Worn or damaged tires are one of the main causes of accidents. A damaged tire provides less surface grip, making a skid more likely in wet conditions and increasing your braking distance. As your Ford dealership, we’d like you to know a few signs you need to visit us for new tires.
Cracked Tires
Tires are made from high-quality rubber, then reinforced and vulcanized to improve durability. Rubber provides the best material for tires due to its combination of strength, durability, and flexibility. Despite this, the rubber will gradually weaken over time due to the effects of friction, heat, cold, and sunlight. As the rubber ages, it loses flexibility, and this will cause cracks to appear.
When you’re driving, the tire heats up due to surface friction. This heat causes any cracks to widen and deepen. If a crack reaches deep enough into the rubber, it can create a leak. We can repair leaks, but a tire that’s severely cracked should be replaced as it will inevitably fail. We can easily replace and balance a new tire for you while you wait.
Over and Under-Inflation
Incorrect inflation causes increased and avoidable tire wear. If your tires are low on air, the sidewalls will sag. This exposes the softer sidewall rubber to friction against the surface and increases the chances of a leak. In addition, under-inflated tires have reduced grip on the surface. The lack of grip slows down braking and reduces your control over your Ford.
Over-inflated tires, in contrast, are more likely to experience blowouts. Driving heats the air inside a tire, and the excess air in an over-inflated tire stretches the rubber. The stretched rubber and greater internal pressure can easily cause the tire to fail. We’ll correct your tire pressure and examine your tires to ensure they’re still safe to drive on.
Emergency Brake Damage
Sometimes, you may have to jam on the brakes to prevent an accident. Your brakes will engage quickly, but the extra friction generated by a sudden stop can cause tire damage. The tire rubber is forced against the ground by the sudden braking, and this can severely wear down the tread. You can usually see evidence of an emergency braking maneuver as a flattened section on the tires.
This type of damage decreases the tire’s grip due to the flattened section. It can also increase your chances of skidding on wet or muddy surfaces due to the reduced tread depth. Our technicians will examine your tread and advise if the affected tires need replacement.
If you have a tire problem, we can fix it. Call our service department today at Bergstrom Ford of Green Bay in Green Bay, WI.
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