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General Tires FAQ - Part Two

Little-Known Facts About Car Tires

From , former About.com Guide

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  1. Not all tires measure out to be exactly what they say they are. To find true the tire diameter mark the bottom of the tire and rotate one revolution. Measure and divide the distance by pie (3.14) and you have the true tire diameter.

  2. Even if your tires "look fine", you should check your tire pressure using a tire guage. Radial tires may look fine even when they're down 10 pounds of air, or overinflated by 10 pounds.

  3. You should never reduce tire pressure in the winter in an attempt to increase traction on snow or ice. It does not work.

  4. Worn-out tires affect wet weather driving the most. In order to have traction in the rain, tires need to be able to channel the water away; that's why there are grooves in the tread. Driving on worn-out tires, puts you and your passengers in danger.

  5. Don't forget to check the air pressure in your spare tire occasionally. There's nothing worse than getting a flat and finding that your spare is flat, too. If you have a small, "space-saver" spare, you will find the correct tire pressure printed right on the side.

  6. Mismatched tires will adversely affect a vehicle's handling. Don't even think about it. Whatever you have on the front, you must have on the back!

  7. All-season tires are best for most consumers driving passenger cars. They provide a good combination of grip on wet and dry roads, and in light snow.

  8. Nearly all tire makers offer a range of all-season tire models, typically defined by their tread-wear warranty. Economy tires typically carry a tread-wear warranty of no more than 40,000 miles. Near-premium tires (the most popular) have tread-wear warranties of 60,000-70,000 miles. Premium tires are good for 80,000 miles and up.

  9. The reason you should rotate your tires is this: Each tire on your vehicle supports a different amount of weight. This unequal weight distribution causes your tires to wear at different rates. By rotating your tires, you can extend their life.

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