Healthy tires are essential for safe driving but will wear down or become damaged over time. As your Chevy dealer, we can easily and quickly replace damaged tires as we have a comprehensive range of all major tires in stock in the correct size for your vehicle. We want to tell you a few signs you need to visit us for tire maintenance or replacement.
Signs You Need Tire Maintenance at Your Chevy Dealer
Bald Tires
Tread wears down gradually as you drive due to surface friction. A bald tire has lost almost all its tread, making driving dangerous. The tread is essential for gripping the road and controlling your Chevy when driving, cornering, and braking. This is especially important when driving on wet, muddy, or snowy surfaces, as a lack of traction can cause you to skid.
Low tread makes punctures and even a blowout more likely. It’s also illegal to drive a vehicle with a bald tire, and you risk receiving a citation. Our technicians can replace a bald tire in minutes and rebalance the replacement so you can drive safely again.
Sidewall Damage
The sidewalls are the tire sections perpendicular to the ground. These areas are made from softer rubber than the tread, giving them the flexibility to cushion jolts and bumps when driving over irregular surfaces. Sidewalls don’t have the metal and polymer reinforcement installed in the tread, making them more susceptible to damage.
The sidewall rubber can develop cracks over time as the rubber ages and loses flexibility, and cracks can develop into leaks. Additionally, bulges can develop if part of a sidewall is pinched against an unyielding object like a curb. A tire bulge can burst as the air inside the tire heats when driving, and the tire could blow out. We’ll examine the sidewalls and replace any damaged tires.
Visible Tread Wear Indicators
Tread wear indicator bars are built into your tires and appear as ridges that run horizontally through the tire between the tread. They’re used to indicate tread depth, as the more prominent the bars are, the more worn the tire. These bars aren’t visible when a tire is new, but they gradually become visible as the tread wears.
If you spot these ridges between the treads, you can get an indication of tire health by running your finger across the tread and ridges. If your finger dips as it moves across a ridge, your tread is probably still healthy. If the ridges are level with the tread, your tires are worn and need replacement ASAP. We’ll check your tires to confirm this diagnosis and replace them if they’re worn.
If your tires are damaged, contact our service department today at Jim Turner Chevrolet in McGregor, TX.
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