Time for New Tires? Visit Your Buick and GMC Dealer

You wouldn’t want the sterling safety features of your Buick Encore or GMC Terrain SLE to be hampered by poorly maintained tires. After five or six years, even the most well-maintained tires face the risk of blowing out or losing traction on the road. Damaged tires often need replacing far sooner than this. Here are seven clear indicators that you should head to your local Buick GMC dealer for a set of new tires.

Time for New Tires? Visit Your Buick and GMC Dealer

Inexplicable Air Loss

Most punctures are dramatic and unmistakable, leaving you with no doubts that the tire needs replacing. But sometimes a tire can become punctured more subtly. As a result, a hidden crack or cut could be causing persistent air loss, which you might only notice when you check your tire pressure.

Never ignore inexplicable air loss. The underinflation it causes will hamper your vehicle’s handling and responsiveness. And even the smallest of punctures compromises the tire’s structural integrity, putting it at risk of blowing out on the road.

Embedded Objects 

One common cause of sneaky punctures is embedded objects in the tire rubber. If you ever notice a nail, a scrap of metal, or anything else dug into the tire, don’t ignore it. The object might have gone deep enough to pierce the inner lining, in which case you’ll need to have it removed and the tire repaired or replaced.

Sidewall Cracks

As a tire ages, it will inevitably develop a few hairline cracks in the sidewalls. This is a natural sign of the rubber breaking down and losing flexibility, caused by UV light, temperature fluctuations, salt, oils, and chemicals from the roads. Initially, these small, superficial cracks can be safely ignored. But if you notice them increasing in depth, length, and number, you’re at risk of a sidewall blowout and the tire should be swapped out.

Tread Cracks

Cracks in your tire treads should be treated with more urgency than sidewall cracks. Tiny cracks deep in the tread voids might pose little threat but any larger, wider crack usually indicates some underlying structural problem, such as dry rot or trapped air under the tread. A tire damaged in this way puts you and your passengers at risk and needs to go.

Deep Cuts

Needless to say, if you notice any deep cuts in the rubber from objects on the road, your tire may be too damaged to continue using. This is especially the case if the cut is so deep that you can see the inner lining underneath.

Blisters or Bubbles

Tires can become damaged by scrapes against curbs or bumps over potholes. Sometimes the only sign of such damage is a blistering or bubbling of the outer rubber. This often means the inner lining has become damaged and air has escaped, becoming trapped under the outer layers. Unfortunately, this kind of damage has ruined the tire, which will need to be replaced.

Diminished Tread Depth

The sturdiest of tires often make it to the end of their lifespan without suffering any of the aforementioned damage. In this case, you’ll most likely need to replace them when the tread depth nears 2/32 of an inch. This is the minimum legal tread depth in the US.

A wary driver concerned about traction should consider swapping out their tires long before the tread depth becomes so shallow. This is especially the case during winter, when slippery roads require greater tread depth to maintain traction. During winter, it’s not recommended to go below 5/32 of an inch.

To have your tires inspected, rotated, or replaced by friendly, experienced professionals, visit Crain Buick GMC of Springdale. We’re the region’s number one dealership and our priority is to serve our customers with an outstanding, highly personalized service, whatever your vehicle requirements might be.

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