Buying Tires

In the market for new tires? The Service and Parts departments of Chevy of Troy in Dayton are here to help! We have great deals on various brands and sizes of tires for cars, trucks and SUVs! We carry Goodyear, Hankook, Firestone, Uniroyal, Pirelli, BFGoodrich and Bridgestone brand tires! Learn more about shopping for new tires and our tire offers below!

So, when should you buy new tires?

1. Age Confirming your tires' expiration date is the first step in determining their remaining lifespan. If you can't remember when you got your current tires or if they came with your used vehicle, you can determine the manufacturer's expected lifespan by looking up the make and model on the manufacturer website or on a tire store's website. You can also find the 16-digit tire ID number printed on the sidewall. The first three digits, DOT, represent the U.S. Department of Transportation. The last four digits reveal the tire's age by showing the week and the last two digits of the year in which it was manufactured (for example, "1117" would mean the 11th week of 2017).
2. Penny Test One easy way to determine if your tire's treads have worn down is the penny test. Grab a penny and hold it against your tire in-between the treads with Abraham Lincoln's head toward the tire. If the top of his head is visible, your tires are too worn and its time to start shopping.
3. Tire Thread Indicators Most tires have tread wear indicators embedded into the rubber near the outside edge of the tire. When the tread is worn down, the indicator will be easily visible as well as make an annoying noise on the road to prompt checking them. Don't ignore the noise, get new tires!
4. Uneven Tread Wear If you notice your tire treads are wearing down unevenly, that too means its time for a replacement. For example, if the tread wear indicators peek through some spots but not all the way around, or if you happen to see areas where the tire surface isn't consistent with the overall wear, you need new tires.
5. Visible Damage A puncture from a nail or other road debris can potentially be repaired, but damage to a tire's sidewall usually means it will need to be replaced. Make it a habit to check your tires' sidewalls for damage, including blusters, cuts, bulges, and cracking.
6. Vibration This last tip can help you catch a problem with your tires before it gets out of hand, its also good advice in general. Listen closely to how your car sounds on the road. If something is off, get it checked out.

Your tires are your connection to the road, they play an important role in your vehicle's ability to keep you safe. In summary, your tires need to be replaced if they are worn, damaged beyond repair, or just old. Don't risk your vehicle's (or more importantly your own) safety, if you need new tires, stop in to our service department or schedule service online and let us help you today!