Even though All-Terrain tires are widely praised by drivers for their impressive durability, there comes a time when they need to be replaced as well. Just like every tire, A/T tires cease to perform as they do when you first install them.
However, when do you know an A/T tire’s time is up? And exactly when do they need to be replaced?
In this article, we’ll discuss some of the ways you can identify a worn-out All Terrain tire and under what circumstances they need to be to require replacement. So, without further rambling, let’s get on to the info.
Table of Contents
Analyzing the Damage
Most drivers will make the common mistake of switching their A/T tires with new ones after minor wear and tear. These tires, no matter how tattered they look, can still have mileage left in them that’s good for another ride or two.
To avoid throwing out perfectly usable all-terrain tires, here’s the damage you need to look for before considering replacement –
Low Treadwear
The average All-Terrain tire has a tread life of approximately 40,000 miles. That means, at a given constant speed of 45 miles per hour, you can drive for over 880 hours. This info alone should give you a rough idea of how much mileage is left out of your tires.
If you don’t drive as often, live in an even terrain area with little to no harsh weather, and don’t drive for an extended amount of time, you can expect your tires to run longer than usual. But if you’re behind the wheel more often than others, you might consider looking up replacement tires online in advance.
Related Guide: Do All Terrain Tires Affect Gas Mileage?
Reduced Tread Depth
When a tire’s tread depth drops below 2/32-inch, it’s worn out. Some tires include “wear bars” in the tread pattern on the outer and inner shoulders to indicate when the tire is fully worn out. Tires appear to gain dry grip and handling as they age, but their wet and snow traction and/or handling deteriorates.
Quality Mud tires should be replaced when they have around 6/32-inch of tread depth left for snow situations to guarantee maximum mobility.
Worn Out Appearance
Sometimes just by the look of your tires, you can tell whether they are in usable condition or not. In this case, keep an eye out for damaged areas, impaired valve caps, shallow tread depth, irregularities (such as rocks, slits, holes, nails, etc.), and overall uneven tread wear.
Rough Ride
If this is your preferred riding style, tires will have severe wear or injury within a short time. Stop and examine your tires if you feel vibrations while driving. If your tire has the indications mentioned above but no visible damage, you may need to take it to a dealer for a thorough evaluation.
Conclusion
If none of the mentioned signs match with the condition of your A/T tires, then good news — they don’t need any replacement!
We hope we were able to assist you with the proper info needed to know when to replace All Terrain tires, and hopefully, you’ve finished this article with a clearer idea of the treadwear of your car tires.
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