When Should You Change Your Tires?

When Should You Change Your Tires?

by | Feb 6, 2018 | Blog, Tire Repair, Tire Repair or Replacement, tire rotation, tire swap

Having effectively functional tires on your car is essential for the safety of you and your passengers. Tires wear down over time and eventually need to be replaced.

But when or how often should tires be replaced?

The frequency with which your tires will need to be changed depends a number of factors, such as:

  • Type of vehicle
  • Type of tires
  • Driving conditions
  • Driving approach
  • Tire care

Vehicle Type

The owner’s manual for your vehicle should provide you with the information needed about tire changes. It will recommend what type of tires should be used on your vehicle, as well as how often they should be changed.
The owner’s manual should also provide information about regularly scheduled maintenance, like consistent tire rotation.
Tire Care

Type of Tires

The type of tires you use will also play a role in how often they need to be changed. Tires made of softer rubber compounds may provide better traction and performance, but they will also wear out more quickly.
When you buy a new set of tires, the warranty should indicate how long the tires are expected to last. However, tires do not always last as long as they are projected to. Especially if the are not well cared for.

Driving Conditions

If you are driving in extreme or harsh conditions on a regular basis, your tires will need to be changed more frequently. Canada’s climate brings four seasons of extreme conditions, so owners will have to be more vigilant in providing adequate care.

Driving Approach

They way you drive your car, will also be a factor. Driving with a lot of stops and starts, cornering at high speeds, and breaking heavily can all serve to wear tires out before their due dates.
Driving responsibly and rotating your tires regularly will help optimize your tires’ lifespan.

Tire Care

This is a big one. Diligent tire care through regularly scheduled maintenance can really help stretch the longevity of your tires. It not only helps your tires wear more slowly, but also more evenly.
Even wear is crucial for a set of tires. If one tire wears out more quickly than the others, all the tires will have to be changed once that first one goes. It is also important to keep your tires properly pressurized and evenly proportioned to promote balanced wear.
Good tire care involves having yourtires service
d by a professional for regular rotation and inspection.

Valvoline Express Care Brampton

Valvoline Express Care is an exceptional automotive service in the Brampton area, that specializes in tire care and maintenance.
The general rule is that tires should be rotated somewhere between 3000 kms and 5000 kms of use. The expert technicians at Valvoline make tire rotation a breeze, at the same time providing a check up for your vehicle to ensure you are getting optimal performance.
If you are changing your tires for the winter season, it is a perfect time to have them rotated. It is good practice to have your tires rotated twice a year, which can coincide with changing your tires for the season, with good planning.

How do you know when your tires need to be changed or replaced?

There are several telltale signs to look for, that can help you recognize when your tires should be changed. The main function of the treads on your tires is to provide traction on the road, while redirecting water from underneath the tire to avoid sliding or hydroplaning.
If your tires are completely worn, it poses a safety risk, and should be replaced as soon as possible.
Here are some warning signs to look out for:

  • Tread wear
  • Structural damage
  • Poor alignment

Tread Wear

This is the most obvious and easy to identify problem when it comes to your tires. Worn treads will leave you with less traction and responsiveness on the road.
One way to check to see if your tires are worn, is by using the penny test. The penny test involves taking a penny and placing it head down into the grooves on your tires. If you can see the entire head on the back of the coin, then your tires are worn and need to be replaced.
Most tires also have something called tread wear bars. These bars are located in the grooves of your tires. When the tread becomes even with the tread wears bars, it is time for a tire change.

Structural Damage

Structural damage to your tires can spell danger as well. Structural damage can be found in the form of bubbling or bulging on the sidewalls. If you see this happening to your tires, take your car in immediately. Once the structural integrity has been compromised, the risk of disaster increases greatly.

Poor Alignment

If you notice your vehicle pulling to one side, or the steering shakes and vibrates while you are driving, it is likely a problem with the alignment. This can be caused by uneven wear or uneven tire pressure.
Take your vehicle in for servicing when experiencing these circumstances.

Seasonal Tire Swap

Seasonal Tire Swap

by | Jan 30, 2018 | Blog, Tire Repair, Tire Repair or Replacement, tire swap

Engaging in regular seasonal tire swaps can do a lot to prolong the life of your vehicle, and keep it operating at peak efficiency.
Depending on the driving conditions you are exposed to on a seasonal basis, it can be a good idea to swap your tires in two different ways:

  1. Seasonal tire swap
  2. Tire rotation

Seasonal Tire Swap

Living in Canada, you are no doubt accustomed to wild weather swings, and extremely polarized driving conditions.
Going from the relentlessly hot and baking sun in the summer, to snow, ice, and salt in the winter, can wreak havoc on your vehicle without the proper care.
One highly recommended way to preserve the life of your tires, and enhance your vehicle safety at the same time, is to do a seasonal tire swap. Changing to winter tires before the winter season is wise for a couple of different reasons.
The first reason is that your tires will last much longer. By using the proper tires for the appropriate season, both sets will have much better longevity.
Winter tires are designed to thrive in winter driving conditions. The rubber compounds used to make winter tires are different than those used for summer, or all-season tires. The rubber compounds in winter tires actually perform better as it gets colder. The treads have more traction and better grip in lower temperatures.
Conversely, your summer (or all-season) tires do not function well at all in the cold. As temperatures drop off, the rubber compounds in summer tires harden up and begin to relinquish their traction and grip on the road. By the time you hit -15 degrees below, your all-season tires will be pretty much useless when it comes to gripping the pavement.
So, the magic temperature you should be targeting for an ideal time to change to your winter tires is around 7 degrees Celsius. When the days are starting to average a temperature of roughly 7 degrees C, that is good indicator it is time for a tire swap.

Tire Rotation

Aside from changing your tires to adhere to the current season and corresponding weather conditions, it is also a good practice to have your tires rotated consistently. Your tires should be rotated regularly to promote even wear, and to optimize the handling and responsiveness of your vehicle.
Tires that do not wear evenly will need to be replaced much sooner. Once one tire is worn out, you will need to replace the entire set. The tires on the front of your car will wear out at a faster rate than the back tires. This is mainly due to the way turns are experienced, and weight.
When you make a turn, the front wheels actively angle into the corner, while the back wheels just follow along. Also, there is much more weight in the front of your vehicle considering that is where the engine is located on most cars. This means he front tires will wear out sooner if not swapped.
Not only should you keep your tires well balanced through consistent rotation, but you should also make sure your tires are all equally inflated at all times. Uneven tire pressure, can lead to uneven wear and poor alignment.
When the tires on your car are inflated to imbalanced pressure levels, you may find your vehicle pulling to the right or to the left.
Tire rotation

Season Change Plus Rotation

The convenient thing about doing seasonal tire changes as well as tire rotation, is that they can be done at the same time. It actually works out perfectly, because it will ensure you are swapping your tires twice a year.
When you have your winter tires put on, you can rotate your tires to ensure they are not in the same position they were in last winter. Same goes for your all-season or summer tires.
This will ensure you getting maximum life out of both sets.

Valvoline Express Care Brampton

If you are looking for an excellent automotive service provider, that can assist you with all your tire swapping needs, Valvoline Express Care Brampton is an excellent choice.
The expert technicians at Valvoline are experienced and qualified to handle whatever type of vehicular maintenance you need done. They can ensure you are using the best tires for vehicle, and help with regular swaps and rotations.

Benefits of Tire Swap

There are numerous advantages to be gained through routine tire swapping, such as:

  • Extended tire life
  • Better performance
  • Even wear
  • Better handling and responsiveness
  • Better traction
  • Improved safety
  • Enhanced fuel economy