You don’t need a mechanic to read them… just two minutes and your eye balls.
Before winter hits, take a quick look down.
Those scuffs, dips, and edges on your tires?
They’re basically your car’s group chat – spilling the tea on the small stuff your alignment and suspension have been arguing about for weeks.
It’s quick, weirdly satisfying, and might save you thousands later.
The bonus?
Catching it early can save you thousands. Uneven wear doesn’t just burn through rubber… it eats into alignment, suspension, and gas mileage too.
(Ask our tire graveyard out back; it’s seen some things.)
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If your tires could talk, they’d have opinions.
A quick glance at the tread tells you a lot about your car’s alignment, inflation, and suspension… and it’s way easier than you think.
Here’s how to read the story they’re telling: no lift, no shop, just you, your driveway and a coffee in hand.
What Those Patterns Mean
(Each one’s basically a confession from your car)
2-Minute Moves To Do Right Now
⇻ Pressure check: Tires lose about 1 PSI for every 10°F drop. Set them to the sticker in your driver door.
⇻ Quarter test: If you can see all of Washington’s head, it’s time to plan new tires.
⇻ Age check: The last four digits of your DOT code (on the tire wall) are the week and year built (example: 2319 = week 23, in 2019). See image below. If they are more than 6 years, and they’re cracking on the sides or between the treads = they’re getting close to retirement.
⇻ Rotate if needed: Every 5-7k miles keeps wear even and grip predictable.
⇻ Spare check: Don’t let it be the forgotten one.
Your tires have stories to tell… about where you’ve been, how you drive, and what might need attention next.
Spot the clues early and you’ll skip the wobbles, the wear, and the wallet hit that comes later.
If something looks off (or you’d rather have a second opinion), swing by and we’ll give them a quick read.
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