Tire Info
Why you should have the proper air pressure
With the correct air pressure, tires wear longer and you save on fuel, it also increases your ability to properly handle your vehicle. Not maintaining the correct tire pressure can lead to poor gas mileage, an advanced loss of tire life and bad handling potential.
Check Air Pressure on a consistent basis
Through the process of permeation tires will eventually begin to lose pressure. Tires tend to lose more pressure in warm weather months than in cold. Tire pressure should be checked when tires are rotated. Also remember to have the pressure in your spare checked.
How-To Check Air Pressure
In order to properly check tire pressure, you must have an accurate air gauge. Checking air pressure just by looking at the tire and judging the sidewall appearance is a dangerous risk and is not recommended. When checking your vehicle’s tire pressure, make sure the tires have been inactive. Driving on a tire increases the tires temperature and air pressure and will give you a false reading.
Tire Information
Tire alignment
The mechanical condition of adjustable components within the vehicle’s suspension. When a vehicle is in alignment, the caster, camber, toe-in and thrust settings are set to specification. Severe impacts (hitting potholes or curbs) and worn suspension parts are the leading causes of misalignment.
All season tires
Designed to provide good traction in a wide variety of road conditions, including wet, dry and mud and snow. This design also limits the tire’s performance in extreme conditions, or when compared to tires built for a particular category.
Tire balance
When a tire and wheel assembly spins with all its weight distributed equally. A wheel balancer is used to place weights compensating for imbalances that exist in all assemblies. Being out of balance causes extreme vibration.
Hydroplaning
A floating effect caused by tires losing contact with a surface covered by water.
Maximum inflation pressure
The maximum air pressure a tire can be inflated. This information is found on the tire’s sidewall.
Tire rotation
Moving tires from side to side and front to rear on a vehicle to promote a uniform wear on all tires. Rotations should be performed every 6,000 miles.
Snow tire
A snow tire is a special type of tire with a tread that gives better traction in snow.
Traction
The friction between a tire and the road surface; the amount of grip provided.
Tread
The part of the tire that comes into contact with the road. The tread type is the design of the tires ribs and grooves.
Tread wear
When the wear bars appear across the tread when 2/32″ of tread remains.
Valve
A stem mounted in the wheel that lets air in or out of the tire.