It's official! We at Suburb Service have added tires to the list of services we provide for your Subaru and maybe your other car or you would be kind enough to tell your neighbor that your favorite repair shop does tires on all mid sized cars. You want to know what's extra special about this?
WE PROVIDE FREE SERVICE LOANERS (full coverage insurance is required), so you can either go off to work or go run errands, maybe go to the gym, the coffee shop.
Which raises the question:
How long should a new set of tires last?
This seems like a simple question, yet there are all kinds of different scenarios. Depending on the amount of driving, type of vehicle, type of terrain, weather, and quality of the tire, there could be years of difference from one vehicle to another. So, how do you know where YOUR tires stand?
The general consensus is tires should be inspected and possibly swapped out after six years, and for sure replaced after ten years no matter how they look. When your tires are inspected, they are checking for the amount of tread left on the tire, as well as shape and density.
When the tread reaches a depth of 2/32 of an inch, the tire has hit it's limit. However, no one can say how long until it will get to that point.. Depending on the different tires and manufacturers, some tires provide 15,000, 30,000, or even 80,000 miles.
Dan Zielinksi, a spokesperson for the U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association, says "Some tire manufacturers offer a warranty as high as 80,000 miles or more, reflecting confidence in that particular products longevity based on engineering, technology, and design. Other tires may be built to provide 30,000 miles of service."
The Federal Highway Administration collected data showing the average American drives about 15,000 miles a year. When doing the math, you'll see this could range anywhere from 4-10 years depending on your use. The best way to determine how long your tires will last, is to first determine how many miles you normally drive in a year.
Take into account how well you maintain your car and handle the roads, for a better longevity. Are you kind to your tires? Or are you constantly peeling out from stop signs and slamming on your breaks, burning rubber?
Checking the tread, maintaining correct tire pressure, and rotating your tires every 5,000 - 8,000 miles will do wonders to add length to their lives.
Of course you can bring your Subaru or vehicle into a shop to check on the health of the tire, but there are also ways you can keep tabs on your own. An easy way to check the tread, is to slip a penny in the tread with Abraham Lincoln's head upside down, and facing you. If you can see the top of his head, it's time for new tires.
You can also easily check the tire pressure by buying a $10 pressure gauge at an auto-parts store. If you're not up for owning gauge, most gas stations have accessible digital readouts or pressure gauges for your use.
We are confident in the tires we sell, and have chosen to keep Continental and Goodyear tires in stock for our customers. However, if you have another tire in mind we will order any type you need. And although we love our Subaru's, we love general safety and quality service more - so, we will provide or order any tires for any type of vehicle.
Hopefully with this little extra knowledge, you can take a peek at your tires and determine where you are on the spectrum of tire life. If you need help, click here to schedule an appointment at Suburb Service, or call (206) 705-8695 to reach us in Lake Forest Park.