A tire's most important job is to carry the load required of it, and the load range/ply rating branded on the tire's sidewall indicates how much load the tire is designed to carry (at a specific pressure). Whenever changing tire sizes or from one tire type to another, it's important to ensure...
Why do we change our tires and wheels? Aside from necessity, most of us do it for performance, comfort and style. But to be sure our tires are performing properly and that we're rolling comfortably and in style, we'll need to correctly install our new tires and wheels. Here's a few tips from us...
Proper wheel installation requires the wheel-attaching hardware (lug nuts or bolts) be tightened to the recommended torque specification for the vehicle make, model and year. Torque specifications are usually found in the vehicle's owner's manual.* Proper torque requires using the correct...
Tread depth is a vertical measurement between the top of the tread rubber to the bottom of the tire's deepest grooves. In the United States, tread depth is measured in 32nds of an inch. Because it is difficult to accurately measure tread depth with a ruler, tread depth is best measured with a...
Maximum Inflation Pressure A tire's maximum inflation pressure is the highest "cold" inflation pressure that the tire is designed to contain. However the tire's maximum inflation pressure should only be used when called for on the vehicle's tire placard or in the vehicle's owners manual. It is...
Maximum Load A tire's maximum load is the most weight the tire is designed to carry. Since a tire's load carrying capacity is related to the tire's size and construction and how much inflation pressure is actually used, maximum loads are rated with the tire inflated to an industry assigned...
The purposes of the Tire and Rim Association, Inc., include the establishment of interchangeability standards for tires, rims and allied parts for the guidance of manufacturers of such products, designers and manufacturers of motor vehicles, aircraft and other wheeled vehicles and equipment,...
High-Speed Rated Winter TiresPerformance Winter / SnowPassenger | Light Truck/SUV Developed as high-speed winter tires for European driving conditions, these tires typically trade some deep snow and ice traction for enhanced dry and wet road traction, handling and high-speed capability....
One of a tire's primary tasks is to carry the weight of the vehicle. But anyone who's ever had a flat tire knows that the tire doesn't really carry the load...the inflation pressure inside it does! Using the correct inflation pressure not only provides the appropriate load capacity, it also...
A flat tire can be one of a driver's most inconvenient circumstances. But is there a silver lining? Can the tire be repaired? The answer is yes, depending upon the type of damage and how quickly you realize your tire has a problem. After safely & carefully pulling off the roadway, locating...
What happens to rubber balloons in the days after a party? The air pressure inside them escapes through the rubber and the balloons go flat. And while air also escapes through the rubber of tires for cars and trucks, today's more robust tubeless tire designs experience air pressure losses of...
It's Not Just About Wear. Do You Know When to Say When? There are many reasons why tires should be replaced. Here are some Tire Rack recommendations based on currently available information: The vehicle manufacturer owner's manual may have specific instructions covering tire inspections...
Should Drivers Replace Old Tires Even if Their Treads Aren't Worn Out? While most drivers' past experience might not indicate it's necessary, the growing realization that tires are perishable means tires on some vehicles will possibly age out before they wear out. Composed of steel belts,...
Also called tire tread designs, tire tread patterns are the arrangement of continuous ribs, independent tread blocks, circumferential and lateral grooves, as well as the thin sipes molded into the tread to fine-tune noise, handling, traction and wear. Tire tread patterns feature different basic...
Anti-Lock Brake (ABS), Traction Control and Vehicle Stability Systems Anti-lock brakes, traction control and vehicle stability systems help make it easier to utilize a tire's full potential; however, none of these systems actually generate more traction. For that matter, they only begin to...
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