Air Pressure
Whether due to poor maintenance or a tire puncture, low air pressure causes more
tire failures than all other factors combined. The symptoms are easily spotted
and often include a low or bulging sidewall accompanied by a pulling or
vibrating feeling as you drive the vehicle. Maintain your tires by checking the
pressure at least once a month. |
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and always before you go on a trip. If you do it
yourself, check the pressure when the tire is "cold" (that is at least three
hours since the vehicle has been stopped or before it's been driven one mile).
Refer to the manufacturer's handbook or the tire placard in the vehicle for
correct tire pressure. Find
out why air pressure is so important. |
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Road Hazards
Objects in the road, potholes, curbs or any structure that impacts your tire can
potentially damage it beyond repair. Check for any unusual tire appearance after
impact, especially in the sidewall. If a tire has been sufficiently damaged, a
ride disturbance (pulling or vibration) will frequently develop. Even if you
can't see any damage, have a trained professional inspect the tire by
dismounting it and checking from inside. |
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Load Carrying
Overloading a tire can cause excessive heat buildup, leading to tire failure
(most frequently a blowout). A tire's load carrying capacity is
listed on the
tire's sidewall, and is also stated in
the Service Description. For example, "92H" on the sidewall of a tire is an
indication of load
capacity and
speed rating. Many popular sizes have more than one load
carrying capacity. |
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Worn Tires
Treadwear indicators are built into every tire to signal the end of its useful
treadlife. At this tread depth, a tire has lost virtually all wet weather
traction and is also more vulnerable to puncture. |
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Remember that a tire may be
worn inconsistently from one edge to the other due to mechanical wear
(alignment), and it is only as good as the area with the least tread. If the
tread depth is 3/32" or less, the tire is due for replacement. Also, remember to
have your tires properly rotated
on a regular basis to avoid premature wear. |
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Spinning Tires
If you are stuck in the mud or snow, do not spin the tires excessively; this
leads to rapid tire overheating and failure. Tire explosions and tread
separations are the most common failures and can be disastrous under these
conditions. |
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Tire Matching
When you decide to buy just two tires, make sure they have the same ratings
(speed and load carrying), because different tires can cause handling problems.
If you choose to buy tires with lower speed ratings, have the higher speed rated
tires rotated to the rear for optimum handling. |
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Mounting and Dismounting
Proper tire mounting is critical to safety and ride quality. When done
correctly, factors such as sidewall height, drop-center width, match mounting
and bead lubrication are considered. More than one type of tire machine is
required to handle the various tire designs. |
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