Most people forget about their tires until they get a blowout or a flat. Since both of these can be dangerous, it's best to keep an eye on your tires. To decide if you need new tires, use these tips.

Does Your Car Need New Tires?

The average car owner doesn't know everything there is to know about cars, and that's ok. Keeping up with basic maintenance can help keep your car in great shape, and it also isn't hard to learn how to do it. If you know nothing about your tires, then you might not know what to look out for when checking on them. To help you check your tires better and decide whether or not you need a new set, use these tips from Synthetic Oil Inc.

How to Check Your Tire Tread

When checking on your tires, the first place you should start is the tire tread. Your tires need to have enough tread left so that they are still able to grip the road, especially when you have to brake suddenly. But, how do you know how much tread is enough to continue driving safely? Most places you look will tell you that your tires should have at least 1/16th of an inch left on the tread. It sounds pretty straightforward, but how can you measure this? The answer is quite easy. All you need is a penny, so go dig one out of your pocket or that change jar in your room. Once you have a penny, head over to one of your tires and insert it in between the grooves in your tread. When you do this, make sure Lincoln is being inserted into the grooves headfirst. Once the penny is all the way in, if you can see the top of Lincoln's head, then it's time for new tires. If most of his head is still covered, then you're good for now. It's also recommended that you stick the penny into several different spots. If you notice uneven tread wear, this can be due to a number of factors, from over-inflating your tires to an uneven suspension.

Look for Damage on the Sidewalls

Once you're done checking the tread on a tire and it turns out it's fine, next up is checking the sidewall for damage. The sidewall refers to the part of a tire that faces out but that doesn't touch the road. Crouch down and visually inspect this part closely. As you inspect the sidewall, look out for signs of damage in the form of cracks, tears, or missing chunks. While these may seem like they don't affect your tires at all, they can lead to further damage later on down the line. Cracks can be a sign of wear and age, so don't ignore them. They may start small and be on the surface, but over time they can get deeper and larger. If they go ignored, they can lead to tire trouble out on the road. It's best to change out these tires before they leave you stranded on the road. A synthetic oil change in San Diego is the best way to keep your car's engine in great shape. Click here to buy  AMSOIL's Signature Series 0W-20 Synthetic Motor Oil, which can keep your engine protected for longer than conventional oil. Find more great products like this by contacting the friendly oil experts at Synthetic Oil Inc at (800) 653-0323. You can browse their full range of products and place an order in their online shop.

Bubbles on Your Tires

While you're checking on a tire's sidewall, be on the lookout for bubbles and blisters as well. Generally, tires will develop this type of damage as a result of impact. If you hit a sharp object or drove into a pothole at a high speed, your tires can develop this type of damage. These bubbles and blisters can develop, leaving your tire more vulnerable to blowouts. If you notice this type of damage on your tires, get them changed as soon as you can. Since bubbles can't be repaired and often indicate structural damage inside the tire, there's no way of knowing when it will just give out. Because of this, it's best to have your damaged tires replaced before they give out.

Get a Synthetic Oil Change in San Diego, CA

Give your car a synthetic oil change in San Diego to keep it running stronger for a long time. Find the perfect oil for your car with the help of the friendly oil pros at Synthetic Oil Inc. Give them a call at (800) 653-0323 to learn more about their products.