to extend the life of the ones you have.

How often should you replace tires?

Many factors go into when it’s time to replace the tires on your vehicle. They include the tire’s age, treadwear rating, tire type, your driving style and more.

Most tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires around 6 to 10 years from the date they were made. That’s right: NOT from the date they were purchased, but from the date they were manufactured. You can find out exactly when your tires were manufactured by looking at the date stamped onto the tires.

Every tire sold in the U.S. must follow DOT tire age laws. The U.S. Department of Transportation requires manufacturers to mark all tires with the week and year they are made. In a separate post, we explain where to look for the DOT marking on your tires, and the last four numbers represent the manufacturing date.

For more pro tips on how often to replace tires, Read: How Often Should You Replace Your Tires?

Are used tires safe?

You might be thinking about buying used tires to save a few bucks. Bad idea!

The reality of used tires is you don’t know their true history. Even if they look to be in decent shape and have sufficient tread depth, more on that later, they may have been driven improperly and have damage that you can’t see.

For more facts on used tires, read Are Used Tires Safe, which explains the risks of buying them and some safety points to keep in mind.

Checking tire tread

We mentioned tread depth in the previous section, and it’s a critical factor when deciding if it’s time for new wheels.

New tires typically have a tread depth of 10/32 of an inch (10/32″), but some mud tires, all-terrain tires, and off-road tires have deeper depths closer to 15/32″. When tread depth reaches 2/32″, the tire is bald and dangerous. This is when it’s time to replace them.

There are a few ways to check the tread depth, and all are easy. The coin test is the simplest way to get tires checked. Learn three DIY tire tread tests.

Speaking of tread depth … 

There’s a good chance the tires on your automobile have a visual indicator regarding tread depth. They are called tire wear bars and are built right into the tire. The wear bar becomes more visible as your tire wears closer to the danger zone of 2/32″.

Different manufacturers place wear bars in various locations, so finding yours depends on the maker. Long story short, when your tire wear bars start to become smooth, it’s time to start looking for new tires. Learn more about tire wear bars.

Maintaining your tires and things to watch for

Let’s begin with tire dry rot. This refers to the tire’s aging process and the breaking down of rubber and polymer materials. You may hear this process referred to as sidewall cracking or weathering.

A few things can cause dry rot in tires, including the tire’s age, lack of use, poor tire care and weather. There are steps you can take to help prevent dry rot:

• Keep your tires properly inflated.
• Regularly drive on your tires. Don’t just let them sit for long periods.
• If your vehicles are in storage, move them every couple of months.

There is more to know about tire dry rot. Read: What Causes Dry Rotting Tires?

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Extend your tire’s life by rotating regularly

One of the best ways to extend your tire’s life is by rotating regularly. That’s because most vehicles do not distribute weight evenly. Over time, this leads to tires in certain positions experiencing more concentrated strain and wear and tear.

For example, front-wheel-drive cars put more strain on tires in the front. By rotating tires regularly, tread wear is uniform across all four tires’ treads. This can extend the tire’s life. Read our Guide to Tire and Wheel Rotation.

Consider run-flat tires if you spend a lot of time on the road

A flat tire can be a nightmare. Especially if you’re nowhere near a service station that can help. One option to help reduce the stress when you have a flat is by having run-flat tires on your car.

So, what are run-flat tires? The answer is in the name. If a run-flat tire gets punctured, you can continue driving until you can safely make it to an auto shop or a safe place to change the tire. Check out our post on run-flat tires.

Non-tire stuff you should know

If an accident or breakdown happens, there are essential tools that every driver needs to have in their vehicles. These include a spare tire, a tire jack and iron, jumper cables and more. There are also some emergency items to have on hand, including a first aid kit, flashlight and more. Check out our article for a list of 12 things you need to have in your vehicle to be prepared for anything.

Tire Safety Checklist

Some local tire repair and replacement shops offer free tire inspection and tire checks. For them, it’s a small cost to win your future business. It should also tell you how quick and easy it is to check your tires, which means (let us put on our best “dad” voice): There’s no excuse for neglecting tire inspections. 

• Check tread depth: Do the penny test every 5,000 miles to check tread depth. Tire treads should be deeper than 3/32″; anything less than that must be replaced immediately.
• Check tread depth again, in several places: Check tread depth throughout the circumference of the tire, not just in one place. Tires can wear unevenly.
• Replace worn tires: Replace tires when tread depth is at or near 2/32″, or when they’re older than the manufacturer’s recommended shelf life (6 to 10 years, depending on the type of tire). 
• Check tire pressure: Always keep tires properly inflated. Even if your vehicle has a TPMS, check your tire pressure at least every time you have an oil change. Check tire pressure when there have been severe weather changes.  
• Visually check tires: When you fill up with gas, do a visual check of your tires. Look for tires that look lower than the others. Look for foreign objects in your tires. Check tire sidewalls for scratches, punctures, bulges, bumps or cracks. If you notice any, get to your tire professional right away. (Take a picture before you drive, so you have a record of the tire’s oddity.)
• Check for valve caps: Make sure your tires’ air valve caps are still in place. If not, these are very inexpensive and easy to replace.
• Don’t overload your tires: Vehicles and tires both have weight limits. Do you know yours? Check your owner’s manual, or check the vehicle placard on the driver’s door panel for the correct tire pressure and vehicle weight (include towing abilities).

When it’s time to buy new tires, shop Tire Agent. We’ll ship tires for free anywhere in the U.S., even to your local tire shop. 

Photo 24934340 Vasja Podbršček | Dreamstime.com