Your vehicle was designed to work with a specific wheel size. You know, normal sizes like 17 or 18 inches. Your vehicle was not designed to run for an extended period of time on a donut. Doing so can damage other parts, such as the transmission, suspension, and brakes. Does it matter what size your …
A full-size spare is the same exact size as the other tires on the vehicle. A matching spare is completely identical to the other tires currently on your car. A non-matching spare will typically have a lighter-weight construction and a shallower tread depth that reduces vehicle weight to improve fuel economy. Are all car spare …
Adding a set of four big and heavy tires to your vehicle will add a lot of new weight. That added weight can hurt your car’s acceleration and expend more fuel. It can also put more strain on your brakes to slow down the vehicle. Can I use 235 tires instead of 225? Are 225 …
The two easiest ways are to check the sticker plate in your car, it should be located inside the driver side door, or look online for the vehicle specifications for your exact make and model. That should tell you the standard rim size. How do I find my wheel offset? Subtract the smaller number from …
The recommended tire pressure for most passenger and sports cars is between 32 and 40 psi, but you should check your vehicle’s manual for more specific instructions. The recommended tire pressure is set with cold tires so be sure to check them before or after a long ride. Can you drive on a tire with …
Never jack up a vehicle without blocking the wheels to keep it from rolling. Use bricks, wooden wedges, or metal wheel chocks to block the wheels at the end of the car that isn’t being raised. If you’re changing a tire and you have nothing to block the wheels with, park near the curb with …
AutoZone carries every tire pressure monitoring system product you need for your repair, ensuring you can efficiently and safely cruise down the road again. If you just need a new mounting band, or the whole pressure monitoring sensor, we have you covered. Can I drive with low tire pressure? If the tire pressure is too …
A car’s drive shaft is a mechanical part that connects the engine to the wheels. The turning drive shaft sends power to the rear axle and wheels, which cause them to turn as well, moving the car forward. Why does my car feel like it moves side to side? The most common reason your car …
Michelin was a standout in our latest tests. The three Michelin models we rated all met or exceeded their mileage warranty. But the longest-wearing tire came from Pirelli. We estimate that the Pirelli P4 FOUR SEASONS Plus could last a whopping 100,000 miles. What is the life of car tubeless TYRE? 2- Ten years is …
How to Fix a Bubble in Your Tire. Unfortunately, a tire with a bubble cannot be repaired. Tires simply cannot be fixed once bubbles appear because their layers are already damaged. Unlike flat tires, tires with bubbles cannot be patched. What does a bubble in a tire mean? Tire bubbles are caused by air leaking …
Maintaining correct tire pressure affects a tire’s wear and improves its performance. Luckily, you can easily inflate almost any tire at your job site if you have an air compressor. Read on to learn how to use an air compressor on your flat tire. Can a 1 gallon air compressor fill a car tire? What …
The inner liner (in the center of the tire diagram) is a rubber compound bonded to the inside of the cord body that retains air under pressure. Note, however, that modern car tires no longer have inner tubes inside them. A tire’s beads, bead filler, and inner liner work together to hold air within the …
For every change of 10 degrees in the outside temperature, tire pressure changes about 1 psi. So if you fill your tires to 33 psi when it’s 75 degrees out, and it drops to 25 degrees at night, your tires will be at 28 psi. That’s too low. Low tire pressure always is more dangerous …
Most passenger vehicles recommend 33 to 35 psi. At 28 psi, you’re running a little low and really should get them aired back up. That’s not what I would call alarmingly low, but anything more than three or four pounds below normal can cause handling problems and increases the potential for a blow-out. Is 37 …
Michelin’s excellent X-Ice Xi3 is a (stud-less ice and snow) winter tire that can be fitted to everything from minivans to performance cars. When new, the X-Ice Xi3 is equipped with 10.5/32-inch of tread depth and warrantied up to 6 years and 40,000 miles. Should I put 2 or 4 snow tires on my car? …
