Tire Repair vs. Replacement? Which Is the Right Choice?
Your tires may be the hardest-working components in your vehicle — even if you aren’t a severe driver, these parts deal with a massive amount of friction and strain on a daily basis. Of course, this means that no set of tires will last forever. And no matter how long you’ve had your current wheels, tire damage is always a possibility.
When your tires run into trouble, you’ll need to schedule an appointment for tire replacement or tire repair in Vancouver, WA. If you’re wondering which of these services is the best fit for your situation, read on for our complete guide.
How To Choose Between Tire Repair and Replacement
In many cases, tire repair will be enough to get your wheels back on the road. However, that might not be possible if your tires have been severely damaged. In that case (or if your tires are about to reach the end of their life span), tire replacement may be the only way to set things right.
When you visit a qualified tire shop for service, the people working there will determine what type of attention your tires need. Here’s what you can expect to happen if your tires are dealing with any of the following issues:
Sidewall Bubbling
Tires can suffer from sidewall bubbling for a number of reasons. More specifically, this situation can arise when you:
- Drive over potholes/curbs
- Carry loads that are too heavy for your tires
- Travel over train tracks or speed bumps too quickly
- Drive on a flat tire
Regardless of what caused your tire bubbling, this isn’t a problem a repair job can solve. Since wheels with sidewall bubbling have an extremely high risk of blowing out, these tires can’t be fixed. Instead, you’ll need to visit a local auto shop for tire replacement.
Punctures
Puncture damage doesn’t automatically mean that your tire is beyond repair. For example, holes measuring less than a quarter inch in diameter may be fixable (if they aren’t in your tire’s shoulder or sidewall, that is).
Sometimes, even tires with multiple punctures can be repaired. If your tire has no more than two holes, and if these holes are at least 16 inches away from each other, you may be eligible for tire repair. Unfortunately, that won’t be the case if your punctures are too close to each other or if you have three or more punctures.
Damage From an Accident
Car crashes can have an impact on all sorts of automotive components — and that includes your tires. If your wheels get cut or have their treads separated in a car crash, you need to choose new tires.
Repeat Damage
Even if a tire has already been repaired in the past, you could still be able to fix it again. However, previously damaged areas can become a problem when they overlap with new tire damage.
Old Age
While making an effort to protect your tires can extend their service life, that doesn’t mean you’ll be able to use them forever. Once your tires get old enough, you won’t be able to stay safe while driving on them — and at that point, you’ll definitely need tire replacement.
Low tread depth is an obvious indicator that your tires are wearing out. Gauging your tread depth is as easy as performing the “penny test” — taking a standard penny and putting it into your treads with the head facing down. If you can see the top of the head while performing this test, or if your tires show any other signs of aging, it’s time to invest in a new set of wheels.
Protect Your Wheels With Tire Maintenance
Though no driver can eliminate their eventual need for tire repair and replacement, you can still take care of your wheels by making tire maintenance a high priority. As part of this process, you should take care of services like the following on a regular basis:
Tire Rotation
The location of your tires matters more than you might think. Driven wheels work harder than non-driven wheels; as a result, your tires won’t automatically wear out at the same rate.
By focusing on tire rotation, you can prevent uneven tread wear from becoming an issue. While performing this task, mechanics take your vehicle’s tires off and move them to different spots on your car while following a specific pattern.
Tire Balancing
Your tires should be as close to identical as possible — and that includes their weight. Since a tire’s weight can change as its treads wear down, your tires could fall out of balance without you noticing.
Tire balancing can help ensure your tires still weigh the same amount. This service involves removing your tires, analyzing their weight distribution, and installing small weights on underweight wheels.
Wheel Alignment
Does your tire alignment allow your wheels to meet the road at exactly the right angle? If you’re like most Vancouver drivers, you might not be sure whether or not that’s the case. Even so, poor wheel alignment can make it difficult to steer your vehicle and reduce its fuel efficiency (among other issues).
To avoid problems like these, stop by a local tire shop for wheel alignment work. Instead of directly working on your tires, the technicians working there will adjust your suspension with the goal of returning your wheels to their proper alignment.
Know Where To Go for Tire Repair in Vancouver
Whether you need tire replacement or tire repair, these aren’t tasks you should attempt to handle on your own. Tires have a crucial part to play in any vehicle; if they don’t get attention from qualified mechanics, they could easily develop serious problems.
Luckily, taking good care of your wheels is as simple as visiting Gaynor’s Automotive! Our ASE-certified mechanics can easily handle tire replacement, repair, and maintenance. But that isn’t the only perk we offer — we can also help you save with online coupons and meet you at one of our many locations in Vancouver.
Are you ready to stop by Gaynor’s Automotive for the tire work you need? If so, schedule a service appointment today!