How to Inspect for Tire Defects in a VW Jetta
- 1). Loosen the lug nuts on the wheel with a lug nut wrench and jack up the car. Remove the lug nuts and take off the tire.
- 2). Check for tread separation by looking for parts of the tread pulling away from the carcass of the tire. Replace any tire with tread separation immediately, as tread separation can cause blowouts and rollover accidents.
- 3). Inspect the inner liner of the tire for damage. If you see any metal or separation from the inner liner, the tire is defective. This is also a good time to check that the bead is intact and in good shape.
- 4). Look for cracked or dried tire edges. This signifies dry rot and is more prominent when purchasing used tires for your Jetta.
- 5). Make sure the sidewall doesn't have any bulges or bubbles. These defects can cause a tire blow out, which causes loss of control for many drivers.
- 6). Examine your tires for small leaks, if you notice an increase in pressure loss but can't find any blatant defects. Do this by inflating the tire and spraying a soap and water solution onto the tire. Look for bubbling, which signifies an air leak.
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