• Home
  • Denver Auto Repair Services
    • Full Service Oil Change
    • Automatic Transmission
    • Fuel System Cleaning
    • Radiator Flush Service
    • Wiper Blades
    • Air Filter
    • Cabin Air Filter
    • Gearbox Service
    • Brake Repair
    • Clutches
    • CV Boots
    • Tune-Up
    • Steering & Suspension
    • Tires
  • Auto Diagnostic
  • Contact Us
    • About Us
  • Shop Specials
  • Testimonials
  • Blog
  • 303-691-2760

Express Car Care of Denver

"Denver's Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube"

  • Brake Service
  • Car Maintenance
    • Heating-Air Conditioning
    • Suspension
    • Transmission
    • Engine
    • Tires
  • Oil Change
  • Tips & Tricks

When Do You Replace Tires

September 3, 2011 by Denver Express Car Care Leave a Comment

Your ability to control your vehicle depends on the traction between your tires and the road.  Tires don’t need to have tread designs or much tread depth to give you traction on a dry road, but tires do require tread designs to generate traction on wet, slushy or snow-covered roads.

A tread design is necessary to direct water and slush from between the tire and the road, as well as provide edges that cut into the snow.  When water collects on the road surface during a rainstorm, the depth of the water, the speed you are driving and your car’s weight, along with the tires’ tread design and depth, are all factors in determining when and if the tires will stop the car quickly or force it to hydroplane or float.    

It isn’t difficult to understand that the tread on tires will wear away over their life and the volume of their tread grooves will be reduced.  This is a gradual process and you may not notice it day-to-day, but eventually there will be a time when you notice your car slip in the snow or hydroplane in the rain or just not stop quickly when the road is wet.

So when do you replace tires?  If rain and wet roads are your main concern, it’s recommended you replace your tires when they reach approximately 4/32″ of remaining tread depth.  Since water can’t be compressed, you need enough tread depth to allow the rain to escape through the tire’s grooves.  If the water can’t escape fast enough, your vehicle’s tires will be forced to hydroplane on top of the water, losing traction and increasing your stopping distance.

If you drive on snow-covered roads you should replace your tires when they reach approximately 6/32″ of remaining tread depth so you can maintain good mobility.  You need more tread depth in snow because your tires need to compress the snow in their grooves and release it as they roll.  If there isn’t sufficient tread depth, the “bites” of snow your tires can take on will be reduced and your vehicle’s traction and mobility will be sacrificed.

While replacing your tires before they are completely worn out may not seem to be very economical, it is far less expensive than repairing your car after you’ve had an accident because your tires needed to be replaced and weren’t!

When you replace the tires on your vehicle it is recommended that you replace all four tires at the same time and also have your car checked to make sure it is aligned properly.  All these steps will give you longer life for your replacement tires.

For all of your Denver Auto Repair needs, trust Express Car Care. Call (303) 691-2760 or stop by our shop today.

Filed Under: Denver Auto Repair, Tires Tagged With: When Do You Replace Tires

Leave a Reply

You must be logged in to post a comment.

Express Car Care
4200 E. Evans Ave. Denver, CO (map)
Phone: (303) 691-2760
Located just southeast of the Colorado Light Rail station

Follow Us Today!

  • Facebook
  • RSS

Shop Hours

Monday: 8:00AM – 5:30PM
Tuesday: 8:00AM – 5:30PM
Wednesday: 8:00AM – 5:30PM
Thursday: 8:00AM – 5:30PM
Friday: 8:00AM – 5:30PM
Saturday: Closed – A note from the owner
Sunday: Closed

Last car oil change time  – 5:00PM

Click for the BBB Business Review of this Auto Repair & Service in Denver CO

Recent Articles

3 Things You Should Do (and 3 Things You Shouldn’t) When Your Car Overheats

3 Things You Should Do (and 3 Things You Shouldn’t) When Your Car Overheats

Sometimes you rely on gut instinct to direct you to take action.  Imagine your family is heading to the mountains for a fun-filled weekend. You start climbing the hill, feeling a tug at the … [Read More...]

  •  What The White Smoke From The Exhaust Means
  • Why Your Battery Light May Come On While You Drive
  • Preserving Your Truck’s Value With These Maintenance Tips
  • 5 Simple Maintenance Tips For Making Your Car’s Tires Last Longer
  • Maintenance Tips For Making Your Car Last Longer

Search Our Site

Brakes Service

How To Extend The Life of Your Car’s Brakes

What Happens When Brand New Brakes Squeak?

How Do I Know If My Brake Rotors Are Bad?

Oil Change

Does Your Hybrid Vehicle Need an Oil Change?

Regular vs Synthetic Motor Oil – What You Should Know

Do You Really Need To Change Motor Oil Every 3,000 Miles?

Suspension

How Worn Out Shocks and Struts Can Cause An Accident

CV Joint and CV Boot Repair – What You Need To Know

Do All Shocks and Struts Need To Be Replaced At The Same Time?

Transmision Service

Does Your Clutch Need Repair or Replacing?

Does Your Car Really Need a Transmission Flush?

Early Warning Signs of Transmission Failure

Engine Service

3 Things You Should Do (and 3 Things You Shouldn’t) When Your Car Overheats

7 Maintenance Tips For Keeping Your Car’s Engine Running Smoothly

The Timing Belt Is About To Destroy Your Engine

Auto Tips & Tricks

5 Simple Maintenance Tips For Making Your Car’s Tires Last Longer

Help! My Key Is Stuck In The Ignition

What Cold and Heat Does To Tires

"Denvers Best Auto Repair and Quick Lube" - Copyright © 2022 - 4200 E. Evans Ave. Denver, CO 303-691-2760