Should You Buy a Spare Tire

August 27th, 2020
Many new cars are now missing a spare tire and are coming from the factory equipped with tires or inflator kits that claim to make a spare tire unnecessary. We usually don’t think about the need for a spare tire until we need it. You should always have a spare tire in your vehicle because you never know when you’ll get a flat or puncture and be on the side of the road stranded. A spare tire and wheel provide you with a direct replacement, allowing you to become mobile again until you get a tire repair service.

Spare Tire Tips

 
Many spare tires for modern cars are smaller than normal tires to save on trunk space, gas mileage, weight, and cost, and they should not be driven on for long before replacement with a full-size tire. Don't wait until you're on the side of the road to invest in a spare ...[more]
  Tags: tires
  Posted in: Tires 101

What Happens When Tires Sit Too Long in One Place?

July 16th, 2020
Your tires are your car's only connection to the road. Taking care of your tires will save you money on gas and a smoother, safer ride for you and your family. Your vehicle’s tires affect how your vehicle steers, how it brakes, and how it hugs the road. Your tires need to have the correct air pressure, tread depth, tire balance, and wheel alignment to be safe and cost-effective. If your car is left unused for an extended period of time, know that your tires and other components will still require maintenance and upkeep. tire-maintenance
 
Leaving a car unused for a long period could leave it vulnerable to problems with your battery, brakes, and tires. Tires will be prone to deteriorate, lose air pressure, and develop flat spots. When you decide to start driving your vehicle again, instead of the smooth ride ...[more]
  Tags: tires
  Posted in: Tires 101

The Importance of Tire Rotations

May 14th, 2020
A crucial factor in your vehicle’s health, efficiency and performance is getting regular tire rotations. A tire rotation is when the tires of your vehicle are moved from one position on the vehicle to another. The front tires will move to the rear and the rear tires will move to the front, typically in a cross-diagonal direction, meaning they will also change sides. Your vehicle carries more weight at the front, so front tires will typically wear out faster. Tire rotation is done to prevent the uneven wear this can cause and to prolong the life of your tires. Tire Rotations
 
Your tires should be rotated  at the same interval you get an oil change. The guidelines in your vehicle’s owner manual offer timing as well as the best rotation pattern for your vehicle and type of tires. The tires are the only ...[more]
  Tags: tires
  Posted in: Tires 101

What to Know About Nitrogen-Filled Tires

April 30th, 2020
Keeping your tires properly inflated is a key to getting the maximum fuel efficiency from your vehicle. Properly inflated tires also reduce tread wear, improve your car’s stopping distance, and decrease the chances of a blowout. Nitrogen-filled tires are said to have the benefit of keeping your tires inflated longer than the standard compressed air tires. The air in your tires eventually escape through the tire’s inner liner, but nitrogen-filled tires take a longer time. Nitrogen Filled Tires
 
Routine maintenance is critical to long tire life, and proper tire pressure will ensure the good health of your tires. The greatest benefit that nitrogen-filled tires are said to provide is keeping your vehicle’s tires inflated longer, which saves you money at the pump. Even so, researchers have conclu ...[more]
  Tags: tires
  Posted in: Tires 101

Why You Should Store Your Winter Tires

March 12th, 2020
Tire storage is an important factor in maximizing the life of your tires. While swapping out one set of tires for another is a challenge in itself, once your winter tires are removed, you still need to store them properly for the warm months ahead. Proper Winter Tire Storage
 
It’s important that your tires be properly stored when they’re not in use in order to make sure they’re ready to go when the temperature drops. Storing your winter tires is beneficial because: 
 
  • Improper storage can result in reduced life for your tires or end up making them unusable. 
  • If your tires are not stored properly heat, UV light, or direct sunlight can break down the rubber and cause them to become damaged.
  • Tires become unstable an ...[more]
  Tags: tires
  Posted in: Tires 101

How to Protect Your Tires Against Common Road Debris

February 27th, 2020
Good tires are not cheap, so it is important that you do everything you can to extend the life of your tires. Because a vehicle’s tires are the first point of contact, road hazards such as small rocks, trash, debris, and salt and chemicals can be hazardous while driving. Attempting to avoid the debris is dangerous when driving because — both visually and mentally — it is hard to process the hazard level of an object in the few seconds a driver has to react. Drivers who encounter road debris, often don't have the time or space to avoid a collision, and these accidents can be quite serious.Common Road Hazards
 
Encountering several unfriendly obstacles on the road such as potholes, steel plates, uneven seams, branches, roadkill, gravel, glass, and more are common. Even if this debris does not puncture y ...[more]
  Tags: tires
  Posted in: Tires 101

Tire Patterns and What They Mean

January 30th, 2020
Tires are one of the most important safety and performance features of a vehicle. These specialized tools are the only part of your car which maintains direct contact with the road. This means there is a lot of planning and design put into the functionality of your tires.
 
Look at your tires, what do you see? A mesmerizing pattern, since performance is key. The design of the tread on your tires isn’t only for aesthetic purposes. The arrangement of cuts into the rubber is done with the purpose of increasing traction, grip and overall functionality. The last time you bought tires, you probably heard terms like “symmetrical,” “directional” and maybe you were introduced to “seasonal tires” or even “all-weather tires.” These tires each gain their classifications because of the tread design they have.

Tire Tread Patterns...[more]

  Tags: tires
  Posted in: Tires 101

How is a Tire Installed?

December 26th, 2019
For the safety and performance of your vehicle, your tires should be installed by an expert technician. Proper installation enables your tires to function fully and provides maximum safety. On average, a tire installation takes about 45 minutes to an hour. After you have selected the right tires for your vehicle, your tires will be expertly installed. A proper installation includes: 
 
Tire Installation Services
  • Inspecting the lugs or wheel bolts
  • Installing new rubber valve stems where applicable
  • Mounting the tires
  • Balancing the new tires on your wheels
  • Tightening the wheel lugs to the manufacturer recommended torque
  • Servicing TPMS systems
 

The Steps to Install a New Set ...[more]

  Tags: tires
  Posted in: Tires 101

Why Is Tire Pressure Important?

November 28th, 2019
Your vehicle’s tires should always be inflated to their proper PSI (pound per square inch), which is the standard rating for air pressure within a tire. The PSI for your vehicle’s tires is generally found on the drivers’ door jamb, inside your owner’s manual or on the tire itself. Proper tire inflation will allow you to have the best possible control of your vehicle and gives you a more comfortable ride. Tire Pressure
 
For proper tire pressure and inflation:
 
  • The pressure of your tires must be in accordance with the PSI recommended by the tire manufacturer.
  • Tire pressure should be checked in the morning before you drive your car in order to get an accurate reading.
  • Temperature affects tire pressure; when it is ...[more]
  Tags: tires
  Posted in: Tires 101

Do You Need Winter Tires?

October 31st, 2019

Do You Need Winter Tires?

Are you curious about the difference between different types of tires? When it comes to winter tires and regular tires, the main difference between the two is tread depth. On winter tires the tread depth starts at between 8 and 9 mm as opposed to 7 and 8 mm on a regular tire. Winter tires have a wider and deeper groove within the tire tread which forms a larger channel for snow and water to travel through and maintains a grip on the road.Winter Tires

One of the most important features of winter tires is the fact they are made with a larger percentage of natural rubber and silica in the compound. This doesn’t harden as much as synthetic rubber in cold weather which improves the tire grip.

What are the benefits of winter tires?

Winter tires ...[more]

  Tags: tires
  Posted in: Tires 101
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