Would you drive around with bald tires?
By firecracker
@sacmom (14192)
United States
September 16, 2011 4:45am CST
I've done it before. And up until a couple of days ago I was doing it again. I didn't mean to, of course, but my husband thought the front tires on our SUV were better off than they were...that is, until I told him differently. Even then, he thought they were still good enough for a little while longer. Anyway, after driving it around town the last couple of times I noticed it didn't feel quite right. So instead of taking a chance of driving around the way that it was, I decided to get front tires for our SUV (the back ones are still in good shape)...even if we are short on money at the moment.
Oh my gosh, what a difference! The ride is a lot smoother and now when I go around corners it doesn't squeal anymore (and believe me, it was getting really bad!) I'm so glad I got them when I did, otherwise I may never have gotten them at all...
So, what about you? Have you ever driven around with bald tires? Are you doing it now?
8 people like this
28 responses
@Humbug25 (12540)
•
17 Sep 11
Hi ya sacmom
I have never driven around with bald tyres not even not knowingly. Here in the UK it is illegal to and your car has to pass a road worthy test every year and would not pass with near balding tyres. It is illegal to drive around without having your car pass this test too so we are pretty much snookered here haha
@shaggin (72131)
• United States
19 Sep 11
It is not allowed here in Pennsylvania either. Every year we have to pass an inspection and like you said if the tires are bald it will not pass inspection. My tires dont need replacing but there is so many other things wrong with my van that it will not pass inspection right now. I am in the process of buying another used van. The one I have is from 1994 and the one I am getting or thinking about getting anyway is from 2000.
3 people like this
@peavey (16936)
• United States
16 Sep 11
I've done that in the past, but not any more. I keep a close eye on things like that because I don't want to be stranded somewhere or have to change a flat tire. I hate flat tires almost as much as I hate running out of gas and will go to a lot of trouble to prevent either one.
3 people like this
@katsmeow1213 (28716)
• United States
16 Sep 11
I've had to do it more times than I can count due to lack of funds when the tires were needed. This time last year I was in a car with bald tires and had difficulty stopping when the roads were wet. It scared me to drive the car, especially with all the kids in it. Right now the tires on my car are pretty good.. but the heat doesn't work too well, so I need to have that looked at before too much longer.
3 people like this
@paula27661 (15811)
• Australia
16 Sep 11
I rely on my husband to tell me if I need new tyres and your discussion prompted me to ask him whether he thinks my car needs new tyres. He said I may possibly need a new set. Why on earth has not said anything before now? I guess it is because it is my car therefore my responsibility lol! You have reminded me not only to get new tyres but not to rely on hubby to let me know if I need new ones!
3 people like this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
16 Sep 11
If You're not driving a racecar with slick tires,having no tread across the tire width anywhere on the road surface will mean it's no longer legal..most tires will have indicator tabs in the treads that,once they're visible as being level with the tread surface,the tire is at absolute minimum legal tread depth..
4 people like this
@thanks1961 (7035)
• India
16 Sep 11
I got a 2 wheeler and I never used to ride on it. My wife rides for her shopping and while going for work. As I am totally depend on the trains daily, I am not so bothered on this issue. But I heard that she fell down from the bike and broken the sign glass while crossing on a bump somewhere. I think this is the first time she fell down.
Thank-s
3 people like this
@thanks1961 (7035)
• India
18 Sep 11
She is alright and got a minor injury on her elbow and the indication mirror also got broke. But fine.
2 people like this
@xmichelletarax (370)
• United States
20 Sep 11
i am actually doing that right now, and on top of that i have to put air in the tires every other day because both my front tires have leaks. it sucks, they constantly squeal around corners and it pulls to the right. i know i need to get tires but i so dont have the money for them and i dont think i could come up with the money if i tried right about now
3 people like this
@finlander60 (1804)
• United States
2 Oct 11
How much is your life worth? THE ONLY GOOD REASON TO DRIVE ON BALD TIRES IS TO GET NEW ONES. No other reason is good enough, in my opinion.
1 person likes this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
16 Sep 11
My previous,used car I'd have checked often for tyre wear as it was subject to an annual emissions and brakes inspection as part of the UK's MOT test for cars more than a couple of years old..apparently you could fail this test for not having water in the screen wash bottle! It's not an issue with my current car,which at time of posting is 19 months on new tyres,and I've just the other day passed 9000 miles on it,so they're not getting a beating..
I see a bunch of people here saying they can't afford to replace bald or balding tyres..can't cops fine you for this if you get pulled over? Race cars can run on slick rubber as it gives more road contact,but they're in trouble fast in the wet..I've never aquaplaned on a wet road,but it's not an experience I'd be in a hurry to try with wintry weather on the way...Stay Safe..
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
30 Sep 11
It's true! mostly they're looking for mechanical or emissions issues,but being unable to clean your screen in bad conditions is a no no too.. Back to the tyres..We've had a couple of years of severe winters here in the UK,and I was reading how useful a set of winter tyres would be if we get another one..and today I'm reading there's a forecast for snow within about a month's time!
2 people like this
I've hydroplaned a few times before. But it was usually due to too much standing water and ruts in the road when it rains. 
