Bulges, Bubbles and Bumps
The important point to remember is that the internal integrity of the tire has been compromised, and it's no longer strong enough to resist a blow-out should another impact occur. A sidewall bump means it's time for tire replacement.
Keep an eye out for cuts, cracking, bulging, and blisters. These types of damage are big red flags that your tire needs to be replaced before it fails and possibly causes you to crash.
Tires can become damaged for a variety of reasons, and it can happen without the driver being immediately aware there's a problem. The most common types of damage are punctures, cuts, impacts, cracks, bulges and irregular wear.
As you drive, the tread on your tires wears down. Once the depth drops below 2/32 of an inch, it's time for new tires. Worn tread makes it difficult to come to a quick stop on wet roads and increases the risk of hydroplaning.
Some automakers suggest that tires be replaced as soon as they turn six years old. Some tire experts contend that tires can last anywhere from six to ten years if they're stored and cared for properly. We recommend replacing tires aged 6-10 years, no matter how much tread remains.
On average, tires last about six years or between 36,000-75,000 miles. But the actual lifespan of tires varies with factors like climate, maintenance and driving habits. No matter how they look, tires should never be used longer than 10 years.
A tire blowout will immediately cause your car to begin to slow down as well as pull to the left or right, according to Sun Devil Auto. This can cause your vehicle to lose control, according to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).
Worn and bald tires are not able to gain traction on snow-covered and icy roads. Low tread tires are more susceptible to punctures, which can lead to sudden blowouts. Worn tires are more likely to lose air pressure, which impacts a car's fuel economy, braking and steering.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) reported that tire malfunctions contributed to almost 19,000 motor vehicle accident injuries each year. 733 fatalities caused by tire malfunctions occurred in a recent year.
Look at the tread and sidewalls for any cuts, scrapes, punctures, bulges, bumps or cracks. If you see anything suspicious, have a tire service professional take a closer look. You also want to keep an eye on your tire's age.
Generally speaking, tyres nowadays last for about 40,000km. That's a significant leap over the 32,000km they lasted for in the 1970s. However, it's hard to estimate exactly how long your own tyres will last.
Tire Noise That Sounds Like Trouble
Alignment problems, suspension issues, or improper tire inflation can all cause strange or unusual tire noise that sounds a bit like thumping or bumping. Misaligned or underinflated tires might sound like squealing or screeching.
One of the most common causes of tire failure is underinflation. Tires that are underinflated experience excessive sidewall flexing, which causes them to run dangerously hot, especially at highway speeds during hot weather. The buildup of heat can lead to tread separation or a sudden blowout.
Since most cars today are FWD and the front tires are responsible for acceleration, steering and most braking, they normally wear faster than the rears.
Rear tires provide the vehicle stability, and if they have little tread, then stability is lost. Although new front tires will spread water and maintain traction, worn tires in the back will hydroplane and may cause the vehicle to spin out, says Tire Review.
While it may seem logical that if you have a tire blowout, you just need to replace that 1 tire, you may actually need to replace the others as well. Why is that? It's usually dependent on the vehicle itself and the remaining tread depths on the other tires. It's always best to replace all 4 tires at the same time.
If two of your tires wear out faster, it may only be necessary to replace those two instead of replacing all four. If you do, it's important to have the two new tires installed on the back and the partially worn tires moved to the front – even on front-wheel-drive vehicles.