Your Hyundai’s tires are the only part of your car in contact with the road. Tires are stronger than ever before, but they can still suffer wear and damage. As your Hyundai dealer in Little Rock, AR, we can fit new tires for you when you need them. These are a few of the signs that you’re going to need replacement tires soon.
Lincoln Penny Test
This test is an old trick, but it works. Your tread is the raised area on your tires that allows them to grip the road surface. The tread takes more abrasion than any other part of your tires. Take the Lincoln penny and insert it upside down between the grooved of your tread. Your tires are in good condition if you can’t see much of Lincoln’s face.
If, however, you can see most of Lincoln’s face, your tread is wearing down and will need to be replaced soon. If you see the top of Lincoln’s head, your tires are severely worn and need to be replaced immediately. To see Lincoln’s head, your tread must be less than 1/16″ thick. This is below the legal limit for safe tires.
A Bulge in the Sidewall
The sidewall of your tire is the section that faces outwards. A sidewall is made from a softer rubber than the tread, and it doesn’t have the inbuilt reinforcement the tread has. This isn’t usually a problem unless the sidewall sustains a heavy blow, for example, your sidewall strikes the curb. This form of impact damage can have serious consequences for your tire.
A blow to the sidewall can damage the interior of the tire, and this causes a bulge to form. The bulge will be noticeable, and it’s also a weak spot in your tire. It’s filled with air, but the material over it is thinner than it should be. When you’re driving, the air in the bulge could heat up enough to burst the bulge. This will cause a blowout and also a possible accident.
You’re Driving on a Spare
Your spare tire is intended for use in emergencies only. If you have a flat tire, your spare will help you to get to us, and we’ll fit a new tire for you. Spare tires are made to a lower standard and have less strength and endurance than regular tires. As a general rule, you should never drive more than 50 miles or over 50 mph if you’re using a spare tire.
We advise replacing your spare tire with a new tire ASAP. This will keep you and your car safe on the road.
When you need replacement tires, come and see us at Crain Hyundai of Little Rock.
Image via Hyundai.
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