Tires and brake pads have a service life that every car owner must pay attention to. Without the support of good performance from these two components, the car will feel uncomfortable and safe when driving, especially when traveling long distances. For this reason, the rider must know the age and durability of the tires and brake pads. How to detect the two components is not difficult, there are indicators and signs from the car if the two components are used up.

Measure the age of a car tire

Production codes typically use four digits to indicate the week and year of manufacture.For example, the listed production code is 1518. Thus, the tire is produced in the 15th week of 2018. However, this code is not a benchmark for predicting when a tire will run out or expire, because the production code is an internal manufacturer’s requirement.

To detect whether a tire is bald or not, you can pay attention to the Treadwear Indicator (TWI), which is a marker or indicator for the tire surface. TWI is located on the sidelines of the tire groove. If the surface of the tire is aligned with the TWI, that’s the right time for you to replace the tire with a new tire. If the tires don’t want to run out quickly, don’t forget to take care of the tires. It’s as simple as keeping the tire pressure in line with the manufacturer’s standards, because the wind pressure can affect the handling and braking of the car.

Measure the age of your car brake pads

Not only tires that have a service life, but several other components also have a maximum usage limit. One of these components is brake lining. The faster the engine rotates, the shorter the life of the brake pads. To find out whether your brake pads are used up or not, you can do several ways. The first way is to step on the brake pedal. Stepping on the brake pedal will feel deeper than usual if the brake pads have started to be eaten.

Second, by looking at the level of brake fluid in the reservoir. If the volume of brake fluid is below the normal line, it is a good idea to check the condition of your brake pads, because thin pads can cause a lack of brake fluid in the reservoir. It will also cause a squeaky sound in the brakes due to friction between the remaining iron on the brake lining and the disc.
For this reason, the average car brake pads must be replaced if the thickness reaches 2 millimeters. However, to maintain driving safety, it’s a good idea to replace your car’s brake pads every 10 thousand kilometers, or when performing periodic servicing.