When should you replace your tires?

Replacing tires can feel costly, but in the long run, neglecting your tires costs even more. Tires do more than just support your car: they directly affect your fuel, efficiency, and safety on the road.

Worn-out, under-inflated, or improperly maintained tires increase the risk of accidents, overwork the engine, and burn more fuel.

Because tires lose air as they’re used and their pressure changes with the seasons, check your tire pressure once a month. This simple task can go a long way to extending the lifetime of your tires.

These are the main signals that your tires need replacing.

Low tread depth: If the tread on your tires wears down, it can’t grip the road well. This can cause your vehicle to slide or skid.

Cracks, bulges or visible sidewall damage: Visible cracks or bulges in the side wall can show internal structure failures, which could increase the risk of a tire blowout.

Loss of air pressure: If your tires often lose air and require frequent inflations despite no visible punctures, the rubber may be aging or the tires may have small leaks.

Uneven wear patterns: Uneven tread wear can result from misalignment, improper inflation, or issues with suspension. If only one section of the tire shows extensive wear, an alignment check and new tires may be necessary.

Excessive vibration: Excessive vibration in the handling of your vehicle while driving may signal unbalanced or worn-out tires, or issues with your suspension.

Ignoring these warning sides can compromise your safety on the road. Keeping an eye out for these signals can help you be sure your tires don’t create a hazard.

However, tire replacement doesn’t just occur when you notice damage: changing them with the season also improves the safety of you and everyone else on the road.

Seasonal conditions play an important role in tire replacement. As Canadians, knowing when to replace seasonal tires–whether in winter or summer–is crucial for both safety on the road and performance.

Seasonal tire change over in Canada varies across provinces and territories. The right time to switch between winter and summer or all-season tires is determined mostly by temperature.

Install winter tires when the temperature has consistently dropped below 7°C, which typically occurs between October to November, depending on region. Summer or all-season tires they lose their grip in cold temperatures, even if the roads are dry. Winter tires, by comparison, have softer rubber that remains flexible and provides increased traction in snow, slush, ice, and in colder temperatures.

Legal considerations: Some provinces require winter tires by law. In Quebec, winter tires are mandatory from December 1 to March 15. In British Columbia, some highways require winter tires from October 1 to April 30.

Winter tires wear out quickly in warm weather, which reduces fuel efficiency and performance and will damage the tires faster. Besides, summer and all-season tires provide better traction handling and longevity in these warmer conditions.

Change back to your summer or all-seasons when temperatures have consistently risen above 7°C. This is usually between late-March to early-May, depending on the region.

Aggressive driving habits, rough road conditions, and tire quality can decrease the lifespan of a tire. Most tires will last between 40,000 to 80,000 km. Experts recommend replacing them at least every six years regardless of mileage.

Check the age of your tires if you can’t remember the last them you had them inspected or replaced: Simply look for the DOT code on the sidewall of the tire. The last four digits represent the week and year of manufacturing. For example, 1022 would identify a tire manufactured in the 10th week of 2022.

If you have the proper tools and an appropriate location, you can replace your tires on your own. We have the complete guide to tire replacement here.

Any questions? Visit your local NAPA Auto Parts to speak with one of our technicians!.