subject: The Purpose Of A Tire Inspection [print this page] When you are driving down the road, you are usually assuming a few things. One of those things would be if your car will continue to run since you have your foot on the gas. A second thing would be if your vehicle will stop when you put your foot on the brake pedal so that it will stop. Another thing you might assume is that your car will travel down the road smoothly until you put it in park in the driveway.
Even if the engine runs and the brakes work, what happens if there is a problem with the tires? Neither of those things matter, since the tires are ultimately what keeps the vehicle on the road. To keep the vehicle running safely down the road, you should have a tire inspection done on a regular basis.
Think About Safety
Having the tires checked regularly is a good safety measure. If you do not have the tires checked as a preventative measure, then it means that you will discover a problem when you have a flat on the side of the road or you are in an accident. Neither option sounds very appealing. They will both cost more to you than if you had made an appointment to have the inspection done in the first place. A mechanic could easily inspect your vehicle and look for uneven wear, exposed treads, balding tires, or thin spots on the sidewalls of the tires.
Catch a Problem Before it Happens
The tire inspection might look for all of these things, but what does it mean? It could mean that you need a new set of tires, but it could also mean a few other things. Uneven wear on the tires usually means that you should get a tire alignment done. You can put on new tires, but if the alignment is still wrong, the new tires will wear uneven as well and will still be a potential safety hazard for you.
Uneven wear on the tires could also signal a problem with the suspension system. If there is a part missing, loose or not working properly, it could show up as a problem in the tire. The inspection will catch the wear before it gets terrible and causes a larger problem when you travel down the road.
Buy New Tires
Thin treads or balding tires need to be replaced. The treads on the tire show how much wear has taken place. If you have low or no tread left on the tire, this will effect how the vehicle handles. When there isn't any tread, you will not get traction in the snow, in the rain, or on roads that have less than optimal conditions to drive on. The treads will give you traction and allow you to stay more controlled in any type of condition as you drive down the road.
New tires will have an estimate of how many miles they will last. Get the tires with the appropriate tread for where you drive the most. Keep track of the tires mileage and have them inspected and rotated every 10,000 to 15,000 miles. With a rotation, you can assume the tires will get even wear on the inside and outside. They will also be moved to the front and back as needed, to keep the tires in the best shape as possible.
