Top Frequently Asked Tire Questions

1) What is the best tire for my car?
There is probably more than one best type of tire for almost any vehicle. Believe it or not, most times it is simply the tire that came on it in the first place. A lot of engineering goes into the decision of which size and type tire fits your vehicle best, and to deviate from this takes some serious research, and perhaps even a calculated risk or two.

2) How much does the pressure change in my tires when it is cold out?
Rule of thumb is that for every ten degrees difference from the normal temp where you set the tire pressure, it will change by about 1 psi.

3) What is the correct tire pressure for my vehicle?
The correct pressure data comes from a very complicated formula which takes into account a great number of factors including fuel economy, handling, safety, vehicle weight, maximum speed, and much more. So the long answer is that the data exists on tag in your car somewhere, usually on a door jamb. That pressure should be at least very close to what is on the tire sidewall. If they differ much then this indicates that perhaps the tires are not necessarily the same size and type that came with the vehicle.

4) Does an all season tire really fit all seasons?
It does the best possible job of fitting most travel conditions in an acceptable manner. Arguably there will always be a more perfect tire for a specific situation, but in general, this "one size fits most" approach tends to work out for most drivers and their cars.

5) Does all-wheel drive or four wheel drive make my tires safer in bad weather?
The improvement in available traction with your tires and improved stopping power can be invaluable to you in the event your situation calls for radical maneuvering. That being said the improved traction may also cause some drivers to be more aggressive and accelerate to a speed well beyond a rate which can be safely managed, and invariably they end up being unable to stop in time to avoid a collision.

6) Is one tire manufacturer better than another?
Each has it's own particular strengths, and some specialize in tires that do not necessarily work well on all vehicles, yet others only make tires for sports cars or SUV's. There is a lot to be said for shopping around, and just because a tire is more expensive than a close competitor does not necessarily mean it will be a better tire for your car.

7) How much tread wear is normal?
That depends on your tires, the car they are on, your area, the road conditions, your driving style, and probably a number of other factors. The tread wear estimate is stamped on the sidewall of your tires, and it is a number based on 100 being the average or norm. So if you have a tread wear number of 200 it should last twice as long as the average tire in a standardized test. In real life your mileage may vary, but the higher this number the longer your tread should last.

8) When is the tread too thin to be safe?
Current specifications state that when your tread is less than or equal to 2/32" your tires are done. This is the distance between the edge of a penny and the top of Abe Lincolns head. Newer data suggests we should use a larger number like 4/32" or the distance between the edge of a quarter and the top of George Washington's head. The trick to knowing when to call it a day is maintaining reasonable stopping distance, and less tread means longer distances, especially on wet pavement.

9) Will a larger or smaller diameter tire fit my car?
This is a very complex issue and not one to be taken lightly as there truly is a lot riding on the answer. In most cases where the load-handling ability of the tire can be matched with the original, plus matching the speed rating, traction number, tread wear, and temperature ratings would be a good start. Other considerations are the space in the wheel well, the risk of rubbing in the fender or against the frame, and added wear and tear on drive components. Lastly, the speedometer and transmission speed sensors may send erroneous data to the engine and transmission control computer, which could adversely affect the handling and safety of your vehicle.

When in doubt go to an expert tire shop and ask questions and be open to suggestions, these guys do this for a living, and have been trained to help you.

Source information has been learned in the automotive repair field over past 35 years.