How long to get tires changed

Every tire has an indication that states when it was made, down to the week and year. The timing depends greatly on how the tires have been used and the weather extremes it has been subjected to. How a vehicle has been stored can also impact when a tire needs to be replaced. If your tire passes the penny test, and a visual inspection does not show any cracks or damage, but the tire is years old, the wisest course of action is to have them inspected by a tire shop to determine if you need to consider replacing them.

Additionally, uneven wheel alignments and balance problems will not only cause irregular and premature tire wear, they can cause expensive problems for your vehicle, leaving you dealing with a hefty car repair bill in the future. Each year, roughly 11, tire-related wrecks occur on the road. Every driver on the road should are about the health and safety of their passengers and vehicles. These factors include:.

Every driver faces different conditions and cares for their cars differently. The following tips will show you how to tell if tires are worn and need to be replaced soon. Although it is always best to seek professional help with tires, these signs will indicate that you should begin researching new tires for your car. You should also evaluate how well you feel your current tires performed in longevity, handling, ride, noise and any other category you have noticed.

Before you decide which tire you need, think about what kind of driving you do. If you drive primarily on the highway and city streets, you may need a highway or touring tire. On the other hand, if you typically drive on back roads AND need on-pavement capability, an all-terrain might be your best bet. If you face severe winter weather during certain points of the year, you will likely need to upgrade to a tire that can handle those conditions. First pick the category of the tire to fit your driving needs, then decide on the season that best suits the climate you live in.

The treadwear grade rates how well a tire compares to others in a specific test. A tire with a grade of wears three times as long as a tire that only has a grade of However, you should keep in mind that different driving styles, road conditions, and levels of maintenance can also impact treadwear. AA is the best rating a tire can receive, followed by A, B, and then C. A is the highest rating, followed by B and then C. Some people, in an effort to save money upfront on the tire replacement cost, turn to old used tires as replacements.

However, this can be a risky strategy, even if it does save money initially. However, even spare tires need to be replaced after a certain amount of time. The average American drives between 14, and 15, miles a year, according to data from the Federal Highway Administration. Then you can compare that with any advertised warranty on the make and model of the tires and figure out how many years of service to expect.

If you live where winter tires are advisable and swap those onto the car for some months of the year, your regular tires will get less use and will endure for a longer period of time, but remember the caveats about tire age. Zielinski also noted that if you hit the wear bars at 50, miles on a set of tires with a 60,mile warranty, for example, tiremakers that offer such coverage will typically prorate the price of a new set.

In this example, you could expect a discount on the new set equal to one-sixth their price, or about 17 percent. You might not get it, though, if you decide to change brands. In general, the best way to preserve the life of your tires, and keep yourself and your passengers safe, is to maintain them properly. Here are some tire basics and maintenance tips:. Many tires have tread-wear indicators, which are little bars in the tread that show when the tire is worn down to replacement level.

These will start making noise to alert the driver that they need attention. To ensure even wear, tiremakers and auto companies recommend that vehicle owners check their tire pressures monthly.

On average, it will take them about 2. Amazon Site is a participant of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program which is designed to provide an aid for the websites in earning an advertisement fees by means of advertising and linking to Amazon products. Automated page speed optimizations for fast site performance. Info safedrivegear. Facebook Twitter Youtube Linkedin. Reviews Guides Accessories Maintenance Menu.

Last Updated On October 5, Share This Post. Share on facebook. Share on linkedin. Share on twitter. Share on email. Changing a tire in an auto care center: 45 minutes to 5 hours.

Changing a tire with the help of roadside assistance: Less than an hour. Changing a tire on your own: 15 to 30 minutes. Necessary tools: A fully inflated spare tire. A carjack. Wheel wedges. Alignment studs. Extension bar. Instruction manual.

Assistive tools: A wheel lock. A flashlight or torch. Work gloves. Emergency triangle. Step 2: Secure the Car Shift the gear to the neutral position and pull up the hand brake. Step 4: Raise the Vehicle and Remove the Lug Nuts Once the lug nuts are loose, put the jack under the vehicle in a vertical position along with the frame.

Step 5: Dismount the Old Tire Grip the tire treads, remove the tire and set it somewhere away from the road. Step 6: Place the New Tire Install the tire on your car, and screw the bolts back by hand. The maximum lifespan of most tires is 10 years. However, some factors can shorten their life. Here are a few other factors that will make you go for a tire change sooner than 10 years: Harsh sunlight.

Too much rain or snow. Greasy, icy or damaged roads. Driving on curbs, mountains and uneven surfaces. Too many obstacles and speed bumps.