FAQs
Proper tire air pressure is determined by the vehicle manufacturers and is set to best fine-tune a tire's capabilities to their specific vehicle make and model. The vehicle manufacturer's pressure recommendation can be found on the vehicle's tire information placard label, as well as in the vehicle owner's manual.
Tires Should Be Cleaned Before They Are Stored.
Use soapy water and a tire brush to remove the dirt and grime. Tires should not be coated with tire shine or dressing of any kind while they are being stored.
Tires Should Be Wrapped in Large Plastic Bags and Sealed with Tape
This will help to further protect your tires from the elements.
Tires Should Be Stored Standing Upright to Reduce Stress on The Sidewall
If you have to stack the tires, be sure not to stack them too high, as a high stack can lead to too much weight on the bottom tire, possibly causing structural damage. If the tires are still mounted on the wheels, they can be stacked. We do not recommend hanging tires, as it can lead to structural deformities.
Tires Should Be Stored Somewhere Dry and Cool, And Away from Direct Sunlight
Ideally, tires should be stored in a basement or a climate-controlled garage or shop. Avoid storing your tires anywhere that is exposed to the elements, particularly humidity and extreme temperatures.
Use soapy water and a tire brush to remove the dirt and grime. Tires should not be coated with tire shine or dressing of any kind while they are being stored.
Tires Should Be Wrapped in Large Plastic Bags and Sealed with Tape
This will help to further protect your tires from the elements.
Tires Should Be Stored Standing Upright to Reduce Stress on The Sidewall
If you have to stack the tires, be sure not to stack them too high, as a high stack can lead to too much weight on the bottom tire, possibly causing structural damage. If the tires are still mounted on the wheels, they can be stacked. We do not recommend hanging tires, as it can lead to structural deformities.
Tires Should Be Stored Somewhere Dry and Cool, And Away from Direct Sunlight
Ideally, tires should be stored in a basement or a climate-controlled garage or shop. Avoid storing your tires anywhere that is exposed to the elements, particularly humidity and extreme temperatures.
Reduce Your Vehicle Speed: Reducing your speed can have a significant impact on your control of the vehicle. We recommend driving under the speed limit, using slow and steady maneuvers, and avoid any sudden stops, starts, or turns.
Increase the Distance between You and Other Cars: Increasing the driving distance between you and the vehicle in front of you can help you avoid collisions. Should you need to make any sudden maneuvers, the extra distance should provide you with the space to do so.
Avoid Standing Water: When driving in wet or rainy conditions, avoid standing water at all costs. It is often difficult to tell how deep the water is, and standing water greatly increases risk of hydroplaning. If you cannot avoid driving through standing water, go as slow as possible to reduce your risk of hydroplaning.
Use Your Headlights: Rain can obstruct yours and other driver's line of sight, making use of the headlights not only helps you see, it helps other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians see you. Be sure not to use your high beams in the rain, as they can scatter light and actually reduce visibility.
Use Well-Maintained Windshield Wipers: Visibility is fundamental to safe driving. Wiper blades help clear away rain, sleet and snow, but many drivers wait to replace them until they need them the most. Windshield wipers should be maintained and replaced regularly so they are ready for use when needed. When wiper blades no longer make proper contact with the windshield surface, they can begin to squeak, chatter, skip, smear or streak reducing driving visibility. Be sure to look out for these signs to know when to replace your wiper blades.
Avoid Using Cruise Control: A common mistake is using the cruise control to maintain a steady speed, however if you hydroplane your vehicle will increase speed and potentially cause loss of control.
Avoid Driving in Severe Weather: If the wet weather becomes severe, it is best to avoid travel as much as possible.
Increase the Distance between You and Other Cars: Increasing the driving distance between you and the vehicle in front of you can help you avoid collisions. Should you need to make any sudden maneuvers, the extra distance should provide you with the space to do so.
Avoid Standing Water: When driving in wet or rainy conditions, avoid standing water at all costs. It is often difficult to tell how deep the water is, and standing water greatly increases risk of hydroplaning. If you cannot avoid driving through standing water, go as slow as possible to reduce your risk of hydroplaning.
Use Your Headlights: Rain can obstruct yours and other driver's line of sight, making use of the headlights not only helps you see, it helps other drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians see you. Be sure not to use your high beams in the rain, as they can scatter light and actually reduce visibility.
