How long vehicle tires last depends on several factors. If the weather in your region gets extremely hot, for example, your tires will produce more heat on the road and wear out quicker. Road conditions also play a significant role, as driving on unpaved or poorly maintained surfaces with lots of potholes puts extra stress on tires. Your driving habits also affect how often you visit your local tire shop. Consistently driving over curbs, driving too fast around curves, and riding pavement edges are among the habits that wear the vehicle components out prematurely.

How Do You Know It's Time to Visit the Tire Shop?

1. Lack of Tread

Tire tread provides the friction necessary for gripping the road and staying on course. It eventually wears down, resulting in smooth tires that can cause your vehicle to slide. Perform the penny test to determine how much your tread has worn down — if you can see President Lincoln’s head after inserting the coin head first into the tread, go to your local tire shop.

2. Sidewalls Cracks or Bulges

As tires age, they can sustain cracks or blisters in their sidewalls. These damages compromise the safety of your vehicle because they can cause blowouts at any time. In addition to poor driving habits, sidewalls wear down following repeated exposure to ice and rain.

3. Uneven Wear

Skipping wheel alignment services and going too fast around curves result in uneven wear, especially in front tires that take the brunt of turning efforts. Improper tire pressure also creates wear issues. Serious wear causes balding problems that affect your vehicle’s safety.

4. Age

Tires can last up to 10 years; however, they need annual inspections following the five-year mark to ensure their safety. If yours are older and feature any of the above issues, you need to see your tire shop team immediately.

Purchase new tires from Flat On The Spot Mobile Tire Service, the Anchorage, AK-based tire shop specializing in fast and affordable services. In addition to tire repairs and replacements, this esteemed company offers jump starts, oil changes, and lockout services among others to help you stay safe on the road. Call (907) 242-0086 today to schedule service or visit the website to learn more about the company. Like the Facebook page to keep the car maintenance tips coming.