Additional Tire Information

Proper tire inflation can help maintain tire structure, stability and handling. Each vehicles manufacturer has specification on the proper tire size, speed rating, load rating, and tire inflation, for each model on road. This information is usually located on the inside of the drivers door jam. When Replacing tires on your vehicle always make sure that the technician verifies this information on the placard. By doing this, you will have the correct size, load rating speed rating, and tire inflation that can reduce problems going down the road.

How do you choose the right tire manufacturer?

We first must find the tire size designed for your vehicle, and then use that info to see which manufacture offers that size.

Example: 195/50/R16      81H
195 = The width or contact area of the tire
50 = Aspect Ration or side wall (this range from 30-80)
The smaller the aspect ratio the less flex the tire will have going in a turn. It should also make the tire ride harder. You should always check your tire pressure more often with a lower aspect ratio/sidewall because it can be difficult to determine if the tire is under inflated.
16 = The inner diameter of the tire, or the rim diameter

81= the load rating (Weight) for the tire can support at a specific tire inflation
H= Speeds rating (maximum speed a vehicle can travel before the possibility that the tire will begin to come apart)

Once all the information has been verified you can start shopping for tires. You must use the correct load and speed rating for that vehicle.

Tire Warranty

All tires have a warranty or a guarantee to last a certain amount of miles. However, there are variables that go along with that. You must show proof that certain services have been completed and documented.

The tires must be rotated every 6,000 miles
Balance and Rotation Every 15,000 miles
Alignment Check or Adjustment every 15,000 miles
Tire Pressure Checked Daily to the correct inflation (Info located on the placard)

If tires are under inflation you could outer tire wear.
Too much tire inflation will cause excessive inner tire wear
Lack of rotation/balance/alignment could cause irregular tire wear
ONCE you have a tire wear you can always correct the action causing it, but you can not change the pattern in the tire without replacement. So it is always good to follow those time frames and complete those service to maximize the life expectancy of the tire, and get your money’s worth.

How do I know when I need tires?

Each tire has a Wear bar Indicator located in between the tire tread. When the tire tread is worn down enough where it’s touching the indicator the tire is considered to be worn out, this measurement is 2/32 of an inch. New tires come with a measurement of 10/32 of an inch. Tires can also have a lot of tread and still be considered worn out. It is very important to check to see if the sidewall is still in good condition and that there is not dry rot present. In that case you would more than likely think about replacing your tires. When replacing tires it is suggested to replace in pairs.

Mounting and Balancing Tires

It is very important when mounting or balancing tires that you have the correct machine. Training on using that machine is also very important. We use a tire machine designed to work up to 24 inch rim diameter tires. We also can mount and balance tires whose side wall height is very small such as a 30 series aspect ratio. When mounting and balancing these type of tires with a very small aspect ratio, it takes time, and patience. You must have the machine to allow you to do this, so we don’t damage or destroy your tire and rims. Not to mention those series tires are expensive. We spend a lot of money in updates, training, on our tire equipment to be able to service those types of tires.

Road Force Balance Tires & Wheels

Our Machine the Hunter GSP 9700 will give the best balancing that your money can buy. I say this because, the process balancing your tires using this machine can help reduce excessive tire wear from improper mounting location of the wheel weights, unsafe steering and handling, and possible damage suspension and steering parts.

Excessive wheel vibration can be caused by variations in balance. When we road force balance our tires, our machine will detect uneven stiffness in the tires sidewall, or in the tire tread. Because no tire is uniformly flexible throughout, or perfectly round, by balancing the tire and wheel assembly will not help prevent vibration alone. When we check the Road force of the tire and rim assembly we are able to find the stiff spot in the tire and the low spot in the rim and rotate the two so that they meet. It’s like a match made in heaven. We can now have a perfect round assembly going down the road.

The best part about this service is that if we just bought new tires and the road force is too bad, the tire manufacture will warranty that tire as a defect. Excessive vibration going down the road can cause the tire to wear down faster, and effect the handling an stability of the vehicle and it’s suspension components.