The main benefit of new tires is safety. Driving on worn out, bald tires is an accident waiting to happen- especially on wet roads. The National Highway and Traffic Safety Association (NHTSA) estimates that 26% of vehicle accidents involve tires with insufficient tread (less than 2/32nds of an inch).
Why driving on excessively worn tires is a safety factor?
- Hydroplaning: The grooves in the tread provide space for water to be channeled out from under the tread. These and other features in new tires provide grip in rain, snow and ice. With shallow tread, the vehicle becomes very difficult to control on slick roads.
- Excessive heat build-up: Driving creates friction between the tire and the road’s surface which creates heat. Treads allow air flow between the grooves which helps to cool the rubber in the tread area of the tire. When the tread wears down, there is less airflow around the tread and this causes more heat to be retained in the tire. High temperatures are unsafe because it can cause a blowout.
- Loss of air pressure/flats: With worn or bald tires there is less rubber to protect the tire from penetration by foreign objects like nails, screws, glass or even wire. If you travel on gravel roads, the risk of a flat due to worn tires is even greater.
A set of new tires address all of these safety risks, and will give you more confidence and control behind the wheel.
