According to several reports, car experts have been talking about the importance of keeping your tires in check before, during, and after winter, in order to make sure your vehicle is safe to drive through any weather condition.

The reports show that keeping old tires could increase the risk of accidents, which is something that most consumers are already aware of. However, does every car owner know when it’s time to have her/his tires changed? To address this concern and make sure that consumers are well informed as to how to check their tires for excessive wear, experts have decided to offer some tips on how to check if their tires need to be replaced or not.

According to experts like the star of the CNBC’s “The Car Chasers”, there are certain indicators that may help car owners to identify when it’s the right moment to have the tires replaced.

One of the easiest ways to visually check if your car needs new tires is by inspecting wear bars that are placed in the middle of the tire tread, which is added to the tire by the factory. These lines run perpendicular to the tread, which are hard to identify when the tires are new, however, as soon as the tires begin to pack on the miles, the bars are evident. As soon as the bars are level to the tire tread, experts say you should start thinking about getting new tires.

The penny test is also efficient. To perform the test, all you have to do is grab a penny, turn it upside down and place the coin into the tread in order to measure the depth. If you cannot see the president’s head, the tires are still fine. If the head is visible, however, it’s time to have the tires fully replaced.

According to some of the experts, tires are designed and manufactured to last for about 50 to 60,000 miles but if the wear bars are visible, the tires do not have much to offer, which means that you’re more likely to be involved in accidents due to the potential lack of grip.

Experts also say that there are other indicators that the time has come to have the tires replaced such as the presence of cracks or damage to the tire’s sidewall. As tires are exposed to time or weather changes, the rubber loses some of its elasticity, which causes the product to present cracks. Looking for abnormal bulges or bubbles can also help since drivers may find any signs of extreme wear, which could mean they need to have the tires replaced at once. Experts also encourage car owners to check the tire’s expiration date in order to make sure the product is replaced if it hit the due date.

Keeping an eye out for signs of wear is important, but it’s also important to have the tires replaced every six years or at least looked at by a professional every six years in order to have them checked for quality purposes.

For more tips on how to check on your tires and make sure they are safe for repeated use, click here for the full article.