What Makes a Tire Roadworthy? Your Pre-Road Trip Checklist

Is Your Car Ready for the Road?

Whether you are heading out of Boston for a beach weekend or taking the long way through New England’s scenic highways, your tires are the first thing standing between your vehicle and the road. Worn or damaged tires can quickly turn a summer getaway into an expensive or dangerous situation. The good news is that a quick inspection before you leave can help you avoid most problems.

Here is a reliable, no-nonsense checklist to determine if your tires are truly roadworthy before you head out on your next trip.

A red car is parked in front of a corn field

1. Tread Depth: Don’t Skimp on Traction

Tread is what gives your tires grip, especially on wet roads. If your tread is too shallow, your risk of hydroplaning increases, and your stopping distance can grow dramatically.

How to check:

Use a tread depth gauge or a penny. Insert the penny into the tread with Lincoln’s head down. If you can see the top of his head, the tread is too low (less than 2/32”).
If your tires are getting close to the minimum legal depth, it is time to replace them—especially before a long trip.

An aerial view of a highway intersection surrounded by trees and grass.

2. Check for Uneven Wear

Uneven tire wear is often a sign of alignment issues, suspension problems, or inconsistent tire pressure. If left unaddressed, it can shorten the life of your tires and lead to blowouts or poor handling.

What to look for:

More wear on one edge of the tire
Bald spots or feathering across the tread
Cupping (dips) on the tire surface

If you notice any of these patterns, stop by Raymond’s Tire Service for an inspection before your trip.

A black and white photo of a car tire on the ground.

3. Tire Pressure: One of the Most Overlooked Safety Issues

Proper tire pressure is critical not just for fuel efficiency, but for safe handling and even braking. Both overinflated and underinflated tires can cause problems.

Before your trip:

Check the pressure when the tires are cold (before driving).
Use a high-quality pressure gauge, not just the one at the gas station.
Inflate according to the manufacturer’s specs found in your driver’s side door frame (not the number on the tire sidewall).

We offer quick tire pressure checks at Raymond’s Tire Service and our mobile units can help in a pinch.

A close up of a car wheel with a red brake caliper.

4. Watch for Cracks, Bulges, and Dry Rot

Summer heat can make existing tire damage worse. Over time, rubber naturally degrades, especially in city driving where tires experience frequent stopping, curb contact, and temperature swings.

Red flags include:

Sidewall cracks (a sign of aging rubber)
Bulges (a sign of internal separation)
Dry rot or exposed cords

If you spot any of these, the tire should be replaced immediately.

5. Consider the Age of Your Tires

Even if your tread is acceptable, old tires can still fail due to structural breakdown. Most manufacturers recommend replacing tires that are over six years old, regardless of use.

How to check tire age:

Look for the DOT number on the sidewall. The last four digits represent the week and year the tire was manufactured. For example, “2319” means the 23rd week of 2019.

A close up of a red car 's tire and wheel

6. Don’t Forget Your Spare

Your spare tire is your insurance policy, yet many drivers never check it until it is needed.

Before hitting the road:

Make sure the spare is inflated to the correct pressure.
Check the tread and sidewalls for any visible damage.
Confirm that your jack and tools are present and functional.

Need Help? We’re Just a Call Away

At Raymond’s Tire Service, we know how much is riding on your tires. Whether you visit our Boston shop or take advantage of our mobile tire service, we can perform full safety checks, install replacements, and make sure your vehicle is ready for the road.

Do not wait until you are stuck on the shoulder halfway to the Cape. Let us take a look before you go.

A black car is driving down a highway with trees in the background.

A car is driving down a road surrounded by trees.

A close up of a car wheel on a brick road.

A car is driving down a road next to a forest.

