How to Know It’s Time for New Tires for Your GMC

Like the oil, filters, transmission fluid, and other components in your GMC truck or SUV, tires eventually wear out and must be replaced. Otherwise, they can cause serious handling and safety issues. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Association (NHSTA), using worn-out or poorly maintained tires makes a driver three times as likely to get in an accident. As your certified GMC service center near Florence, McCluskey Buick GMC is here when you need a new tire or a full set.

The question is, when should you replace them? Depending on the tire’s design, the material quality, and how you drive, tires can last anywhere from 25,000 to 100,000 miles, meaning you sometimes need to monitor them. Furthermore, while it’s sometimes clear a tire needs to be changed, other warning signs aren’t as obvious. We want GMC owners to be safe on the roads and trails, so we put together this guide. Whether you drive a Sierra 1500, Canyon, Acadia, Yukon, or another model, we’ll help you spot the signs you need new tires and get the most from your current ones.

Tread Depth: The Ultimate Tire Wear Sign

When you look at the rubber on your GMC’s tires, you’ll see grooves of various shapes and patterns. This is the “tread,” and it’s what helps your tires grip the road in a variety of conditions. Tread depth is the distance from the top of the grooves to the bottom. As tires wear, the tread depth gets shallower. Too little tread will reduce traction, especially in wet weather, and make it harder to stop. It also raises the chances of cutting or blowing a tire.

The NHTSA officially recommends replacing tires when the depth is down to 1/16-inch, while AAA says you should replace them at 1/8-inch. You should be even more cautious in the winter and with off-road tires. If a snowstorm hits Florence or you regularly drive on dirt, mud, and grass, you’ll need as much traction as you can get.

How to Check Tread Depth

It’s easy to determine whether your tires have enough tread. Nearly all tires have tread-depth indicators or “wear bars” built into the grooves. When the top of the tread is even with at least three wear bars, it’s time to replace the tires. You can also use a tread depth gauge or do a coin test. For the coin test, insert a quarter or penny into the tread with the president’s head pointing downward. If you can see the top of George Washington’s head on a quarter, the tread depth is less than 1/8-inch; seeing the top of Abraham Lincoln’s head on a penny means the depth is less than 1/16-inch.

Other Signs Your GMC Needs New Tires

Although tread depth is an important barometer of tire wear and when to change them as preventative maintenance, it’s not the only one. Here are some more signs that you should replace your GMC’s tires so you can drive down Interstate 71 or Route 42 with confidence:

• You see cracks, splits, bulges, or other visible damage to the tread and sidewall.
• The inner cords or fabric are visible.
• Sections of the tread have peeled away.
• The tread wear is uneven, as this will reduce the tire’s contact patch and give you significantly less traction.
• The tire is leaking due to a puncture or broken valve stem. While some issues can be repaired, others cannot.
• There are “flat spots” on the tire, which can be caused by the vehicle sitting for long periods, sliding the tires, or underinflation.
• The tires are at least 10 years old. At this point, the rubber has degraded enough that it is no longer structurally sound, regardless of mileage.

How to Make Your GMC’s Tires Last Longer

Although everyone needs to replace their tires sooner or later, we know Florence drivers want them to last as long as possible. The good news is there are ways to squeeze more miles out of your GMC’s tires and avoid sudden failures through a combination of good maintenance, tire selection, and driving habits.

Ensure the Proper PSI

Overinflating the tires will cause the center tread to wear out faster while underinflating them will make the edges wear out faster and increase the likelihood of overheating. The recommended PSI can be found in your vehicle service manual or on the side of the tire. Use the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) to check the PSI periodically. This is also a good way to catch leaks early.

Look for Alignment Issues

Wheels can fall out of alignment over time, and debris may knock the balance out of sorts. Both cause uneven tire wear and handling problems. They may also signify a deeper issue with the suspension. Misaligned tires often pull to one side, while unbalanced tires cause vibrations, so be on the lookout for each. We offer wheel alignment and tire balancing services to give you better ride quality with less wear.

Rotate Your Tires Regularly

The tires on the front and rear of your GMC wear out at different rates depending on what drive functions they perform and how much weight they must support. If you don’t periodically swap the front and rear tires to balance the wear, you run a greater risk of premature failures. Experts recommend rotating the tires every 7,500 miles or so. We can rotate your GMC’s tires on a schedule as a standalone service or as part of another maintenance appointment.

Use High-Quality Tires

A cheaper set of tires will save you money upfront but wear out much faster, and they’re more likely to get damaged or not handle as well. You also want to buy certain tires for certain situations. For example, all-terrain tires will do better and last longer when off-roading, while all-season tires are designed for everyday driving in downtown Florence. The team at our service center will help you select an affordable set of GMC-recommended tires so you can be confident in their performance and durability.

Resist Aggressive Driving

We understand that sometimes you need to let it all out on a backwoods trail or slam the brakes to avoid an accident. In general, though, you should drive as smoothly as possible since aggressive moves wear the tires out faster. Avoid sudden acceleration, braking, and swerving; slow down enough when turning so the tires don’t squeal; and watch out for potholes, curbs, gravel, and construction areas.

Get New Tires for Your GMC at McCluskey Buick GMC

The tires are the only part of your car that touches the road, so they should always be taken seriously. By taking good care of your tires and promptly replacing those that are worn-out or damaged beyond repair, you’ll have a GMC vehicle that drives better and is safer—and you can spend more time enjoying its many other great features.

Use our online tire finder or speak with one of our certified technicians about finding the right tires for your GMC from leading brands like Bridgestone, Goodyear, Firestone, Uniroyal, Hankook, BFGoodrich, and Continental. After you pick your new tires, we will mount, balance, and align them in our state-of-the-art service center. Many tires come with a 30-day Price Match Guarantee, so you get the best value. We also offer regular service specials on tire rotations and everything else you need for a great ride.