Old tires are dangerous, regardless of tread depth. While there’s no federally sanctioned safety guidance on when a tire is too old to be safe, many carmakers recommend replacement at six years from the date of manufacture. An analysis of the used tire revealed that it was nearly 10 years old. Should I replace all …
So if you fill your tires to 33 psi when it’s 75 degrees out, and it drops to 25 degrees at night, your tires will be at 28 psi. That’s too low. Most tire-pressure monitoring systems warn you when your tire pressure drops by about 10 percent. You won’t notice any difference in tire wear, …
Torque is the unit of measurement for the twisting force that’s applied to a wheel nut. Mechanics will ensure that each wheel nut has been torqued to the vehicle manufacturer’s specifications when first fitting a wheel. How do I calculate torque? To calculate load torque, multiply the force (F) by the distance away from the …
TOM: Unfortunately, it’s really not safe to drive on cupped tires. They have indentations in them. So every time the tire rotates, there are high spots that aren’t touching the road. That means you have less traction, and less ability to stop and turn. Will cupping on tires go away? Provided that you’ve replaced the …
Usually, it’s just a matter of a build-up of corrosion from the wheel being in place for a long time. This corrosion between the wheel and the mounting surface of the hub can get pretty sticky; it’s like a layer of glue that can really adhere the wheel to the hub. Can someone come and …
What is the easiest way to take off a tire? Start on 1 side of the tire. Push down on the rubber so it is beneath the edge of the rim. Slide the pry bar underneath the rubber, then lift it until the bead is above the rim. Then, while holding the tire in place …
The last four digits of this code tell you when your tire was manufactured. The first two numbers indicate what week of the year it was made (out of 52 weeks per year), and the second two numbers represent the year. For example, 5200 would reveal that a tire was manufactured during the 52nd week …
275/30, 275/35, and 275/40 tires are all standardized with 9.5″ wide wheels with a diameter of 18/19″. Recommended width range is 9-11″ wide. What does a 35 inch tire mean? The 35 represents the aspect ratio of the tire or the sidewall’s height as a percentage of the tread width. This means the tire’s sidewall …
Wheel studs are the threaded fasteners that hold on the wheels of many automobiles. They are semi-permanently mounted directly to the vehicle hub, usually through the brake drum or brake disk. Lug nuts are fastened onto the wheel stud to secure the wheel. What is a wheel and tire called? You’ll often hear people use …
The 15 inch Lynx Aluminum Wheel that it is mounted to has a weight of just about 15 pounds. This is a really nice tire and wheel combo that features a maximum load of 2,830 pounds at 80 psi and an excellent speed rating of 75 mph. How much does a 19.5 tire weight? The …
How much of a car tire touches the ground? Just a few inches of your tires touch the road at any given time. It’s as if your car is up on its toes. Those few inches are called the “contact patch”. You might be surprised to hear just how important those few inches are in …
How do I put air in my tire with an air compressor? Read More »
Can you puncture a tire with a knife? Definitely, we can cut off the sidewall of any tire using a sharp knife especially a serrated and sharp one by cutting it at the seams. You can equally do so with a high-powered cutting tool like a circular saw or Dremel fitted with a blade. So, …
It’s possible to install your own tires. While some may argue that installing your own tires can save you money, it’s definitely a job that’s better left to your tire shop or service center professionals. Installing new tires is a job best left to your auto repair service center professionals. Can you replace just one …
Be sure to install the spare tire the correct way and not backwards. The valve stem of a doughnut tire should face outwards, away from the vehicle. If your vehicle uses acorn-style lug nuts, it is easy to put those on backwards as well. Be sure the tapered part of the nut faces the wheel …
Lay your chains on the ground and push them behind the tire, yellow cable end first, from the right side to the left. Once the chains are centered behind the wheel, grab both ends and pull them up over the top of the tire. You should feel the chains against your axle. Do I need …
