Facts about tires and questions enswered
Should I rotate my tires?
Regular and proper tire rotation promotes more uniform wear for all of the tires on a vehicle. We recommend tire rotation at least every 6,000 miles. Four-wheel-drive vehicles may require rotation even sooner, such as every 4,000 miles. Check your vehicle owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s rotation recommendations. If no rotation period is specified, tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. The first rotation is the most important. When tires are rotated, inflation pressures must be adjusted to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations
Why do I need to balance my tires?
When the clothes clump in one spot of your washing machine during the spin cycle, the washer rocks wildly from the uneven weight distribution. This is what happens if each wheel and tire are not properly balanced. The result is an uncomfortable ride, the steering wheel will vibrate, and you’ll damage your tires and your suspension system as your tires bounce against the pavement. These problems can be easily prevented by having your tire retailer balance your wheel/tire assemblies when you buy new tires and when you have them rotated. It’s a worthwhile investment.
Can a punctured or flat tire be repaired safely?
If a tire loses most of its air pressure, it must be removed from the wheel for a complete internal inspection to be sure it’s not damaged. Tires that are run even short distances while flat are often damaged beyond repair. Most punctures, nail holes or cuts up to 1/4 inch–confined to the tread–may be satisfactorily repaired by trained personnel using industry-approved methods. Don’t repair tires with tread punctures larger than 1/4 inch, or any sidewall puncture. Also, never repair tires which are worn below 1/16 inch tread depth. Make sure your spare tire is always ready to do the job. Check it regularly for proper air pressure and be sure that it is in good shape. If your car is equipped with one of the several types of temporary spares, be sure to check the spare tire’s sidewall for the correct inflation pressure, speed, and mileage limitations
Can my tires ‘age’ without even being used?
Tires age even if they have not been used or have only been used occasionally. Cracking of the tread and sidewall rubber, sometimes accompanied by carcass deformation, is evidence of aging. Old and aged tires must be checked by a tire specialist to ascertain their suitability for further use.
Is it possible to overload my tires?
As a matter of fact, it is. The maximum load rating of your tires is stated on the tire sidewall Do not exceed these ratings. Tires which are loaded beyond their maximum allowable loads for the particular application will build up excessive heat that may result in sudden tire destruction. If you are replacing the original-size tires with tires of a different size, the replacement tires must have a load-carrying capacity equal to or greater than the original equipment tires.
What should I do if I feel a vibration while driving?
vibration while driving indicates that your vehicle has a problem that needs attention. The tires, steering system and suspension system should be IMMEDIATELY checked to help determine the possible cause of the vibration. If the vibration is not corrected, it could cause excessive tire and suspension wear. It could even lead to a loss of control of the vehicle, which could result in an accident.”
Do I need winter tires?
If you live in an area where the temperature is consistently below 10° C (45° F) you do. Winter tires are not like All-Season tires and have special rubber compounds designed to improve traction, handling, and braking in all cold weather conditions, not just ice and snow.
How many winter tires are recommended?
Four. This is the most frequently asked question. The answer is the same for every vehicle type, whether you drive a compact car or SUV.
Why are four winter tires recommended?
Traction, control and safety. Many people assume that the two drive wheels are most important and the other two tires sort of tag along. This idea was valid twenty or more years ago when snow tires were different only in their tread design. Today’s winter tires have different compounds and designs that deliver from 25 to 50 percent more traction in snow and ice, and stay pliable in cold weather allowing for more control on dry roads. Using just two on a vehicle creates a traction mismatch that can have serious handling consequences. Using four winter tires ensures optimum traction and control for all vehicle types. It is always recommended to use four winter tires, it’s the cheapest insurance you can buy to protect yourself, your family and others.
What can happen if I only use two winter tires?