A close up of a tire with a green background

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How to Tell If a Wheel Is Bent After Hitting a Pothole

October 1, 2026

A hard pothole impact can do more than damage a tire. The force can also bend a wheel, especially if the pothole is deep, the vehicle is moving quickly, or the tire has a lower-profile sidewall with less cushioning between the road and rim. Sometimes the damage is obvious. In other cases, the wheel may look normal but cause vibration, air loss, or handling problems. Knowing what to watch for after a pothole strike can help drivers catch wheel damage before it creates additional tire or suspension problems.

What Does a Flashing TPMS Light Usually Mean?

September 23, 2026

Most drivers are familiar with the tire pressure monitoring system , or TPMS, warning light. When it stays on steadily, it usually means one or more tires may be underinflated. A flashing TPMS light often means something different. Instead of simply warning about low tire pressure, a flashing light can indicate a problem with the monitoring system itself. That could involve a sensor, sensor battery, communication issue, or another TPMS-related fault. Knowing the difference can help drivers avoid assuming that adding air will automatically solve the problem.

Why Older Tires May Need Replacement Even With Good Tread

September 22, 2026

Tread depth is one of the first things drivers look at when deciding whether a tire still has life left. Deep grooves can make a tire appear healthy, especially if the vehicle is not driven very often. But tread is only part of the picture. Tires age even when they are not being used heavily. Over time, rubber compounds can harden, dry out, and become less flexible. That means an older tire may still have plenty of tread while no longer performing the way it did when it was newer. Rubber Changes With Age Tires are constantly exposed to oxygen, heat, sunlight, moisture, and changing temperatures. Those conditions gradually affect the rubber. As a tire ages, the material can lose some of its elasticity. That may reduce its ability to flex properly as it rolls and responds to the road. A tire that looks acceptable at a quick glance may therefore be significantly older than its appearance suggests. This is especially important for vehicles that accumulate very few miles each year.

What Makes a Tire Puncture Repairable?

September 11, 2026

A flat tire does not always mean the tire has to be replaced. In many cases, a small puncture can be repaired safely and returned to service. The key is where the puncture occurred, how large it is, and whether the tire suffered additional damage while losing air. That is why a professional inspection matters. Two punctures that lo ok similar from the outside may require completely different solutions once the tire is removed and examined internally. Location Matters Most One of the first things a technician looks at is where the puncture is located. Damage in the central tread area is often the best candidate for repair. This part of the tire is designed to handle contact with the road and can sometimes be repaired when the puncture is small and otherwise straightforward. Punctures near the shoulder or sidewall are much more concerning. These areas flex significantly while the tire is moving and cannot usually be repaired safely using standard puncture-repair methods. If a nail, screw, or other object damages the sidewall or outer shoulder, replacement is often the safer option.

How Worn Suspension Parts Can Make Alignment Difficult

September 6, 2026

A wheel alignment can correct important steering and tire-angle settings, but the alignment itself depends on the suspension being in good mechanical condition. If ball joints, tie rods, control arm bushings, wheel bearings, or other components are worn, the wheels may not stay in the position the technician sets. That is why some vehicles continue pulling , wearing tires unevenly, or developing an off-center steering wheel even after an alignment. In those cases, the problem may not be the alignment machine or the adjustment. It may be worn suspension or steering components underneath the vehicle.

What Causes Tire Bead Leaks?

August 28, 2026

When a tire repeatedly loses air but there is no obvious nail, screw, or visible puncture, the problem may be where the tire meets the wheel. This area is known as the tire bead, and a poor seal between the bead and the rim can allow air to escape gradually. Tire bead leaks are a common cause of slow pressure loss. Understanding why they happen can help drivers recognize when a tire needs professional inspection rather than repeatedly adding air. What Is the Tire Bead? The bead is the reinforced inner edge of the tire that sits tightly against the wheel rim. When a tire is properly mounted and inflated, air pressure helps hold the bead securely against the wheel, creating an airtight seal. If that sealing surface becomes damaged, dirty, corroded, or distorted, a small pathway can develop for air to escape. Because these leaks may be very small, the tire can lose pressure over several days or weeks rather than going flat immediately.