@derek_a (10874)
•
17 Sep 11
I would never drive around on bald tires. Here in the UK it is an offence and you can get fined. On wet roads they are very dangerous too. When I was first driving as a kid, there were no laws against this and each driver was responsible for checking his tires. Now though ther is an annual test and tires have to be in good condition or the car will fail the test. I did drive once on two bald tires in the old days, but in the UK the roads twist a lot and I could feel the car sliding, so it is not worth the risk of accident or getting a ticket from the police. 
_Derek
_Derek2 people like this
@ShepherdSpy (8544)
• Omagh, Northern Ireland
30 Sep 11
You have been driving since before they had MOT? Wow..How long ago was that?!
3 people like this
@derek_a (10874)
•
30 Sep 11
I have been driving since I was 17 sometime back in the 1960s. I remember that there was a test for vehicles over 10 years old, but there wasn't much to it. If I am remembering correctly they would just check the steering and basic chassis of the car. I can't remember the exact year, but they started making it for vehicles over 3 years old and then brought the tyre checks into it. My father owned a garage back in the 50s and I learned a lot about vehicle maintenance from the mechanics there, because when I first passed my driving test at 17, I could barely afford fuel and so did all my own car repairs etc, with the help of my Dad's tools and mechanics. Cars were very easy in those days, there were no on-board computers and the biggest problems were usually coming from the electrical systems, like points and plugs etc. Brakes weren't very good, unless you owned the expensive cars like Jaguars that had servo assisted, but most of the kids I knew drove aound in the best they could afford.
My Dad helped me. He would get me a good car, but I had to pay him back and do my own repairs so that I would learn how to be a responsible car owner. I am pleased to have lived through those old days. The roads were much quieter and it was a great deal of fun to drive those old cars. _Derek
_Derek2 people like this
@shaggin (72131)
• United States
19 Sep 11
I think it would be very dangerous to drive around with Bald tires. I would worry that I would be driving down the highway at 65 miles an hour and have a tire blow out. I would be afraid it would cause an accident and myself or my children or all of us would be killed. Its really not good to drive on bald tires so if I knew my tires were going bald no I would not drive on them I would buy new ones.
3 people like this
@kun2349 (23381)
• Singapore
22 Sep 11
It's not safe driving around with bald tires! IT's especially so in wet weather conditions and braking would be a problem 
I dun own a car but i know the danger of driving with blad tires.. haha. Even my friends, who are seasoned drivers, they won't dare to drive in that condition.. lol =D Having your own car means one is opting for convenience and comfort, so why put up with the discomfort in the first place?? hehe
I dun own a car but i know the danger of driving with blad tires.. haha. Even my friends, who are seasoned drivers, they won't dare to drive in that condition.. lol =D Having your own car means one is opting for convenience and comfort, so why put up with the discomfort in the first place?? hehe2 people like this
@moonchild1au (6237)
• Australia
18 Sep 11
i was doing this up to about 6 weeks ago...not out of choice but because I couldn't afford to get new or second hand tyres...I always end up choosing second hand tyres because they are cheaper & have 80% or more tread left on them.
3 people like this
@dragon54u (31634)
• United States
16 Sep 11
I think most of us have driven on bald tires at one time or another. I remember one year when I was in my teens I could not afford new or even used tires and the snow was deep. I was on a freeway bridge covered in ice and I just slid sideways from the third lane to the first, the bridge was tilted for some reason that's how it was built. Luckily, it was the 70's and people still knew how to drive and saw what was happening. They avoided my car, thank God. I was able to get tires a few months later but avoided that stretch of freeway the rest of the winter! It was a scary feeling, losing control like that, and I never drove on bald tires again. I remember eating Ramen and peanut butter sandwiches for weeks in order to save money for used tires!
3 people like this
@rosie230 (1703)
•
16 Sep 11
I don't think that I have ever driven around with completely bald tyres, but I am sure we all have driven with tyres that are over the limit of being worn. I would not do it delibrately, but for me, since I do not drive too many miles, it very seldom occurs for me :)
3 people like this
@finlander60 (1804)
• United States
18 Sep 11
I will not drive around on bald tires. I will not allow anyone that I know and love to do so either.
2 people like this
@sacmom (14192)
• United States
30 Sep 11
It doesn't snow where I'm at (nothing that sticks around anyway), but it does rain...heavy at times. It even hails sometimes. So having bald tires is a bad idea. I'm just glad I got these new tires when I did, especially with winter approaching. My mind can be at ease...at least when it comes to the tires anyway! LOL
Happy mylotting!
1 person likes this
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
17 Sep 11
Heyya sacmom! I have had to drive on bald tires before. I noticed once that the threads were hanging out of them! Very dangerous but at the time..there was nothing I could do. I am not now and haven't for a while. I try to watch them and save back enough for the time I know I will need them but there was a time I couldn't plan these things so well.
I'm glad you got those tires.
2 people like this
@nijolechu (1842)
• Canada
28 Sep 11
No, I don't think I would be able to drive around town with bald tires. You wouldn't have any kind of traction with them. Plus I would be afraid they would explode or pop at any moment and leave me with a flat tire. It would be better for me to invest in new tires because they would have better treads on them and make the ride for me much smoother.
2 people like this
