As your car travels more and more miles,its tires will slowly but surely start to wear down. All road car tires have ‘treads’, which are the part of the tire that contacts the ground. New tires have a deeper tread,but as they wear down over time, the tread becomes shallower.
This affects a car’s grip on the road, making it more difficult to steer, brake and control, particularly in wet and snowy weather conditions.
Tires that are worn out with very shallow treads are referred to as ‘bald tires’. These are not safe to drive and need to be replaced.
Discover more about the dangers of driving bald, worn out tires here.
Bald Tires Can Increase a Car’s Stopping Distance
Good tires are particularly important if you ever need to suddenly stop. At automotive training schools, you may learn that the stopping distance in a car with bald tires is double the distance compared to a car with new tires.
This is because worn out tires have less grip due to the low amount of tread, making it difficult to brake in an emergency.
Driving in Wet, Icy, and Snowy Conditions with Shallow Treads is More Dangerous
Another risk of bald tires is losing control in wet, icy, or snowy road conditions. When it’s raining and the roads are wet, the tread patterns on tires are designed to channel water away from the part of the tire that grips the road. If this is worn out, the tire will be in contact with too much water,making it impossible to control the car. This is called hydroplaning.
Similarly, in snowy conditions worn out car tires will not be able to achieve the same grip of the road as new tires. This is because the small grooves in the tire surface called sipes will be less effective at creating traction. Mechanic school will familiarize you with all of these tire features and their purpose.
Worn Out Tires Are More Likely to Blow Out or Overheat
The treads in a tire are also designed to redirect hot air and stop it from overheating due to friction with the road. This is less effective in bald tires, so they are more likely to overheat and blow out.
Worn out tires are also a lot thinner than new tires, so are more likely to be punctured by sharp objects.
In addition to the safety risks, driving on bald tires can result in lower fuel economy as the engine has to run harder to accelerate due to the lack of grip.
Learn When to Replace Bald Tires at Mechanic School
The tread depth in a new tire is normally around 10/32 inches, and can even be as much as 15/32. If a tire has a tread depth as low as 2/32 inches, this is considered bald and dangerous to drive.
Drivers should check their tire tread depth regularly. If it gets as low as 4/32 inches,it’s probably time to consider getting new tires. This should be measured based on the shallowest part of the tread.
As a mechanic, you will be able to tell that tires are bald when the tread is worn down to the wear bars. Or if the steering wheel shakes as you’re driving, this could be a sign that you need to measure the tread depth.
It’s best to replace all the tires at once, but you can replace them in pairs. Always begin by putting new tires in the rear of the vehicle.
You should also advise customers that tires are more likely to wear down quicker if they swerve around corners, drive at high speeds, or over inflate them. It’s important to keep tires at the optimal pressure to prolong their lifespan, too.
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