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Tire
Pressure
·
Check tire pressure once a month, the leading
cause of tire-related crashes is under-inflation & a leading cause of
premature tread wear is under-inflation
·
Check tire pressure when tires are cool to the
touch for most accurate measure
·
Never overinflate, consult your manual and/or
the driver side door/frame for the proper tire inflation levels. Overinflation is the second leading cause of
tire-related crashes
·
If overinflated use pin to push metal stem in
middle of valve down until some pressure is released
·
Be sure to note your tire pressure in your Electronic Glove Box
Types
of Tires
·
Hard tread “ enhances tread life and fuel
economy but diminishes traction in both dry and wet conditions
·
Short, stiff sidewall construction “ enhances
cornering protection and directional stability but takes away from ride quality
·
Wide tread w/ minimal grooves “ enhances grip
during dry conditions but detracts from grip during wet and snowy conditions
·
Aggressive open tread “ enhances snow traction
but aggravate tire noise and sacrifice tread life on pavement
Tire
Balance
·
Proper balance will keep your tires from uneven
wear and provide a more comfortable ride.
It is a good idea to re-balance tires at each tire rotation.
Tire
Rotation
·
Rotate tires every 6-8000 miles (or more often
if the driver™s manual dictates)
· Make a note of each tire rotation in your Electronic Glove Box
Wheel
Alignment
·
Check alignment when you hit something
substantial, you see a wear pattern developing on the inside or outside of your
tires, or you notice a difference in handling/steering.
Tire
Tread
·
Excessive or uneven tread wear may be a sign of
improper inflation or steering and suspension misalignment
·
Look for cracks or bulges on sidewalls before
road trips, if spotted replace tires
·
If worn to the œwear indicator bars replace
tires immediately (always replace in pairs of 2 or 4 at a time)
·
Replace tires if tread wear is severely uneven
·
Insert a penny upside down into the tire groove.
If you can see the top of Lincoln™s head your tread is too low
Tire
Temperature
High tire temperature leads to a lower
tire life. The following lead to
increased tire temperatures:
·
High speeds
·
High loads
·
Under-inflation
·
Coarse pavement
·
Aggressive driving
·
High cornering
·
Hard braking
When buying tires,
understand that tire selection is a balance between ride quality, noise
suppression, fuel economy, wear, load capability and cost.
You should discuss these issues with the tire-store expert to select a tire that
is the right balance of each for your you.
Understanding
Tire Labels
Example: P195/60R16
63H M+S (see
definitions below)
·
P - Type of tire (P = passenger)
·
195 - Width of the tire across the
tread in millimeters
·
60 - Aspect ratio of the sidewall
compared to the width
·
R “ Construction (R = radial)
·
16 - Diameter of the rim in inches
·
63 - Tire's load rating
·
H - Tire's speed rating (H = 130 mph)
·
M+S - Tire is suitable for all-season
driving
Types
of Tires
·
P = Passenger Vehicle
·
T = Temporary Tire (Spare
·
LT = Light Truck
·
C = Commercial
·
ST = Specific Trailer Service
·
No Letters = European Cars
Construction
·
R = Radial (98% of all tires)
·
D = Diagonal for light truck or spare tires
·
B = Belted (practically extinct)
·
RF = Self-supporting run-flat tires
Load
Rating
·
Generally range from 60-110
·
The higher the number, the more carrying
capacity
Speed
Rating (Max Speed the tire is designed for)
·
L = 75 mph
·
M= 81 mph
·
N= 87 mph
·
P= 93 mph
·
Q= 99 mph
·
R=106 mph
·
S= 112 mph
·
T= 118
mph
·
U= 124 mph
·
H= 130 mph
·
V= 149 mph
·
W= 168 mph (Exotic Sports Cars)
· Y= 186 mph (Exotic Sports Cars
Why does tire pressure need to be
checked monthly?
Tires are
made of œpermeable rubber, meaning they are NOT totally air-tight. Oxygen (air) slowly leaks through the rubber
over time. During hot weather (summer),
the permeable rubber expands and allows more œair to escape, therefore in the
summer, you should check your tire pressure more often. On the other hand, in cold weather (winter),
less air escapes through the contracting permeable rubber, HOWEVER, cold
weather causes the pressure of the air inside the tire to contract¦.which also
causes tire pressure (PSI) to be reduced and therefore cause UNDERINFLATED
tires. For each 10º drop in temperature,
tire pressure (inside the tire) will decrease 1-2º¦. So consider how dangerous
it would be to not check your tire pressure in 3 months during a hot summer,
then a cold front blows through, reducing the temp by 40º¦.. your tires could easily be under-inflated by
20º and that is very dangerous and expensive in terms of tire wear, fuel
economy and your safety.
Just so you know
Some auto
service facilities now offer Nitrogen to fill your tires. The reason for this is that Nitrogen (N2) has
a larger molecular size than Oxygen (O2), meaning each N2 molecule is larger
and therefore has a harder time escaping through the permeable rubber. O2 permeates approximately 3-4 times faster
than does N2 through a typical rubber tire. So you may want to consider using Nitrogen to
fill your tires.