How can you tell if a new tire is bad?

Place a penny head first into several tread grooves across the tire. If you always see the top of Lincoln's head, your treads are shallow and worn. If this is the case, your tires need to be replaced. If part of Lincoln's head is always covered by the tread, you have more than 2/32 of an inch of tread depth remaining.

Can new tires be bad?

Old “New” Rubber

That can make it unsafe for road use because it may run the risk of blowing out, falling apart, or lose traction during bad road conditions. That is why one should know how to find the date a tire was made before having them installed on your vehicle.

What to check after getting new tires?

How do I break in new tires? Focus on easy, gentle driving – smooth acceleration, braking, and cornering – for the first 500 miles. This will safely prep your tires for regular performance. After this amount of use, lubricants and other substances used in the manufacturing process will have completely worn off.

How can you tell if tires are still good?

Insert a 25 cent piece into the tire's grooves with the nose of the caribou facing downward. If the caribou's nose isn't visible, it means the depth is superior to 6/32 of an inch. If you can see the nose, it means it's time to change your tires.

What do bad tires feel like?

Wobbling – Wobbling is the most obvious sign of a bad tire, usually felt at only low speeds. You can feel the car bounce and possibly the steering wheel move. This is caused by a bubble in the tread which can happen when the internal belts separate allowing the pressurized air to press against the tread.

How to know when it's time for new tires

Why do new car tires wear out so fast?

New tires or factory tires wear out quickly because car manufacturers use soft rubber for their tires. This soft rubber wears out much faster than aftermarket tires.

How long do new tires take to break in?

In general, it can take around 500 miles to fully break in a new set of tires until it will offer optimal performance, so we recommend accelerating a little easier, avoiding hard braking and taking turns a little slower than usual.

Why do my new tires feel weird?

Your new tires may feel different

If you've just replaced your tires, it's probably because the old tires had very little tread left. Tires with very little tread tend to respond a bit quicker, because there's less tread that needs to flex during cornering and quick turns.

Why do my new tires feel bumpy?

Rough, bumpy rides can be due to bad tire alignment, incorrect air pressure – too low, too high, different pressures in each tire – or even the tires not being mounted properly. Worst case scenario could be the rims themselves have become damaged or warped.

Why does my car shake after I got new tires?

The reason for vibration after putting new tires on is likely to be unbalanced wheels. No matter the cause the best thing you can do is head straight back to the shop and let them check it out. If they caused the problem, they are legally obligated to fix it.

What does a bad tire sound like?

When the wheel bearing in your tires is damaged or deteriorating, it produces a soft humming sound or grinding noise when you change lanes. It's best to have the wheel bearings replaced as soon as possible to prevent excessive damage and collisions.

What does tread separation look like?

Identifying Tire Tread Separation

The first visual indication will be a bubble along the tread or the sidewall of the tire. The bubble will continue to expand and a larger section becomes separated from the tire's casing. Drivers may also notice a wavy pattern in the tread.

How many miles should tires last on a new car?

As a general rule, the original tires on a new vehicle or quality replacement tires should last up to 50,000 miles. However, many factors will have a significant impact on any tire's life and may substantially shorten its life expectancy.

Why do new tires look dirty?

Your new tires look dirty because of the antiozonant residue on their surfaces. This is used by manufacturers to protect the tires from harmful ozone and UV rays. When exposed to the air, the antiozonant turns to a brown color that makes your tires look old.

Can brand new tires cause vibration?

See The What, Why and How of Wheel Balancing for more information. Still vibrating? An alignment that is even slightly off can easily cause vibration, especially when new tires are first put on the car. New tires have better lateral grip than older tires, and can pick up an alignment vibration much more forcefully.

What happens if I don't break in my tires?

We recommend you drive “normally” without hard braking or acceleration as it can cause the tire to slip on the wheel and cause the assembly to become unbalanced. And keep in mind that new winter tires will need a bit of time to reach their full winter capabilities.

Do I need alignment after getting new tires?

We recommend an alignment after the installation of new tires. This helps you get the most life from your new tires. Wheel alignment checks are always advised after a significant impact or uneven tire wear is detected. Also, get a check annually, or twice yearly if you typically travel on rough roads.

How long should dealership tires last?

It may be tentative, but tires do have an expiration date. There is a general consensus that most tires should be inspected, if not replaced, at about six years and should be absolutely be swapped out after 10 years, regardless of how much tread they have left.

How many miles do tires last?

Tires typically last around 50,000 miles, but this will depend on your driving habits and where you live. If you frequently drive on unpaved roads or you have a lead foot, your tires may need to be replaced sooner.

Why do my tires only last 20k miles?

Answer: An alignment is money well spent. There may be an adjustment that will correct the wear, but there may also be some worn suspension parts. If so, the alignment tech will spot them. If everything checks out fine, rotate your tires and do so at every second oil change.

Can a tire be bad and not look bad?

Newer tires have a convenience that older tires lacked. They have tread wear indicator bars built into the tires themselves. These bars, invisible or barely visible when the tires are new, gradually begin to appear as the tread wears down.

What is the most common cause of tire tread separation?

One of the most common causes of tire tread separation is a manufacturer's defect, wherein something went wrong in the bonding process of the tread and steel belting section of the tire casing, and the tread did not adhere properly.

What is a cupped tire?

WHAT IS TIRE CUPPING? Tire cupping can appear as if someone took an ice cream scoop and scooped out part of the tread every three to four inches around the circumference. Due to the shape of the worn places, tire cupping is sometimes also referred to as “scalloped tires.”

Why do my tires keep separating?

Tire treads can separate from the casing for a number of reasons. These include improper flat repair, manufacturing errors, improper driving behavior like hitting potholes, or overuse.