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3 Signs You Need a Wheel Replacement in Austin

Caught up in our busy lives and demanding schedules, we rarely have the time to conduct a thorough wheel check-up to know if they need replacing or not. This is where this article comes in!

Just like your feet get sore after a long walk, the wheels of your cars wear down a bit every time you drive. This isn’t always a result of impaired driving but an inevitable fact of life. Similar to everything else in this world, tires age and so they can wear out.

Tires are the base of your vehicle and play an important role in maintaining the vehicle’s performance, efficiency, and safety. This makes it extremely important for you to notice the signs of wheel replacement before it’s too late. To help you out, we have compiled a list of three warning signs that indicate you need a wheel replacement in Austin. So, without further ado, let’s begin.

1.    Too Much Vibration

When driving on a poorly paved road, some amount of vibration is normal. So, if you have been driving for a while, you will probably know the difference between normal vibrations and vibrations that indicate an underlying malfunction.

Abnormal vibrations can be because of underlying problems such as unbalanced or misaligned wheels or problematic shock absorbers. Simply put, too many vibrations indicate that you must take your vehicle for a wheel replacement in Austin.

Even if the tire isn’t the primary cause of vibration, if not dealt with on time, it can result is causing severe damage to the vehicle tires. So, if gripping the steering wheel feels like a bad case of shimmy-shimmy shakes, and the vibrations intensify as you reach 40 to 50 mph, get your car inspected by a technician right away.

2.    Tread Depth

Treads are the stubbly grooves and bumps covering the outside surface of the tire. They provide traction to your car, minimizing the chances of losing control on the road. Ideally, the tread of the tire shouldn’t fall below 1/16 inch in depth. While you can buy a gauge to measure the depth of the tread, here is an old trick that works wonders:

Take a Lincoln penny. Now place it upside down in the center of the thickest tread, ensuring that the Lincoln is facing you. If you are able to see the top of Lincoln’s head, it means that you need a wheel replacement in Austin sooner rather than later. However, if you are unable to see the hair on Lincoln’s head, it means that your tire has enough life left and it doesn’t need replacing.

Tires don’t wear evenly, so insert the coin at several places on the inside surface of the tire. Although tires generally wear more on the inside, over-inflated tires wear more in the middle. Use a tread depth gauge to get a more accurate measurement.

3.    Cracks and Cuts in the Sidewall

Cracks and cuts on the sidewall of the tires are one of the most prominent signs that you need a wheel replacement in Austin. Tires are usually made using rubber which tends to degrade over time. Not only this, but sharp or uneven objects on the road can also cause significant damage to the tire. This can result in cracking the sidewall of the tire.

So, keep an eye on the wheel’s surface that you can see when you park your car and get the tires checked as soon as you see disorientation in its shape.

Contact Us for a Wheel Inspection

There are many signs that indicate that your tires are nearing the end of their life. The presence of embedded nails and cracked valve caps are also indicators that you need a wheel replacement in Austin. Neglecting the wheel damage signs only increases the danger of a tire failure while driving on the road, which increases the chances of getting into an accident.

Take your vehicle to a repair shop right away if you notice any damage or unsettling symptoms on the wheels. The technicians will conduct a thorough tire examination and will inform you if you need a wheel replacement in Austin or not.

No matter how well-maintained your car is, do not forget to bring your vehicle for a wheel replacement in Austin every six years.

Warning: Replace your tire as soon as you notice any exposed inner tire components in the tread or sidewall, such as metal or fabric cords. Exposed materials significantly increase tire blowout or rapid air loss danger. In order to increase the lifespan of your tires, you should rotate and inspect them often.

In all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive vehicles, tires should always be replaced as a set of four, and in two-wheel drive vehicles, at least as a pair (front or rear drive). It is best if all four tires still have an equal amount of tread depth.