LONGEVITY TIPS
- To prevent premature tire failure or wear, treat
tires with care by adhering to the following practices:
- Avoid fast, screeching starts or stops as well as
fast, sharp turns. Such driving causes accelerated tread wear and works
the sidewalls and shoulders extra hard.
- Avoid driving over curbs, through potholes, or over
any road hazard. This style of driving can cause visible and invisible
tire damage. Visible tire damage may include a torn sidewall, torn tread or a
bent rim. The impact of hitting road debris or hazards is absorbed by the
suspension and steering components, but the force tends to knock them out of
alignment. The misaligned tires then begin to wear rapidly. The bent rim could
cause an air leak. Hidden damage may be incurred as a broken internal ply; the
tire then might fail later.
- Avoid hitting tire stops in parking lots.
This will also help preserve front wheel alignment.
- Do not exceed load (weight) recommendations printed
on the sidewall of your tire or tire placard. This creates excessive
sidewall flexure, heat buildup, and tire degeneration. Remember that the load
recommendation multiplied by four must equal or exceed vehicle weight plus the
weight of occupants and cargo. Continuously overloading the tires by merely 10%
will greatly reduce their service lives.
- Generally, for optimum overall performance, all four tires should be of
the same type, size and speed rating, unless your vehicle manufacturer
recommends differently. This is especially true for four-wheel drive vehicles
or ones using M+S (mud and snow) tires. However, if
installation of identical tires is not recommended or not possible, observe the
following tire mixing rules:
- Never mix tires of different size or type
on the same axle (except for short term use of a temporary spare). Different
size tires could damage the tires themselves or transmission, and cause handling
problems. Remember that there are limited combinations of interchanging tire
sizes in pairs on the same axle.
- Avoid combining radial tires with bias ply or belted
bias tires on the same vehicle. The mixture could cause loss of vehicle
control in adverse conditions such as a slippery road. However, if tire
construction must be mixed, use the radials on the rear axle and the bias ply or
belted bias tires on the front axle (assuming rear-wheel drive).
- Replace old tires in pairs on the same axle since
they should both wear at about the same rate. However, if only one new
tire is installed (perhaps as a result of an irreparable flat tire), place it on
the same axle as the tire having the most tread. This will help equalize brake
action and brake wear, since slightly more braking effort is needed to stop a
slightly smaller worn tire because it spins faster.
- Never substitute a tire with one of smaller size or
less load carrying capability than that recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
A replacement tire must also have an inflation capacity and speed rating at
least equal to that recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
- If using tires with different profile or series, put
the lower profile tires on the rear axle and the higher profile tires on the
front axle.
- If utilizing snow tires, place them on the drive
axle, either in front or rear.
- Do not mix tire size or construction types on
four-wheel drive vehicles.
- Consider inflating all tires an extra 4 psi over
the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation when carrying a significant additional
load for an extended period, like during a vacation. This will reduce
sidewall flexure, heat buildup, and tire wear. Make this adjustment when the
tires are cold.
- To maximize tire life and fuel economy, maintain
correct front wheel alignment or vehicle (four wheel) alignment. A poor
front wheel alignment can cause a reduction in fuel mileage by 1/3 mpg.
- Do not drive around with overinflated tires for
increased gas mileage. Overinflation causes accelerated tread wear in
the center of the tire and shortens tire life greatly. It also provides poor
traction.
- Avoid an underinflated condition in any tire,
especially performance radials. Underinflation causes accelerated tread
wear on the tire shoulders and can shorten tire life by 5% for every 1 psi of
underinflation.
- Immediately replace any lost valve stem caps on
tires. The air valves in these stems must be kept free of dirt to
minimize possibility of slow air leaks. Use valve stem caps that have an inner
rubber gasket or seal. This will provide extra protection to prevent dirt and
moisture from entering the valve core.
- Avoid traveling on gravel or dirt roads where
foreign objects may be picked up and damage your tires.
- Do not turn your tires with the car in a stationary
position. This scrubbing action wears away the tire tread as if course
sandpaper were being used on the surface.
- Always have your tires balanced whenever they are
dismounted and remounted on a wheel. This includes after purchasing new
tires or repairing a flat tire. Radial tire/wheel
assemblies always require
dynamic balancing. Dynamic
balance (done while the tire is spinning) is preferable to static balance (done with the tire
stationary).
- Never permit a flat tire to be repaired from the
outside only. All flat tires must be removed from their rims and
repaired from the inside. Only holes 1/4" and smaller should be considered
for repair if they are located in the tread. Tires with larger holes, or holes
in the sidewall, must be replaced.
- Keep your spare tire properly inflated and ready
for use. Keep a good, accurate tire pressure gauge in the glove box
ready for use as well.
- Store unused, dismounted tires (such as snow tires)
upright in a cool, dry, well-ventilated place away from sunlight (ultraviolet
rays damage rubber). The floor must not have an oily surface, since oil
softens rubber. Furthermore, the tires cannot be stored near electric motors
since the motors release ozone gas, which damages rubber. Air should be allowed
to circulate around the tires to prevent moisture damage.
If the tires must be stored on their sides, stack them no
more than two high. Excessive weight could deform the bottom tire. If
the tires have white sidewalls, place a cloth or some cardboard between the
tires to avoid marring the white sidewall. Finally, if stored tires must be
exposed to weather, protect them with a waterproof cover that also blocks out
sunlight. Keep the tires off the ground.
- If your vehicle must be stored with its tires still
on, avoid flat spots in the tires by moving the vehicle at least monthly so a
different tread area contacts ground each time.
- MAINTAINING CORRECT TIRE PRESSURE, HAVING
REGULAR TIRE ROTATIONS AND USING GOOD DRIVING HABITS ARE THE THREE KEY ELEMENTS
OF LONG TIRE LIFE.
SYSTEMS
TIRES
SAFETY TIPS
PROPER CARE