Tire Repair & Replacement Services

How To Tell If You Need New Tires?

Tire repair and replacement is a vital service because tires put you in contact with the ground, and you’re pretty much an accident waiting to happen when you’ve got old worn-out tires. Some of the things that can happen when you have bad tires are blowouts and bad traction, so it’s good to know when you need new tires.

Top 5 Signs You Need New Tires

1. Low Tread Depth
2. Vibrations While Driving
3. Tire Bulging
4. Cracks In Tire Sidewalls
5. Tread Wear Indicators

At What Tread Depth Should Tires Be Replaced?

Tire treads are what keep the vehicle’s grip on the road. Treading on your tires always be above 1/16 of an inch in depth. If you drive on slippery, wet surfaces on a daily basis, you will be even better off with twice as much depth.

To measure the tread depth you could buy a tire depth gauge, but there’s an old trick that will give you a rough estimate of how much tread depth you have left, and it’s not going to cost you more than a penny.

Take a penny and insert the head (head-down) of Abe into the tread. If the whole head of Lincoln remains clear, you don’t have enough of a tread. Take your vehicle to the mechanic and inquire about a new set of tires.

How Much Do New Tires Cost?

Depending on the brand, design, and tire size, the cost of tires varies widely (large tires for a pick-up truck will be more expensive than smaller tires for a sedan).

If your tire purchase is planned or an unexpected need, tires may be more costly than a typical maintenance cost. Fortunately, most people purchase new tires every four years or so, so you won’t have to worry about changing them for a while once you have a new set.

Typical Tire Pricing (Per Tire)

• Economical Tires 50-$150
• Standard Tires 100-$300
• High-End Tires 300-$1000

Do New Tires Need An Alignment?

When you have new tires installed, a wheel alignment is not required, but it’s an excellent idea. An alignment helps ensure that with each other and the road, all four tires are correctly angled.

You will experience a rough ride and experience uneven tire wear earlier if you don’t align new tires, which can shorten your tires’ lifetime. A wheel alignment will allow you to get more miles out of a new tire package.

Do New Tires Need To Be Balanced?

The wheels need to be balanced when tires are mounted. If this is not performed, it is more likely that the new tires will not roll as fluently, causing the driver and vehicle various concerns, mainly when the steering wheel shakes and rocks back and forth at specific speeds. This occurs when the imbalance of the tires causes the wheel to shimmy.

What Are TMPS In Tires?

The aim of your vehicle’s (TPMS) tire pressure monitoring system is to warn you that one or more tires are substantially under-inflated, potentially causing unsafe driving conditions.

The tire pressure monitoring system low tire pressure indicator is a yellow symbol illuminating an exclamation point in the form of a tire cross-section on the dashboard instrument panel (which resembles a horseshoe).

Do New Tires Require New TMPS?

After adjusting or fitting new tires or wheels, most tire shops and repair shops recommend servicing the TPMS. This is performed by replacing the valve center, keeping the nut, seal and cap on the valve stem, and then checking the mechanism to ensure it functions properly.

In many cars, after changing or replacing tires, the TPMS needs to be reset electronically. For some, as long as the sensors are working correctly, traveling several miles automatically resets the device.

All-Terrain VS Snow Tires

All-terrain tires are designed to be used in harsh conditions all year round to provide traction. They are also flexible so that drivers can be assured when driving on back roads, highways, and city streets, they still provide smooth rides. They’re more resistant than standard tires to punctures and cuts.

Snow tires have squared-off shoulders, which helps these tires to sink into the Chicago snow. Deep grooves work on slick surfaces to stabilize grip and traction. The engineering of these tires also avoids lateral hydroplaning and slipping through the snow. The rubber compounds in snow tires are engineered in freezing temperatures to stay soft and not tense up. They don’t provide adequate performance for the warmer seasons(typically only used in the winter).

How Are Flat Tires Repaired?

Don’t hesitate to get into Chicago Autohaus if you think something is wrong with your car’s tires. If your Tire Pressure Monitoring System light is on, or you have hit something on the road, your tire looks flat, or maybe something just doesn’t feel right, bring it in, and one of the certified specialist technicians will take a look and tell you if any tire repair services are required.

It can lead to additional (and more expensive) rim damage and repairs if you continue riding on a damaged tire, so it is best to have your tires checked at the first sign of trouble.

If the tire damage is treated early on, the remedy could be as easy as a patch and tire plug. Flat tires can be fixed by simple procedures, including patching small holes, replacing the tire valve, or resetting the TPMS sensor.

Why Should You Rotate A Vehicle’s Tires?

Rotating tires at regular intervals are essential because routine tire rotation prevents uneven wear of the tire. The tread of a tire is where the rubber meets the road. The tire tread supplies stability and grip while driving.

If you never rotate the tires on your vehicle, uneven tire tread wear can grow. Your front tires endure more tension as you drive, as they are mainly responsible for steering and turning the car. The wear is fairly spread out by continually rotating the tires and increasing all four tires’ lives. Routine tire rotations can boost fuel efficiency and better overall performance, in addition to increasing the durability of your tires.

You face multiple tire problems without frequent tire rotations, the worst of which is a blowout or tire collapse. Tread is also part of what stops a vehicle from hydroplaning (aquaplaning) or losing traction. Ensure the safety of your car and passengers with tire rotation and tire tread depth checks.

Why Is It Important To Check Tire Pressure? 

Ensuring proper tire pressure and tire tread keep you safer on the road can also help increase gas mileage. To ensure your tires have the optimal pressure for protection and efficiency, stop by Chicago Autohaus for a tire pressure check.

Improper tire pressure means that the tires are either underinflated or overinflated. Overinflation means that the vehicle’s weight is not uniformly distributed across the entire tread but instead focuses on a thin strip in the middle. Underinflation means the tire is soft, and the outside edges work harder than the softer center. The extra rolling resistance makes it more challenging to drive your car, reducing the gas mileage.

The tire pressure should be periodically tested and filled at the recommended amount for cold weather. This info is generally found in the vehicle’s manual or on a doorjamb, trunk, or glove box sticker. Correct tire pressure is unique to the car, not specific to the tire, so do not use the pressure shown on the sidewall of the tire itself. That is the limit quoted by the tire manufacturer for all applications, not the same as your car’s prescribed pressure.

Where To Go For Tire Repair And Replacement?

Chicago roads are not always vehicle-friendly and often result in drivers needing tire repairs. Whether it is buying 4 new tires or patching a flat tire, the trusted technicians at Chicago Autohaus are equipped to assist drivers with all of their tire needs.

Don’t hesitate to fix your tires because the Chicago streets can be unforgiving.