Running only two winter tires can cause you to lose control of any vehicle; here’s why: Front Wheel Drive Vehicles Even though steering, acceleration and most of the braking are done by the front wheels, don’t forget about the braking done by the rear wheels. If the rear wheels are not equipped with winter tires too, you are essentially disabling the rear brakes due to lack of traction. The following is what can happen using only winter tires on the front: Traveling along in your neighborhood at 25 mph in just light snow, you begin to slow down to make a right turn. As you apply the brakes, your winter tires are doing their job, giving you all the traction you need to slow down. At the same time, the all-season tires on the rear are giving you much less traction causing the rear of your vehicle to slide around. Perhaps at slow speeds no harm is done, but what if this had happened at highway speeds? Rear Wheel Drive Vehicles Many people think that winter tires on the rear will solve the acceleration problem in ice and snow and that’s good enough. But getting your vehicle to accelerate is just half the battle; you still need to stop! The majority of braking is done with the front brakes, and failing to put tires designed for cold weather on the front of the vehicle can have disastrous consequences. Also keep in mind that steering is the sole function of the front tires, with insufficient traction it’s like not being able to firmly grasp the steering wheel. How confident would you feel, now that you know this, if you were equipped with only rear winter tires, driving on snow, ice, or even cold pavement at 45 mph and you suddenly had to brake and swerve to avoid trouble? Chances are you could not stop and turn in time. All (or) Four Wheel Drive Vehicles During the winter would you purposefully disconnect your four-wheel drive and use just two wheel drive instead? Absolutely not. But that is exactly what you are doing if you use just two winter tires. The traction mismatch basically “disconnects†the two other wheels not equipped with winter tires. This leaves you open to the control problems cited in the other two sections, depending upon where you mount the winter tires.
Do I need winter tires to improve traction if my vehicle has Traction Control?
Yes . Even though traction control optimizes the traction of your tires in adverse conditions by preventing wheel spin, this specialized system does not create additional tire traction. Traction always depends on the four contact patches created by the tires. The better traction your tires provide, the more effectively the traction control system will help you drive more safely. Cold temperatures will cause all-season compounds to harden, losing pliability and traction.
My vehicle has ABS brakes; does that eliminate the need for winter tires?
No. An ABS braking system prevents “locking-up” the brakes by “pulsing” them as you apply pressure to the pedal. But remember it is the tires on your vehicle that supply the traction and help the ABS deliver faster stops. Tires built with better winter traction will improve overall braking performance on ice, snow and cold roads.
What are the symptoms of improper tire pressure?
Check Tire Pressure Regularly: Tire pressure should be checked whenever you suspect a problem or at a minimum, seasonally. Symptoms of improper tire pressure include excess wear and squealing when going around a corner (for under-inflated tires) and reduced traction (for over-inflated tires). Even the temperature can affect your tire pressure. Check your owner’s manual to find where they’ve posted the proper tire pressure (usually on one of the doors) and be sure to keep it at that level. An improperly inflated tire not only wears quicker, it can also be dangerous when stopping and can cause tread separation. You can purchase a tire-pressure gauge at your local auto parts store, use a gauge at the gas station or ask your tire dealer to check it for you.
How often should wheel alignment be checked?
If you’ve hit a pothole or scraped your tire on a curb, your wheels may have been thrown out of alignment. Symptoms of wheels that are out of alignment are excessive wear (one tire may wear more than the others) and steering problems. You may notice that your car veers to the side when you’re on a straight road or the car doesn’t steer properly in a turn. Unless you notice any of these symptoms, you should have your alignment checked annually.
What Are the Different Methods of Making Wheels?
In today’s marketplace, two wheel materials are most common, steel and aluminum. Steel wheels are made in two pieces; the inner piece (called the center) that bolts on to the car, and the barrel (or outer) which receives the tire. The two pieces are welded together to form the wheel. Most original equipment wheels are made this way, and so are many after market wheels-especially for trucks. Steel is a durable and less expensive material. The other material, aluminum, is by far the most popular type of wheel we sell. Its light weight, superior heat dissipation and seemingly endless design variations make it the material of choice for most buyers. Aluminum wheels can be manufactured in many ways, and each method offers advantages. . One-piece Cast Wheels A cast wheel is made by pouring molten aluminum into a mold; the metal then takes the mold’s shape as it cools and hardens. There are three types of casting methods, low pressure/gravity, counter pressure, and high counter pressure molding (HCM); each method has its place in today’s market. A wheel manufacturer will select a particular method according to the weight, strength and finish that they have specified for that design. Naturally, the more sophisticated and costly methods produce lighter and stronger wheels but at a higher price. . Forged/Billet Wheels The two words “forged” and “billet” have become synonymous, but in fact the manufacturing process is called forging and the material used is an aluminum billet-a solid piece of dense aluminum. The forge, a huge machine that exerts thousands of pounds of pressure on the metal, basically presses or rolls the billet into its fundamental form. This forging is then machined to final finish. This process allows wheels to be built with much less material, allowing for lighter weight and unique designs, because the process creates a much stronger wheel than other methods. . Multi-piece Wheels The processes mentioned above can be combined to produce a wheel of a particular strength and weight at a particular price. For example, some wheels have a cast aluminum center, welded to a steel outer. Another type of two-piece construction features a billet center welded to a rolled outer (extruded aluminum rolled into a hoop). Still other wheels feature a split outer so that widths and offsets can be made to custom specifications. This last method is the three-piece type construction. In this type of wheel, the center which can be cast, billet or forged, is usually attached to the outer assembly by special screws or rivets.
