When should I replace my tires and brakes?

Paul's Question: "Typically, how often should you replace your tires, and your brakes?"

While there are obviously many factors which can influence the life expectancy of tires and brake linings, I will start by saying this: If you are having your vehicle serviced on a regular basis by a shop you trust, they will let you know when it's getting close to replacement time. Second, the rule of thumb for those who like to inspect their own tires and brakes is this; tires should be replaced when the tread depth measures 3/32 of an inch, or when any signs of abnormal edge-wear, cupping, or bulges are evident. Brake linings should be replaced when about 2/32 of an inch of lining remains. If you’re looking for a time or mileage estimate, the average should be between 30,000 and 50,000 for a set of tires on many cars, but brake pads can vary much more than that. For instance a 1999 Chevy Tahoe Limited may use up a set of front brake pads in about 12,000 miles or less of "normal" driving, while a Chevy Malibu of the same vintage could get 50,000 miles out of a set of front brakes. The best option is to have them inspected with each tire rotation (every 6000 miles).