How to Inspect Car Tires?
4 Answers
Methods for inspecting car tires include: 1. Observe the tire hair - brand new original tires have numerous hair-like protrusions on the surface, which typically disappear after driving 5 to 10 kilometers; 2. Check the label - genuine tires come with either a colored Chinese label or a black Chinese label; 3. Lightly scratch to see if marks remain - authentic original tires have good elasticity. If you gently scratch the tire surface with a key or other object, the scratched area will quickly recover. Car tires are one of the crucial components of a vehicle, directly contacting the road surface. Together with the car suspension system, they help absorb shocks during driving, ensure good ride comfort and smooth operation, maintain excellent adhesion between the wheels and the road surface, and improve the vehicle's traction, braking, and off-road capability.
Tire maintenance really requires regular attention. I usually check them at least once a month. Squat down and first examine the tread depth by inserting a coin into the grooves—if the top of the national emblem is visible, it's time to replace them. Sidewall bulges are the most dangerous; my neighbor's car had a blowout last week because of that. Those small stones stuck along the wheel rim edges need to be picked out regularly—last time my car was making a humming noise, it turned out to be a sharp rock lodged there. Don’t forget about the inner wear on the rear tires; you’ll need to pull back the fender liner to see it clearly. Once during maintenance, I discovered the inner side had worn down to bald tires, something I’d never notice in daily use. If you’ve had a tire patched, it’s best to get a dynamic balance done, or else the steering wheel will shake like a massager at high speeds. And remember to check the production date—the four-digit DOT code. Tires older than six years are aging, even if the tread depth looks good.
As a driver who frequently takes long trips, I've developed a habit of giving the tires a couple of kicks before setting off. Not random kicks, but gentle taps with the side of my shoe sole against the tires to get a rough sense of the tire pressure. Front tires wear out faster than rear ones, so remember to rotate them every 20,000 kilometers. A tire shop guy once taught me a trick: drive over a thin piece of paper with the contact patch, and if the paper tears when you start moving, it means the tread grip is still decent. Rainy and snowy days really test your tires—if the lateral drainage grooves are shallow, it's especially easy to skid. Manufacturers say to inflate tires to the pressure listed on the door frame sticker, but in hot weather, I go 0.1Bar lower than the standard for more stability on the highway. If you notice severe uneven wear, get a wheel alignment—my old car's tire wear was due to a bent tie rod.
When I first bought my car, I learned the hard way. While washing the car, the foam covered everything and I didn’t notice until it was too late—the left front tire’s sidewall got three deep scratches from the curb. The mechanic said such damage meant the tire had to be replaced. Now I’ve wised up; after washing, I always dry the tires and inspect them carefully. A word of advice: don’t trust '90% new used tires.' Once, I bought two cheap ones, only to find out later they were retreads with altered production dates. Winter tires must be swapped out by April. Last May, I got lazy because it was still snowing, and the tire noise on asphalt was like a plane taking off. And never neglect your spare tire—last month, I helped a friend change theirs, only to find it flat as a pancake.
