Tire wear depends on several factors, including your driving style and tire maintenance habits. The wrong size load and speed rating can void your warranty. But one sure way to know when to replace your tires is when tread wear indicators appear. A tire's built-in tread wear indicators are wear bars that look like narrow strips of smooth rubber across the tread and appear when it's time to replace the tire.

You also need a new tire if:

• You can see three or more tread wear indicators around the tire
• Cord or fabric is showing through the rubber
• The tread or sidewall is cracked, cut, or snagged deep enough to show cord or fabric
• The tire has a bulge or split
• The tire has a puncture, cut, or other damage that can't be repaired correctly