What Does Fitment Mean?
This term is used to refer to the physical specifications of the wheel and the availability of the sizes that will fit a vehicle. So, the fitment specifications for a particular wheel and vehicle include the bolt pattern, the offset, the wheel width and the wheel diameter.
What Does FWD and RWD Mean?
Most wheel catalogs use these acronyms, FWD for Front Wheel Drive and RWD for Rear Wheel Drive , to sort out the wheels available for these two different types of vehicles.
What Features Should I Look for When Buying Wheels?
First and foremost, wheels are purchased for styling the vehicle. You’ve got to like how they look! Second, decide on the build method and quality. The discussion of manufacturing methods above was intended to inform you of the different ways wheels are made. Choose the manufacturing method you want at the price you are happy with. Finish quality is important; demand a nicely finished wheel. Finally, decide on the price. We realize there are many tradeoffs between the various features and price and that’s why we carry a wide selection of wheels for every budget.
What Does Finish Mean?
Finish refers to the type of surface treatment a wheel is given. Machined or polished finishes are popular on aluminum wheels. “Machined” is what the wheel looks like after the last shaping procedure (usually a lathe cut) has been completed. An additional step involves passing the wheel through successively finer automated and hand polishing processes. This, of course, results in the polished finish. A chrome finish is also available on aluminum wheels, but requires three additional layers of metal treatment (copper, nickel and chrome) to be achieved. Chrome finishing can significantly increase the price of the aluminum wheel. That’s where steel wheels have an advantage; chrome goes on in one simple, inexpensive step. Finally, paint goes on everything and can be applied in single or multiple color schemes. Often the powder coating process is used to apply paint, resulting in a heavy, durable finish. In today’s market, wheel manufacturers combine finish methods in different ways. For example, the popular tuner type designs often feature a silver center and a machined or polished lip. The last step in many styles is to seal the wheel with a clear coat of plastic, making the wheel much easier to maintain.
Should I use a Spacer or Adapter?
The use of spacers or adapters is not recommended. If the wheel does not properly fit your vehicle you should consider a different wheel.
What Are Hub-centric Rings; Do I Need Them?
I Most aftermarket wheels are manufactured with a center hole that will fit a wide range of vehicles. The hub-centric ring is used to fill any gap that may exist between this hole and the vehicle’s hub, thus centering the wheel on the axle. If you have vibrations after installing new wheels, chances are hub-centric rings were not used
What’s the Best Way to Clean My Wheels?
Probably the single biggest mistake when cleaning wheels is to use super cleaners, which can contain harsh abrasives. Mild soap and warm water is sufficient for routine cleaning. After cleaning chrome-plated wheels, you can apply a non-abrasive wax or cream to prevent surface corrosion. If you have clear coated wheels, skip this step. Don’t let tire cleaners come into contact with your wheels; and try not to spray cold water on hot wheels. If you go to the car wash, don’t let them use steam cleaners or strong chemicals on your wheels. To brighten up your polished wheels (no clear coat) use a polishing cleaner provided by the manufacturer; this requires some real work. To sustain this great look, apply some wax to keep the weather out.
What’s the Best Way to Install and Remove My New Wheels?
That’s a job that’s best left to your tire dealer. A combination of special tools and methods are used to install wheels so they deliver the performance you paid for. Initial mounting of the assembly on the vehicle requires positioning and starting the lugs by hand. Next the lugs can be pre-tightened using a hand wrench or torque stick (a tool that ensures a lug is not over tightened). The final torque setting is applied using a calibrated torque wrench. Sounds complicated, but a trained technician gets this done very quickly.
I Just Hit Something in the Road; How Do I Find Out if My Wheel Is OK?
If you have a vibration or pulling symptom, chances are you may have damaged the wheel. Again, go to the tire dealer and let him inspect your wheels. He will place each assembly on the balancing machine and check for run-out (a hop or wobble). If you have a damaged wheel, get the unit repaired immediately to avoid further problems.
www.gtatires.ca
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