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All you need to check your tire tread depth is a penny. Insert the penny with Abraham Lincoln’s head upside down. If the top of Abe’s head is showing, it’s time for new tires! A few tire brands offer a limited road hazard warranty that covers irreparable damage caused by potholes, nails, glass and other hazards. Keep in mind, however, that oftentimes a simple patch job can be done to prevent having to replace the whole tire. Patches are said to last from seven to 10 years or for the rest of the life of the tire. If the sidewall of your tire is punctured, though, be prepared for tire replacement. Beware when parallel parking next to the metal edge of a curb drain. These are notorious tire poppers. Certain cars go through tires faster than others, and some all-wheel drive [AWD] vehicles typically require replacement of all four tires at a time. Dirk Swain, service writer at Modern Automotive behind The Farmhouse in Christiansburg, notes: “Car buyers should be aware when purchasing a new vehicle, that if you are buying an AWD vehicle, all tires need to be within the same tread depth and size -- this comes from the factory, and if you are not replacing all four at a time, it can cause damage to many different areas of the vehicle and end up being much more expensive long term.”

Avoid offsetting your wheels, i.e., making your rear and front rims different sizes, as this can ruin the differential in an AWD vehicle within a month, costing thousands of dollars to repair. Tire rotation is important to keep up with on AWD vehicles to avoid damaging the differential. “When we replace tires, we offer free rotations for the life of the tires. Maintenance is key. Every tire manufacturer also requires an alignment when replacing tires for the warranty to be valid,” says Swain. Alignments are recommended any time suspension work is done, or if a driver encounters a deep pothole. It is important to note that runflat tires are more expensive to replace. Prices will vary by tire type and purchase location, but it's not uncommon to pay a $40-$65 premium for a run-flat tire. Also, many run-flats cannot be repaired and often need to be replaced in pairs. For those looking to save money, buying used tires might be an enticing option. Keep in mind, these don’t come with a warranty and sometimes the savings are simply not worth the strife. Though Modern Automotive used to carry both new and used tires, they have stopped carrying used tires out of a concern for safety. “It’s not just for your own safety, but for the safety of those traveling on the road with you,” Swain explains. And don’t forget to check your tire pressure. When the weather gets cold, tire pressure also drops and low tire pressure can not only cause faster wear on the tire, but also can eventually lead to a flat. Newer cars will have an indictor light when tire pressure needs to be checked and most filling stations have a station for air as well.

Emily K. Alberts is an NRV-based freelance science and technology writer who kisses a lot of curbs in her Sienna Minivan and is frequently heading in for “adjustments.” 35 31 35 39 33 13 35 4 23 37 17 31 27 17 21 13 13 8 21 43 33 3 39 2 47 5 31 33 48 21 37 33 21 37 6 17 43 33 A-1 Heating and Cooling Beliveau Farm Blacksburg Battles Cancer Bonomo's Brick House Pizza Brown Insurance Camp Dickenson Carilion Clinic Celco FCU Collision Plus Dehart Tile Dogtown Roadhouse Dwight Atkinson Energy Check Eric Johnsen Ewing Companies Eyes on Main Freedom First Mortgage Giles County Joba Kesler Contracting Long & Foster Blacksburg Macado's Member One Mitchell Law Firm Moss Arts Center Nest Realty New River Art & Fiber New River Equipment Rental NextHome NRVIP Law P Buckley Moss Pearis Mercantile Progress Street Builders Pulaski County Shelter Alternatives Skyline National Bank VA Shoreline