Let’s be honest, you probably view the idea of buying a new set of tires as an expense that you would rather do without, but you might change your view when you take a moment to appreciate how important your tires are to keeping you safe in your car.
When you go looking for new tires here are some persuasive reminders to consider that should make you take a more positive view of why it matters to look after this integral part of your vehicle.
Safety is a primary consideration
It should go without saying that when it comes to minimizing your risk of being involved in an accident you will want to do everything you can to make sure you stay as safe as possible every time you get behind the wheel of your car.
The bottom line is that your tires play a vital role in making your vehicle safe and if they are not in the best condition or not suitable for the prevailing weather or road conditions you are potentially raising your risk level a notch or two.
The more your tires deteriorate the more you are putting you and your passengers at risk of being involved in an accident as you may not be able to maintain control of your car in certain circumstances.
The role your tires play
You may not be aware of how critical each tire is to the overall performance and handling of your car.
Each tire is tasked with supporting a quarter of the overall weight of your car and that is a fairly hefty burden to undertake. Therefore, if any of your tires are not in the best condition it is going to quickly compromise the ability of the remaining tires to keep you safe and give you the level of handling you expect.
Key tasks that your tires are being asked to perform include gripping the road sufficiently to give you control so that you can turn properly and stop safely within the right timeframe.
The worse condition your tires are in the worse they are going to perform when it comes to handling and braking.
If you see that one of your tires is a bit bald or damaged in any way you might want to think twice about continuing to drive under those circumstances when you think of how that decision could come back to haunt you.
Your tires could be costing you more than your safety
Safety is a good enough incentive on its own to replace your tires on a regular basis but when you add in the fact that you will likely suffer poorer fuel efficiency when your tires are sub-standard that should be enough to convince you.
If your tires are in poor condition or not correctly inflated this will have a noticeable impact on fuel economy, meaning you will be filling up with gas more often than you might if your tires were in good condition.
If your tires are worn or running with the incorrect level of air in them it makes the task of maintaining consistent contact with the road harder to achieve and that means you are going to end up using more fuel.
Putting off buying a new set of tires could turn out to be a false economy if that decision means you end up spending more on gas, let alone the fact that you are already risking your safety with tires that are in poor condition.
How’s your car driving?
The aim should always be to have a set of tires on your car that boasts a good level of tread and are balanced correctly.
Think back to when you last drove away from the gas station having checked your tires and put the right pressure in them. There is a good chance that you will have noticed that your ride seemed to be smoother and the handling was better than before.
That is no coincidence, it is the sort of performance you can expect from your car when you fit good tires that are inflated to the correct pressure.
You need good traction in challenging weather conditions
Having bald or poor quality tires on your car is not a good scenario for all the reasons already outlined and another consequence of their condition is the problems you can suffer as a result of poor traction.
You don’t have to be a genius to understand that achieving maximum traction with your tires should be a top priority as it is a fundamental aspect of your ability to drive your car safely.
If the weather has taken a turn for the worse and winter has arrived you could become even more vulnerable as a result of having tires on your car that don’t make the grade or are past their best.
If you are traveling along a road that is covered with snow or is slushy underfoot you are going to seriously struggle to get the sort of traction you want to cope with those conditions if your tires don’t have a decent amount of tread.
In comparison, when your tires have the right amount of tread it allows the water to pass underneath the tire while keeping you grounded as you continue on your journey. When that tread is not sufficient enough it allows the rubber to spin on the surface, creating a lack of traction that can be quite scary when it happens to you.
Before you think that winter weather is the only reason for upgrading your tires, bear in mind that having good tread in good weather conditions is also highly beneficial as you will enjoy better handling and improved fuel economy.
Do yourself a favor
Having a greater appreciation of how important your tires are should provide you with the incentive to check pressures on a regular basis and inspect them for wear and tear.
Changing them every season is not such a bad idea when you consider the consequences of not having good tires to help you complete your journey safely.