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Changing your car's tires is necessary to enhance their performance, which in turn enhances the car's efficiency, performance, and safety. Old or worn tires can have thin treads, difficulty braking and stopping effectively, or blowouts that leave you stranded or lead to accidents. However, knowing that you need to change the tires is one thing; knowing when to do so is another. The good news is that it is not as difficult as you might think to know when it's time to change out your tires. more The following are the ways to know when it is time to change any of your car's tires: Assess the Tread Bars Image via Flickr by Tino Rossini Examining tread integrity allows you to know whether they are worn out. You can do this by checking the tread bar's condition. You will spot the tread wear bars that appear as small horizontal bridges forming in between the threads at a deeper level. If the bar flushes with the tire tread, it's time to change that tire. Consistent wear leaves the bars flush with the tire treads, which means that the treads have worn to 2/32 of an inch, and you need to replace the tire. Ensure that you check the bars all over the wheel and not just on one spot. Check the Appropriate State or Regional Tread Recommendations Treads are primarily active on wet roads where they divert water beneath the tire for improved traction and less hydroplaning. Treads that are below 2/32 inches are dangerous as they can easily make the car lose its grip on the road and cause an accident. That's why they are illegal in most parts of the world, and a number of states in the U.S. even have their own tread recommendations. Texas tire regulations require a minimum depth of 2/32 of an inch to have your tires be considered in proper and safe condition. Determine the Age of the Tires While factors like your driving habits and the weather conditions determine how well your tires can last, the tires' age also matters. Experts recommend that you change your tires after six or more years, even if they lack visible signs of damage or wear. There is typically a 4-digit code on the side of the tire that indicates its age. The first two numbers represent its week of manufacture and the last two the specific year. A “1209“ code, for instance, indicates that the tires were made on the 12th week of the year 2009. If you find it difficult to spot the code, look for the initials “DOT“ and follow the wording or numbers after it to spot the code. It should only have four digits, and the last two should correspond to a year in the past. Do the Penny Test One of the simplest ways of measuring the depth of any tire treads is by using a penny. Hold the coin upside down with Lincoln's head facing you and put it in between the treads located at the thickest part of the tire. If Lincoln's head is level with the treads, the tire is unsafe and needs a replacement. The tire is more dangerous and non-roadworthy if you can see the copper under Lincoln's head. Replace it immediately. A safe tire is one that leaves Lincoln's hair or a small part of the head covered during the penny test. Use a Tread Indicator Using a tread indicator can also help you accurately track down the wear and tear that your tires have undergone. It is a probe that has precise calibrations and allows you to avoid doing a lot of guesswork when measuring the tread depth. You should put the indicator's probe in between the one tire groove on the tread's outer surface. Then, while taking care not to disrupt the probe, remove the gauge by the barrel and take the tread depth measurement. Repeat the process around the center tire grooves with 15-inch intervals and average your readings. If you get a result of less than 2/32 inch, replace the tire. Check for Visible Signs of Damage There are many types of damage that your car might have. You may see the signs on the external surface of the tire manifesting as perforation cuts, abnormal bulges, or deformations. Bulges indicate that air pressure is sipping into the outer tire layers due to cracks or damages to the rigid internal frame. They could be visible on the tire's sidewall, the surface outside the rim facing you after you embark from your parked car. You'll want to replace tires with this damage immediately to prevent a blowout or sudden tire failure at highway speeds. Check For Dry Rot Small cracks all through a tire's surface indicate a breakdown of the rubber. The dry rot causes tires to fall apart and detach from the steel belt. That can leave the external part of your car damaged. In other instances, the wheels could start deteriorating with visible rot before the treads begin to diminish. You should inspect your tires to ensure there are no dry rots before you embark on long journeys. Change the tires and degrease your tires often to prevent this damages, especially if your car comes under intense sunlight exposure. After Noticing a Puncture Even with modern tires being incredibly robust, punctures may and still occur from time to time. Numerous things could lead to punctures, and you have to ensure proper replacement of the punctured tire before it poses a risk as you drive. Drive into Herb Easley Chevrolet dealership in Wichita Falls, Texas, for tire changing and balancing and get a chance to experience our professional auto services. We specialize in the certified servicing of all Chevrolet vehicles and have a team of experienced mechanics ready to give you swift services. We also rely on state-of-the-art technology and equipment to diagnose your car of any issues to ensure we can conduct the appropriate repairs. Give us a call today to arrange your visit, and let us restore your vehicle's condition.

