Identifying When to Have Your Brakes and Tires Checked Brakes Brakes can be the difference between life and death on the roadway. Worn out brakes won’t stop you from hitting the car in front of you, or stop yourself at the end of a steep hill. You want to keep an eye on your brakes. You can do that yourself. You want your brake pads to be about ¼ of an inch thick. You can see them by shining a light through your spokes and finding a shiny surface. That shiny surface is your rotor. Follow that rotor to the edge and you’ll see a dark pad. That’s the brake pad. Take out a ruler and figure out how large ¼ of an inch looks like, and then eyeball how big you think the pad is. If it’s thin then you need to have them checked out. If you hear strange sounds and feel grinding or pulling to the left or right, those are also indications of a much needed brake check.
Tires Tires are something you’ll want to keep an eye on. Unexpected tire problems ruin some of your most needed plans. You always get a flat on your way to work, or in the middle of nowhere. It’s Murphy’s Law that anything that can go wrong, will. Avoid being a victim of that law. Know what signs you should look for to identify potential tire trouble and get them taken care of. There are several ways to know that your tires are ready for change. The first, and most obvious, is when you notice them going bald. This is most easily noticed with the depth of the tread. When your tread approaches 1/16th of an inch deep, you know it’s time to get them replaced.
Newer tires have been manufactured with a “tread wear indicator bar.” These are pieces of rubber that run perpendicular to the tread. When new, these bars are barely visible. As they wear down, they become increasingly visible. When you can see multiple of them clearly, it’s time to go get those tires checked out. Aside from the just the tread itself, check the sidewall often for cracks. Tire cracks can be indicative of a leak or a coming blow out. Both leave you stranded at a time that you need to get somewhere. On top of that, they can also be evidence that the metal bands in your tire are about to separate. Separation of the metal will cause your car to vibrate loudly. It’s an uncomfortable experience you’ll want to have checked out as well. Vibration and noise is generally an indication that your tires need some help. Cracks are not hard to see. The ones you really want to worry about are the ones that are visible to the naked eye. While you’re examining the sidewalls, look for bulges or blisters. This is yet another weak spot that preempts a blowout. Affordable American Insurance is in the business of helping you keep your vehicle working well. They offer affordable car insurance to Colorado residents. Regularly checking your car for problems will help you avoid bigger, more costly issues later. Affordable American Insurance knows you don’t want to be spending a ton of extra money on your vehicle, that’s why they offer affordable Colorado car insurance.
Photo Credit: James Kirsop, Paul Watson, Ed Callow