Your truck’s tires are the most critical component to help it handle best. That’s because these four rubber rings are all that separate you from the road, trail, or other surface that you’re driving on. There’s a popular saying that even the most powerful engine in the world, the beefiest brakes, and the most potent suspension system is no match for a set of good tires. That’s because all these things become useless if the vehicle’s tires are in poor condition.
We’ll take you through our top five reasons why you should replace your truck’s tires. You can also check out our Tires and Wheels section for a great selection of tires, as well as some snazzy wheels to jazz up your ride.
Worn-out tread is the most common reason for tire replacement, and in fact, you can be ticketed for driving on excessively worn tires. They lack grooves that help channel water away from them. So, you can easily lose control of the vehicle, especially under inclement weather, or when you have to perform an evasive maneuver. Thankfully, there’s a simple test you can do to determine if your tires are badly worn out. Just get a quarter and place it into the tread, with Washington’s head facing downwards. If you can see the top of Washington’s head, you need new tires.
But there’s another sort of wear that you should look out for, and that’s called uneven wear. It can be caused by tire pressure that’s too low or too high, as well as issues with alignment or suspension. Either way, your tire will wear unevenly. Perhaps it will have excess wear on one side, or you might notice a scalloped wear pattern. Either way, it’s time for a new tire, as well as an inspection of your truck’s alignment and suspension.
Cuts or Cracks
Cuts and cracks are bad, because they mean that your tire has been damaged in some way and its structural integrity is now questionable. Even though it may still be holding air, cuts and cracks represent a weak spot in the tire. This weak spot can easily give way, and will most likely do so at higher speeds, or when you need to perform an emergency braking or swerving maneuver. Either way, you should replace cut or cracked tires ASAP. Don’t forget to check the inner edges of your tires as well – not just the shiny, tire shine-slathered outside edge.
Bubbles or Bulges in The Sidewall
Bubbles or bulges in the sidewall are another indicator of structural damage to your tire. These typically occur if you’ve hit a curb or a pothole at high speed. Since the air inside the tire is constantly pressing on it, the bubble will eventually get bigger and bigger. It may be tempting to pop it, but you can be seriously injured if you do so. Just watch some YouTube videos on the subject, and you’ll see why. That’s why tires with bubbles should be replaced as soon as possible.
The bubble could pop while you’re driving on the highway, causing you to lose control. It also goes without saying that bubbles can form on the inner edge too, and could even pop suddenly as they grow large enough to impact a suspension or chassis component. If the sudden loud bang doesn’t alarm you, your vehicle careering off the road definitely will. So, it’s always best to periodically inspect the inner edges of your tires too.
Unexplained Vibrations or Poor Handling
If you’ve been experiencing some unexplained vibrations, or your vehicle’s handling characteristics have deteriorated, your tires are a prime suspect. Vibrations, in particular, may signal that a tire is out of balance. If you haven’t lost any wheel balancing weights, the cause could be damage to the tire that has caused it to permanently deform. Over time, this damage can also result in cracks and bubbles.
Expired Tires
Tires are made of rubber. Rubber breaks down over time, as the oils in it dry out. Ultraviolet light, in particular, can cause quick tire deterioration. Do you know what has a lot of UV light in it? Sunlight! That’s why you should typically replace your tires every five to seven years, even if they have enough tread and look undamaged. You can do this by knowing when your tires were manufactured. Tire manufacturers place a helpful four-digit code on the sidewall to this effect. The first two digits are the year of manufacture and the last two correspond to the week of manufacture. So, a tire marked 2424 was made in the 24th week of 2024, and has a full life ahead of it. Conversely, a tire marked 0215 is over nine years old and definitely not suitable for regular driving.
Should I Replace All Four Tires, Or Is It OK to Just Replace Two Tires?
If your tires are more or less equally worn out, it’s best to replace all four at once. But, if your truck or SUV is four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive, you still need to replace all four tires. That’s because as tires wear down, their diameter reduces. This means that the tire turns more to travel a fixed distance. Even though these variances are miniscule, they can still play havoc with the intelligent all-wheel drive, stability control, and anti-lock braking systems on modern vehicles. So, it’s always safe to change all four tires at once.
All Your Truck Tire Needs at AmericanTrucks
No matter what kind of truck or SUV you drive, we’ve got you covered. We stock a wide array of tires to suit every requirement. Whether you want excellent off-road performance, all-season tires, or the best blend of comfort and handling, we’ve got it all. Simply hit up our website or talk to us and we’ll help you pick the best tire.
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