It is crucial that you always have tires on your vehicle that are in excellent condition. The condition of your tires should never be something that you try to ignore or brush off as something that can just be dealt with at a later time. With tires in bad condition, you could end up getting a flat or losing control of your vehicle and ending up in an accident. To help reduce the odds of such things occurring, you will want to read through the upcoming warning signs that indicate it is time to make an appointment at the tire shop:
You Notice Uneven Wear Patterns
The tread on your tires should wear down evenly across the width of the tire. If you are noticing anything but that, it is time to have your vehicle checked out at the local tire shop. Not only are you going to need new tires, but you will most likely need an alignment as well. If an alignment is needed but not done, your new tires will quickly wear down in an uneven manner and need to be replaced sooner than normal.
There's Some Wire Showing
You need to immediately stop driving your vehicle and have it towed to the tire shop if you notice metal wire poking through the rubber. This metal is only exposed when the tread is worn down so far that the tire is about to split open. This can cause you to lose control of your vehicle if this happens while you are driving at a high rate of speed.
You Spot A Bubble In The Sidewall Of A Tire
It is never safe to drive a vehicle that has a tire with a bubble in the sidewall. That is a sign of a bad tire and one that is capable of bursting without warning while you are driving down the road. This is another tire problem that should cause you to call for a tow truck.
Always make an appointment with a tire shop as soon as you notice that there is an issue with one or more of your tires. If it is too late in the day and they are busy with back-to-back appointments, they might not be able to fit you in until the next day. However, if you call early enough in the day, there is a chance they could fit you in somewhere, especially if all you need is the new tires put on. Ask about their ability to dispose of the old tires and how much it will cost for them to do that. It's usually just a few dollars per tire and is worth the cost.