Anyone who drives regularly around Murfreesboro knows the roads have had a rough winter. Potholes, patched surfaces, construction zones on Medical Center Parkway and Old Fort Parkway — it all adds up. Spring is the right time to assess what those roads have done to your tires.
Potholes are particularly hard on tires and wheels. A hard hit can cause a blowout immediately, but more often it causes subtle damage: a small bulge in the sidewall, a bent wheel that causes slight vibration, or a shift in alignment that starts wearing your tires unevenly. None of these are dramatic at first — but they get worse over time and can lead to a blowout at highway speed if they’re not caught.
Here’s what to check this spring:
Sidewalls. Look for any bulging, bubbling, or cracking. A bulge means the internal structure of the tire has been compromised and the tire needs to be replaced — not rotated, replaced.
Tread wear pattern. Is the wear even across the width of the tire? Wear on one edge typically means an alignment issue. Wear in the center often means chronic overinflation. Either way, it’s worth addressing.
Vibration at highway speed. If your car shakes between 55 and 70 mph, it could be a wheel balance issue, a bent rim, or a tire with internal damage.
Tire pressure. Recheck it now that spring temps have arrived — pressure changes with temperature.
Stop by Stones River Auto and Exhaust in Murfreesboro and let us give your tires a thorough look. We’ll tell you exactly what we find.
