We've been helping people find the right tires, wheels and performance parts since 1979. If you're looking for the best and most accurate information on all things tires, you've come to the right place.
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...
A load index is an assigned numerical value that signifies a tire's maximum load carrying capacity. They're useful to help compare load carrying capacity of different-sized tires, and as you might expect, the higher the tire's load index number, the greater its load carrying capacity. Using the...
Pneumatic tires are made of specialized rubber compounds reinforced by plies of fabric cords and metal wires. While most rubber compounds can be stretched easily, the underlying fabric cords and steel wires actually define the tire's shape by limiting stretching. In order to bond these...
Shop Tires Shop Tires While it is simple to place a Lincoln penny in the tread groove of a worn tire and use Abe's likeness as a guide, we don't think Honest Abe knows what's best for today's drivers. The Lincoln penny tread depth test has been touted for years to be a suitable method of...
You may want to take a copy of this Tire Tech article to the service center when replacing the tires on your vehicle or when having its tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) serviced. It might provide some tips not covered by the tire changer's normal service procedures. Tips on servicing...
Introduced in the United States in the 1960s, metal studs that could be inserted into tires were developed to enhance traction on the slipperiest road condition...ice. The studs were designed to use the vehicle's weight and centrifugal forces to provide more ice traction as they repeatedly...
Photo #1 - No Protection While curbs and debris on the road have never been considered a tire's friend, many of today's tires resist accidental damage by featuring thicker rubber molded at key locations on their sidewalls. This helps reduce damage to the tires and/or wheels when drivers...
While coins can be used to estimate tread depth, using a calibrated tire tread depth gauge is a far more precise way of knowing how much tread you have left, and when to start budgeting for a new set! In the U.S., tread depth gauges measure in inches, specifically in 32nds of an inch, while...
"Check and adjust first thing in the morning...before rising ambient temperatures, the sun's radiant heat or even driving short distances temporarily warms the tires." Maintenance Tips to Increase Tire Performance, Life and Durability Check and Adjust First Thing In The Morning. Set...
If you ever visit an auto museum, you'll see most antique cars were equipped with two or more spare tires. Fortunately today's roads and improved tire durability have reduced that necessity, allowing our vehicles to be equipped with a single spare or none at all! While some of today's...
Each individual state has established waste tire management funds to address issues related to discarded tires. Examples include tire disposal, remediation of illegally dumped tires, recycling, and consumer education. Tire Rack collects these state fees when selling tires to consumers as...
Nothing Lasts Forever... and Tires Are No Exception Tires are manufactured by bonding rubber to fabric plies and steel cords. Despite the anti-aging ingredients mixed into the rubber compounds, there is a realization that tires are perishable, as well as a growing awareness that some tires...
As a general rule, tires should not be mixed on any vehicle unless specified as acceptable by the tire or vehicle manufacturer. Drivers should avoid mixing tires with different tread patterns, internal constructions or sizes, and use identical tires on all of their vehicle's wheel positions in...
Since "experience is the best teacher," the Tire Rack team drives on as many of the tires we offer as possible. This testing allows us to better understand a tire's ride and noise qualities on the road, and its performance capabilities on the track. And even though Mother Nature is very...
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