How to Get the Right Tire for You
Tires, by nature, wear out over time. Due to the large number of factors involved (such as speed, road conditions, inflation, vehicle maintenance, your driving habits, temperature), it is impossible to predict a firm figure for expected tread life. Tires should be inspected regularly and replaced when the tire is worn down. 1. Checking for Wear Tires are worn out when there is just 1.6-mm (2/32-inch) tread depth remaining. This can be measured with an inexpensive tread depth gauge, available at most auto supply stores. In the absence of a gauge, here are two quick methods to check to see if your tires are worn down to the point of replacement.
The Tire Wear Bars Tires are manufactured with “wear bars” (see Figure 1) that indicate when there is less than 1.6 mm (2/32 inch) of tread depth remaining. When the tread is worn down to the point that the wear bars are flush with the tread, the tire must be replaced. Figure 1: Tire Wear Bars Exposed Wear Bars (replace the tire) B. The Penny Test The Rubber Association of Canada suggests this simple test to measure the tread depth on your tires. Place a penny into a tread groove with the Queen’s head down and facing you. If you can see the tips of the crown, it’s time for a new tire. Figure 2: The Penny Test Crown Fully Exposed (replace the tire) The Autosmart Fact Series 2. Understand Your Tire Needs Tires are manufactured in an overwhelming array of types and designs. Getting the best combination of value and performance is a result of clearly understanding your own vehicle and driving needs, and being able to communicate them to a tire professional who can assist with the final selection. There are many tire attributes to consider when buying tires. No one tire satisfies everyone’s driving needs, so it is important to consider the factors important to you, and be able to relate them to a tire professional, who can help select a tire that most meets your combination of requirements. To help in the selection, a tire professional will often ask a series of “qualifying” questions, similar to the following. The combination of responses will help determine the best tire for your needs. A. How Did Your Current Set of Tires Perform? Compare your current tires with the following set of most commonly requested attributes. Which attributes would you like more of? Which are not as important? This will give you a great baseline for selecting your next set. Tire Attributes ` 1. Durability (Long Tire Life): Depending on a large variety of factors, passenger tires may last from less than 40 000 km to more than 140 000 km. High durability may be of importance to drivers who drive 50 000–60 000 km per year, but far less so to a driver who travels just 10 000 per year. All Season tires may be more durable than Winter tires or some Performance tires.
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