Tire FAQ
TIRE FAQ
Why did my tires wear so quickly?
Premature tire wear may be caused by many factors other than tire rotation. Some examples are as follows: improper inflation, driving conditions, misaligned vehicles, worn vehicle parts and a variety of other reasons.
Without physically inspecting the tires, it is difficult to make a determination as to why your tires wore prematurely. Please visit us and have one of our trained professionals inspect your tires free of charge.
I only need two tires, do they go on the front or the back?
When replacing only two tires on your vehicle, new tires should always be placed on the rear of the vehicle.
When is it time to buy new tires for my vehicle?
Tread wear is the top reason for needing to replace your car tires, as any tread depth that is 2/32 or less is considered unsafe. Some tire manufacturers will include tread wear indicator bars on their tires to make identifying wear easy. If these are visible, your tires should be replaced.
If your tires don’t have tread wear indicators, performing a visual inspection of your tires, along with taking the penny test, is a good place to start when deciding if it is time to shop for replacements. If you are still unsure, a Tredz Central professional technician can help you determine if you need new tires and provide replacement recommendations as well.
Other reasons to replace your old tires:
Uneven tread wear
Damage to or near the tire sidewall that is not repairable.
Bulges and/or blisters on the tire sidewall
Excessive vibration when driving
Tire age
Are all tires the same?
No, all tires are not the same. Tires are engineered with specific goals and functions in mind, causing them to differ in their tread, sidewall, footprint, size, and even type. An all-season tire, for example, will differ greatly from a mud or snow tire. Tire manufacturers often have multiple tire lines designed for different budgets, driving habits, locations, and more. Even the same brand and line of tire can have differing speed ratings, load indices, and features. These designs are in place to ensure you are buying the right tire for you and your vehicle.
Do I really need snow tires, or can I use all-season tires in the winter?
Snow tires are great for drivers who live in areas where the temperature routinely stays below 45F in the winter and typically drive through snow, ice, and sleet. Snow tires have many features, including tread and grip patterns designed to combat winter elements by moving them away from your tire. This maximizes the tire’s grip on the road. They are constructed with softer rubber than the other tires, which allows them to be more flexible and conform to the road better than other tire types.
All-season tires are designed to perform in both the summer and winter months, and they can handle rain and some snow with adequacy. For drivers living where temperatures don’t routinely fall below 45F and snowy weather is minimal, they can perform well in the winter months.
What size of tires were originally on my vehicle?
There are multiple ways to check the size of your originally equipped tires. You can check the placard on your doorjamb, which is located under your driver’s front door, or consult your owner’s manual. A Tredz Central associate can also confirm the size of your tires, should you prefer not to do it yourself.
How long do car tires last?
The lifespan of a tire largely depends on how it’s used and maintained. Constant driving for long instances and at high speeds or forgoing routine maintenance, such as rotating your tires, can shorten the lifespan. Weather plays a large role in the deterioration as well, with extreme temperatures and exposure to sunlight potentially leading to rubber deterioration.
Other factors that can cause tires to lose their grip faster include driving an unaligned vehicle and/or on under – or over-inflated tires. Properly aligning your vehicle is an important measure in optimizing how long your tires last.
When should I replace my spare tire?
Rubber degrades over time, so even if you haven’t used your spare tire, check its age to determine if it should be replaced. Your vehicle owner’s manual should have information about replacing your spare tire, but generally the lifespan of a tire is about six years. To check your tire’s age, locate the DOT code on the sidewall. The last four digits of the DOT code are the tire’s week and year of manufacture.
What do I need to know about tire repair?
Driving an improperly repaired tire is dangerous. An improper repair can be unreliable or permit further damage to the tire. The tire may suddenly fail, causing serious personal injury or death. A complete inspection and repair of your tire in accordance with Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) procedures should be conducted by a qualified tire service professional.
A proper tire repair includes the following:
The tire is unmounted from the wheel for a complete inspections, inside and out. Some damage to the tire may only be evident on the interior of the tire.
The puncture injury is .25 inch (6 mm) or less and must be within the tread area. This helps ensure the long-term tire and repair durability.
A patch is applied to the interior of the tire and the puncture hole is filled with a suitable plug/stem filler. This helps ensure that the interior of the tire is adequately sealed to prevent inflation pressure loss and prevents contamination of the steel belts and other plies from the elements (such as water) in the outside world.
Not all punctured or damaged tires can be properly repaired;
consequently, some tires must be replaced. NEVER repair a tire with any
of the following conditions:
Wear to the tire’s built-in treadwear indicators or to 2/32 inch (1.6
mm) remaining tread depth in any area of the tread.
With a puncture larger than ¼ inch (6 mm).
With a puncture or other damage outside the repairable tread
area.
With a pre-existing, improper repair.
Any tire repair done without removing the tire from the wheel is improper.
The tire must be demounted from the wheel and the interior inspected for
damage that may not be evident on the exterior of the tire.
Using only a plug/stem, or using only a patch, is not a safe or proper
repair. A patch must be applied to the interior of the tire and the puncture
hole must be filled with a suitable plug/stem filler to prevent inflation
pressure loss and contamination of the steel belts and other plies.
NEVER substitute a tube for a proper repair or to remedy an improper
repair.
Tubes, like tires, should only be repaired by a qualified tire service
professional.
Some vehicle manufacturers do not recommend using repaired tires.
Consult your vehicle owner’s manual or contact the vehicle manufacturer
before operating a repaired tire on your vehicle.
The tire’s speed rating is void if the tire is repaired, retreaded, damaged,
abused, or otherwise altered from its original condition. It should be
treated as a non-speed rated tire.