Time for New Tires? Visit Your Kia Dealer Today

Your tires will wear as you drive. Modern tires are tougher than ever before, but they will still gradually wear due to contact with the surface. Worn tires are dangerous, as they reduce your ability to control your car. As your Kia dealer, we care about your safety, and we’d like you to know some signs that you need new tires.

Signs You Need New Tires From Your Kia Dealer

Your Tires Are Bald

Bald tires are tires that have lost all their tread. The tread is the raised rubber sections on the tires that allow them to grip the surface. This grip is important, as it enables you to control your car as you drive, corner, and perform any other maneuvers. The tread on the tires slowly wears down due to abrasion with the road surface.

If your tires have lost all of their treads, driving and braking will become extremely dangerous. Bald tires don’t grip the road surface, they move across it. This makes it more likely that your car can skid, especially in wet or snowy conditions. Braking is also more dangerous as the tread helps to provide friction that aids in braking. If you have one or more bald tires, we must replace them ASAP for your safety.

Bulges in the Sidewall

The sidewall of a tire is made from a softer rubber than the tread. A sidewall isn’t subject to abrasion like the tread, and it doesn’t support the weight of your car. The sidewall is potentially easier to damage. A bulge in the sidewall is usually caused by contact with a hard surface, like a curb. Even a small bump causes a bulge to form.

Striking a hard surface pinches the rubber in the sidewall and increases the amount of air in that section of the tire. The additional air also puts the rubber under more pressure. Any additional damage to a bulge can lead to a blowout in that tire, which can have disastrous consequences if you’re driving. We advise that any tire with a bulge is replaced immediately.

You’re Driving on Your Spare Tire

Every car has a spare tire for emergencies. It allows you to change the tire and continue to drive after a puncture. A spare tire, however, isn’t intended for long-term use. The spare tire, or donut as it’s also called, should not be driven on for more than 30 miles, and you shouldn’t exceed 30mph when using it.

A spare tire isn’t manufactured to the same levels of strength and durability as a regular tire. This makes a spare more likely to get a puncture or a blowout.

If your tires need replacement, call us ASAP at Crain Kia of Fayetteville.

Posted in Fayetteville Auto Finance, Fayetteville Kia Service, Kia Safety Features | No Comments »