2019 Acura When Are Tires Worn Out?
About this episode
Mark and Bernie discuss how to determine when tires are worn out, using a 2019 Acura as an example. They explain tread depth measurements, wear bars, and the importance of replacing tires before they reach legal limits for safety reasons. The conversation highlights how worn tires affect braking, handling, and performance, especially in wet or icy conditions. They also touch on tire age and the importance of checking the DOT production date. Bernie emphasizes the benefits of using a full-service shop like Pawlik Automotive for comprehensive vehicle maintenance and tire care.
tire tread
"...and it's very important to have good tire treads. So, what are we looking at here? So, we're looking at a brand new tire that we installed on this Acura. You can see the treads"
Tire tread is the part of the tire that touches the road and helps your car grip the surface so it doesn't slip, especially when it's wet.
Tire tread refers to the patterned surface of a tire that makes contact with the road. It provides traction and helps channel water away to prevent hydroplaning. Good tread depth is essential for safe driving.
wear bars
"What are these? Those are wear bars. So, every tire has them. I don't know if we can actually see them on the new tire picture because they're deep down in the tread. But those are about two millimeters, one and a half to two millimeters above the very worn area. So, once the tire is actually that bar shows, that tire is worn out."
Wear bars are little bumps inside the tire's tread that show when the tire is too worn and needs to be changed. When the tread gets as low as these bars, the tire isn't safe to use anymore.
Wear bars are small raised sections found within the tread grooves of tires that indicate the minimum safe tread depth. When the tread wears down to the level of these bars, it means the tire is legally worn out and should be replaced for safety.
tire age
"The tires might have seven or eight millimeters of tread on them, but the tires are old and so the rubber's deteriorated. So, it's important when you look at tires to look at the age. There's a DOT number on the tires."
Tire age means how old a tire is. Tires get old and can become unsafe even if they still have some tread left. Experts say you should change tires after about seven years.
Tire age refers to how long ago a tire was manufactured. Even if a tire has good tread depth, the rubber can deteriorate over time, making the tire unsafe. It is generally recommended to replace tires every seven years regardless of tread wear.
DOT number
"So, it's important when you look at tires to look at the age. There's a DOT number on the tires. We don't have a picture of that here."
The DOT number is a special code on tires that tells you when the tire was made. This is important because old tires can get unsafe, even if they look okay.
The DOT number on a tire is a code that indicates the tire's manufacturer and the date it was produced. This helps determine the tire's age, which is important because older tires can deteriorate even if they have good tread.
tires
"So, older than 10 years, you should replace it, because the rubber's deteriorated. And we used to say in Michelin ad, so much is riding on your tires."
Tires are the round rubber parts on your car's wheels that touch the road. They wear out and get old, so it's important to replace them every 10 years or so to keep your car safe.
Tires are the rubber components that connect a vehicle to the road, providing traction, handling, and safety. Over time, the rubber deteriorates, which can affect performance and safety, so replacing tires older than 10 years is recommended.
Michelin
"And we used to say in Michelin ad, so much is riding on your tires."
Michelin is a company that makes tires for cars and trucks. They are famous for making good tires and for their ads about how important tires are for safety.
Michelin is a major tire manufacturer known for producing high-quality tires and for its influential advertising campaigns emphasizing tire safety and performance.
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