Car owners typically do not give the tires a lot of thought. Unless there’s a flat or blown-out tire, many drivers assume the wheels are in good condition. But there are instances where tires may need to be inspected, and one such instance is when they are scraped. This article investigates the reasons why tires can get scraped and whether it’s safe to drive with a scraped tire.
Whether you should or should not drive with a scraped tire depends on the extent of the damage. If the tires are badly scratched, you’ll have to change them as they are more prone to blowing out while driving.
Safety is of the highest importance when it comes to driving and you should always take steps to ensure all components of your car are in good condition to maximize your safety. Below, you’ll learn about the various ways your car tires can get scraped and how to deal with a scraped tire.
How Can A Car Tire Get Scraped?
Below are the ways your car tires can get scratched or scraped:
Potholes
Potholes aren’t your tire’s friend, as they can cause serious damage to your tires. They can do more than just damage your vehicle, as the integrity of the car’s alignment and suspension is also at risk.
Whenever a vehicle enters a pothole, an unequal amount of weight is pressed against the tire as it’s pressed against the sharp edges. Apart from scraping tires, potholes can also cause tires to wear out faster than they normally would.
Bumping Into Curbs
Your tires can also get scraped if you regularly bump into curbs. A curb is likely to do more damage to the tires than potholes because the sidewall of the tire collides against the curb. Unlike the threaded part of the tire, the sidewall isn’t designed for impact, and a small bump against it can scrap it and cause serious damage. And this is why you should be careful to avoid hitting the curb. Hitting the curb while driving at a slow speed can damage your tires.
Sharp Objects
Screws, shards, nails, and glass are examples of sharp objects that can damage tires. If any of these objects pass through the outer wall of the tire, then it will puncture the tire. If not, it may just scratch or scrape the tire. Depending on the severity of the scratch, you may need to replace your tire.
Underinflation
Your car’s tire can also get damaged due to inflation. There’s an ideal pressure range for car tires. If the pressure of a tire is below or above this range, then the tire becomes more susceptible to different types of damage.
Age
Tires are not designed to last forever. However, it’s difficult to tell how long a particular tire will last since there are several factors that will determine its longevity. Still, older tires are more prone to damage than newer ones, and small bumps against the curb or any other object may significantly scrap an old tire and necessitate the need for a replacement.
Overloading
Overloading puts a lot of strain on the tires and makes them more susceptible to damage. Tire manufacturers usually specify load ratings for their tires, and it’s important you don’t exceed the load rating if you want your tires to last.
Manufacturing defects
It’s not unusual for car tires to have manufacturing defects. However, it’s difficult for drivers to detect such defects. The effect of the defect will reflect on the longevity and durability of the tires as such, tires become more prone to damage.
Is it safe to drive on a scraped tire?
Whether it’s safe to drive on a scraped tire depends on the part of the tire that’s been scratched and the extent of the damage. If the sidewalls have suffered significant damage, then it’s not safe to drive with the scraped tire since the tire can blow at any moment. However, if the damage is shallow, then there may be no cause for worry.
Important Safety Tips For Tire Maintenance
Below are tips you can follow to maintain your tires and keep them in top condition for as long as possible.
Ensure Your Tires Are Properly Inflated
As mentioned above, tires need to be properly inflated for them to perform well. If they are under or over-inflated, they will not accelerate, steer, or brake properly. If you don’t know the pressure range for your tires, consult the owner’s manual.
It’s recommended that you check your tire pressure at least once a month. The best time to check tire pressure is when they are cold, so you can just check the pressure before you head out for a drive in the morning.
Rotate Your Tires Regularly
It’s recommended to rotate your tires every 5,000 to 8,000 miles (depending on the manufacturer’s recommendation) to improve their longevity. This is especially important for front-wheel-drive vehicles as the front tires tend to wear out faster as they are more involved in breaking. By routinely changing the positions of the tires, the wear will be spread evenly across all four tires, thereby maximizing the lifespan of your tires.
Many people don’t take tire rotation as seriously as they should. And this will have an impact on how long their tires will last.
Ensure Your Tires Are Balanced
If you take the time to go through the recommended services in your vehicle’s owner manual, you’ll see tire balancing among the recommended services. Tire balancing is important to get the maximum service life from tires, and it provides a smooth ride as well as even wear.
As you drive your vehicle, the tires lose balance as the tread wears out. If the tires aren’t rebalanced, then they will wear out and damage faster. Endeavor to take your vehicle to a mechanic every six months to check the balance of your tires and make adjustments as necessary.
Inspect The Tires Regularly
This one is pretty straightforward. Occasionally, you should take time to walk around your car and check the tires for scratches, bubbles, gouges, and cracks. If any of these are present, it may mean that your tires are old or simply damaged. Depending on the severity of the damage, you may need to replace your tires.
Benefits Of Proper Tire Care
As you may already know, there are benefits to conducting regular maintenance on your car. Such benefits include:
Improved Road Safety
Did you know that underinflated tires are responsible for more than 600 fatalities and 33,000 injuries every year National Highway Traffic Safety Administration? So, by regularly inspecting your tires and ensuring they are in good condition, you are improving your safety as well as that of other road users.
Better fuel efficiency
When your tires have the correct pressure and are in good condition, you’ll notice that the fuel economy of your vehicle will improve. For those not familiar with the term ‘fuel economy’ as it pertains to cars, it simply means the number of miles a car can travel on a specific amount of fuel. With your tires properly inflated and in good condition, you’ll notice an improvement in your fuel economy, and this means more savings on fuel for you.
Make Your Tires Last Longer
This one is super duper obvious, isn’t it? One of the main ideas behind tire maintenance is to extend the lifespan. The interesting thing is that extending the lifespan of tires is of benefit to both the driver and the environment. For drivers, they don’t have to spend on new tires as often. For the environment, properly inflated tires emit fewer greenhouse gases.
