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Tires: Things you should know

Tire Aging

• Industry experts say a tire should be replaced every 6 years regardless of tread depth.
• Over time the internal adhesion in the tire will degrade causing the belts to separate which can lead to tire failure.
• Some tire experts are pushing for “born on” dates or “expiration dates on all tires.

Proper Inflation

• It is mandatory that you check the air pressure in your tires.
• A loss of 5 lbs of pressure can result in a ½ mile to the gallon in fuel mileage.
• Always look at the pressure readings on your tire and not what the vehicle manufacturer says on the door. The reason for this is the vehicle may not have the OEM tire especially if it’s an older vehicle.
• Under or Over inflation can cause severe damage to your vehicle and/or yourself and passengers.
• To check your tires all you need is a “good” tire gauge.
• You can purchase one at you local NAPA parts store.
• Remember to check them when they are cold.
• You should also remember to make adjustments to the pressure if you are carrying a load.
• More weight will mean more air pressure.
• If your SUV came with P series tires and you install LT tires remember that the pressure will be different that the P series.

Tire Treads

• There are 5 basic tread types
• High Performance
• Highway or “Summer”
• All Season or All Terrain
• Snow
• Mud
• There are many different variations of treads but they all come from one of these types of treads in some cases a tread may be a cross between two or more tread types.
• The type of tread you need depends on the type of driving you do and where you live.
• The best place to get advice on tires is from people you trust.
• One more thing – you get what you pay for.