When it comes to your vehicle, you probably don't think about its brakes that often unless you're having problems. If you notice they squeak when you apply pressure, take more effort to push down on them, or can't remember the last time you had them replaced, you might need to have a trusted mechanic take a look at them. For the next time, though, try practicing the following habits to extend the life of your brakes. more Plan Ahead When driving, it's obviously important to keep an eye on the road at all times. If you can anticipate the need to apply the brakes, you can extend their life. Instead of stomping on the brakes right before a stop sign or traffic light, slow down well before you come to a complete stop. This allows the engine to do some of the work, reducing the overall wear and tear on your brakes. When traveling on the highway, once you notice brake lights in the distance, ease your foot off the gas pedal and begin to slow down. Change Your Route If you travel a regular route for work or school and notice it has numerous stop signs or stoplights, try to find an alternate way. The constant stopping can cause havoc on your brakes. Instead, seek out freeways or highways that have a constant flow of traffic, but make sure they're not congested during the time of day you're planning to travel. Avoid Brake Taps You can probably guess that dealing with traffic can be extremely hard on your brakes. Sitting in a long line of cars, you slowly inch forward and constantly tap your brakes. Even if you move at a quicker pace, you're likely to tap your brakes again if the roads get crowded again. By looking ahead, you can anticipate conditions. Most people tap their brakes because the vehicle in front of them does. If you know the traffic isn't moving very quickly, you can adjust your speed to maintain slow and steady progress, avoiding the need to hit the brakes often. Slow Down Similarly to planning while you're driving, it's important to slow down. Driving at high speeds not only puts an additional strain on your brakes, but it will make it harder to stop if you encounter an unexpected obstacle. The faster you're traveling when you press on the brakes, the more friction you place on the pads. This can cause the pads to wear out faster. Even driving 10 mph over the speed limit can cause a huge strain on your brakes if you must stop quickly. Obey the Three-Second Rule Choose a stationary object that's even with the vehicle in front of you. It can be a sign or building, but should be something you can easily see while driving. Once you find it, count to three. If you end up passing that vehicle before you make it to three, you should back off the vehicle and leave more space between you two. Keeping a safe following distance is the easiest on your braking system so you don't have to suddenly stop if that car in front brakes unexpectedly. Use One Foot for the Brake Some people prefer to use one foot for the accelerator and the other for the brake. You should avoid doing this, however. Called brake riding, this can quickly wear down your brake pads and warp the brake rotors because you might end up pressing both the accelerator and brake at the same time. Flush Your Brakes Just like you flush other fluids in your vehicles, such as oil and transmission fluid, your brake fluid can become oxidized. When this happens, it becomes less effective. Brake fluid with poor quality can cause the brake calipers to fail. How frequently you need to flush them depends on several factors, including how you drive, your vehicle, and the type of brake fluid used. However, it's best to bleed and flush your brakes every two years, especially if you're driving an older vehicle. Lighten Your Load The heavier your vehicle is, the more effort it takes to accelerate and stop. You might even notice that when you're transporting more cargo than normal, that you must press the brakes harder to stop within the same distance as you would without a heavy load. Avoid overloading your vehicle with too much cargo, and if you're unsure about your vehicle's specific weight limits, make sure you talk with a trusted mechanic to receive expert advice. This also applies to add-on features of your vehicle, so consider swapping out heavier rims for more lightweight options. Have Your Brakes Inspected Regularly Perhaps one of the most important ways to extend the life of your brakes is to have a professional take a look at them regularly. Whenever you schedule a wheel alignment or tire rotation, have a mechanic inspect your brakes. It's vital to get them replaced before they wear down to the rotors and cause grinding that can lead to serious and expensive damage. Also, if you notice signs that your brakes are beginning to wear down, such as hearing squeaking noises or taking more pressure to stop your vehicle, schedule an appointment to have the brakes inspected. Invest in Quality Brakes You've probably heard the saying you get what you pay for, and brakes are no exception. If you skimp on brake pads or parts, they're not going to last very long. The best way to ensure you'll get plenty of mileage out of your breaks is to purchase quality parts. Higher-quality parts are manufactured out of more durable materials, and many times they include warranties. If for some reason your brakes fail prematurely, you can obtain replacement parts without spending a lot of extra money. Even if you practice the best driving methods and care for your vehicle properly, your brakes will eventually need replacement. When that time occurs, reach out to the experts at Herb Easley Chevrolet. They can get you in touch with the service department and help you schedule a service appointment. Our mechanics will not only repair the issue, but they will perform a complete inspection to make sure you're vehicle continues to work properly.