What are Bald Tires?

Bald tires are tires which have been so worn down that they have almost no tread. Since tread is what helps tires grip the road, bald tires can be extremely dangerous. Ideally, tires should be replaced before they are truly bald, for optimal safety. Driving with good tires is also easier, and you may notice a marked improvement in vehicle handling after you replace worn tires. Tires will gradually wear down over the course of routine use. Some things will cause tires to wear down more quickly, such as aggressive driving or steering and alignment problems. The United States Department of Transportation recommends that drivers check their tires every month and before a long trip to ensure that the tire tread depth is safe. In addition, motorists should use a pressure gauge to check the inflation level of their tires, as underinflated tires are dangerous, especially if they have low tread as well. As a general rule, tires are usable until the tire tread depth reaches 1/16 of an inch (.15 ... more