The Blowout You Want to Avoid: The Dangers of Not Replacing Worn Tires

March 5, 2012

This Kennesaw auto repair shop talks about the risks of not changing worn out tires on your car as soon as possible. Cars are very much a part of our daily lives. One of the simplest ways to ensure safe driving is to periodically check your tires for wear. According to the Rubber Manufacturers Association, 2 out of 3 drivers cannot tell if their tires are worn by sight. To simplify the matter, most tire manufacturers have placed a wear band across the tread of the tire. If the tread wears down below that line then it is time to replace them.

 

Worn tires can cause many problems including:

  • Under Inflation – If a tire is severely worn it may have trouble keeping its standard pressure thus causing under inflation. This can result in a loss of control during steering and braking. Plus it drags down your fuel economy.
  • Puncture – Worn tires are thinner than they should be so sharp debris on the road have a better chance of puncturing the rubber and causing a flat. Since the tire is more fragile, the blowout is often more violent than in a standard tire.
  • Heat Buildup – With less tread between the road and the bulk of the tire, heat is not dissipated as quickly. As the heat builds up it increases the possibility of the tire failing. You may think that driving over a nail is the most likely scenario for a flat tire but it often turns out to be failure due to heat buildup.
  • Hydroplaning – As your tire’s tread wears down it becomes smoother. When a smooth tire comes into contact with an icy or wet surface, the lack of traction causes it to skim across the top. This results in a total loss of control for the driver.

If you need your tires checked, or you think you may have worn out tires that need replaced, you should visit your local Kennesaw auto repair shop. Let these experts get you back on the road quickly and safely.

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