How to Track Your Vehicle's Tire Life

You drive on them everyday and trust them with your life. How much life do they have left?

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

1. With everyday use, a vehicle tire will shed thousands of particles of rubber per day. Over time, it wears out and has to be replaced. If the edges of your tires are wearing out faster than the inside, you probably need an alignment to adjust your tires. If you added larger diameter wheels, a smaller camber angle setting than the factory spec would be required.

2. Expect your front tires to wear out two to three times as fast as your rear tires. Naturally, because you steer and these tires turn, the rubber wears out faster on them. Keep an eye out for debris in the road which can end the life of your tire dramatically.

3. Check the tread. You can do this by simply using a quarter. Place George Washington's head between the treads. If you see his wig, you have less than 1/8" of tread left and need to replace those tires, yesterday!

4. Lastly, have good driving habits. Easing off the gas at intersections and giving yourself enough time to stop can help save the life of your tires, and save you money in the long run.

Tips & Warnings

• Some off brands are less expensive but wear out sooner due to cheaper made materials. Name brands may be more expensive at first, but can last longer and offer better traction.
• If you have a slow leak, try patching the tire instead of replacing it. This can extend the life of the tire and save you money as well.