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...
To stay safe behind the wheel this winter season, consumers should remember the following W.I.N.T.E.R. tips from Tire Rack: Winter Tires Are Worth It: The best way to improve winter / snow tire traction and increase safety is with a set of dedicated winter / snow tires. Starting at a few...
In some states, vehicle inspection regulations require operating tire pressure monitoring sensors (TPMS) on every vehicle that came with TPMS as Original Equipment. If your state is not listed below, please check with local law enforcement officials to confirm restrictions in your area. We...
Before products can be sold in many countries, their manufacturers are required to test and certify they meet government standards. While many countries establish their own unique standards, others simply choose to adopt established standards to simplify global complexity. In the case of...
During a trip to Pirelli's facilities in Europe, several members of the Tire Rack team had the opportunity to visit their tire plant in Brueberg, Germany. Opened in 1963, this tire manufacturing facility is unique because it now features multiple generations of tire manufacturing equipment...
Tire and wheel manufacturers initially formed regional associations to establish interchangeability standards for tires, rims and allied parts for the guidance of manufacturers, as well as to establish standards for the designers of motor vehicles, aircraft and other wheeled vehicles. These...
Country of Origin Although regularly updated, the country of origin for any tire may vary from the country shown here. Unfortunately, we cannot accommodate requests for tires with a specific country of origin.
Revolutions Per Mile Revolutions per mile indicates the number of times a tire revolves while it covers the distance of one mile. Depending on the tire manufacturer, revolutions per mile may be either measured in a laboratory or derived from calculations based on their previous test...
Overall Diameter A tire's overall diameter is the outer diameter of the tire measured in the center of the tread. This measurement is made without any load placed upon the tire and after the tire has been properly mounted on its industry assigned measuring rim and has been inflated and reset...
Tread Width Measuring Tread width is typically thought of as a measurement between the outboard and inboard edges of a new tire's tread design. Ideally it approximates the width of the tread that comes into contact with the road. Unfortunately measuring tire tread width isn't as simple as...
Section Width A tire's section width (also called "cross section width") is the measurement of the tire's width from its inner sidewall to its outer sidewall (excluding any protective ribs, decorations or raised letters) at the widest point. This measurement is made without any load placed...
Measuring Rim WidthThe measuring rim width is the industry standardized rim width upon which the tire must be mounted in order to confirm it meets its dimensional targets. Because the width of the rim will influence the width of the tire, a standard rim width for every tire size is assigned and...
Much like your foot can sometimes fit in a half size up or down shoe, tires have a range of rim widths they can be mounted on while still performing as designed. Likewise, similarly to how a person typically knows their "shoe size," tires have a measuring rim width from which the tire’s specs...
Need help choosing the right products for your vehicle? Our team of highly trained experts has the knowledge and passion to help. Just pick up the phone and give us a ring. Or let's chat via email. We love solving problems and lending a hand (or an ear).
Contact Us