Use Well-Maintained Windshield Wipers: Visibility is fundamental to safe driving. Wiper blades help clear away rain, sleet and snow, but many drivers wait to replace them until they need them the most. Windshield wipers should be maintained and replaced regularly so they are ready for use when needed. When wiper blades no longer make proper contact with the windshield surface, they can begin to squeak, chatter, skip, smear or streak reducing driving visibility. Be sure to look out for these signs to know when to replace your wiper blades.
Avoid Using Cruise Control: A common mistake is using the cruise control to maintain a steady speed, however if you hydroplane your vehicle will increase speed and potentially cause loss of control.
Avoid Driving in Severe Weather: If the wet weather becomes severe, it is best to avoid travel as much as possible.
1. One of your first steps should be installing winter tires on your vehicle, especially if you live in an area that sees harsh winter conditions, such as high snowfall and black ice. Winter tires provide levels of traction that all-season and summer tires can’t provide in winter conditions. We recommend installing your winter tires as soon as the temperature is consistently below 45 degrees, before the first snowfall.
2. Be sure to check the tread depth of your winter tires to ensure that they have enough tread to evacuate water, slush, and snow. Winter tires begin to noticeably lose traction earlier than summer and all-season tires, typically at or around 6/32nds of tread depth, making it very important to regularly check winter tire tread depth.
3. You should check the age of your winter tires. As tires age, their structural integrity can become compromised. This makes it difficult for tires to perform well in harsh winter conditions. For your safety, we recommend replacing your tires at six years. Tires are considered non-serviceable at ten years of age.
4. Drive consistently at lower speeds. This should allow you more response time and also help you make more controlled stops and starts. Another helpful idea is to increase the driving distance between you and the vehicles in front of you, allowing more time and space for any necessary maneuvers.
2. Be sure to check the tread depth of your winter tires to ensure that they have enough tread to evacuate water, slush, and snow. Winter tires begin to noticeably lose traction earlier than summer and all-season tires, typically at or around 6/32nds of tread depth, making it very important to regularly check winter tire tread depth.
3. You should check the age of your winter tires. As tires age, their structural integrity can become compromised. This makes it difficult for tires to perform well in harsh winter conditions. For your safety, we recommend replacing your tires at six years. Tires are considered non-serviceable at ten years of age.
4. Drive consistently at lower speeds. This should allow you more response time and also help you make more controlled stops and starts. Another helpful idea is to increase the driving distance between you and the vehicles in front of you, allowing more time and space for any necessary maneuvers.
The markings on your tire sidewall contain a mix of letters and numbers. You can use the sidewall codes and values to determine a wealth of information about your tire. These alphanumeric markings can instantly tell you about the tire type, construction, size, and other features. Knowing how to read the sidewall codes can assist with easily describing a tire in detail.
1. P-METRIC SIDEWALL CODE:
1.1 Tire Class:
2. OTHER SIDEWALL MARKINGS:
2.1 Load Index and Speed Ratings:
The load index is a number explicitly indicating how much weight your tire can carry at different inflations. You can find this number in the load index table, where it refers to your tire’s carrying capacity in pounds. Our example tire has a load range of 92, which corresponds to 1389 lbs. at 36 psi.
The speed rating is a letter indicating the maximum speed that a tire can safely reach and maintain, as determined by laboratory testing. Our example tire has an “H” speed rating, which means it can safely travel at speeds up to 130 mph.
2.2 US DOT and Safety Standard Markings:
The DOT designation indicates that the tire meets or exceeds the U.S. Department of Transportation's safety requirements for on-road use. Tires without this designation should not be legally driven on US public roads.
The plant code appears as the two letters after “DOT.” These characters identify the tire’s manufacturer and site of creation. After the plant code, you will find two characters that express the tire size in a code determined by the manufacturer.
The first three characters after the dash represent brand characteristics in a code also determined by the manufacturer. The plant code, tire size, and brand characteristics are intended for the manufacturer’s internal use.
After the brand characteristics, there are four numbers representing the tire’s date of creation. The first two numbers in this sequence tell you the tire’s manufactured week.
The Tread wear grade appears first. It offers a relative score describing a tire’s ability to resist wear.
• Our example tire’s 520 tread wear rating places it in a numerical context along with others made by the same manufacturer.
The Traction grade appears next. This ranking describes the tire’s ability to stop on straight, wet surfaces under controlled conditions.
The maximum load capacity, like the load index, identifies your tire’s load carrying capacity when inflated to its maximum air pressure.
The maximum air pressure represents the tire’s maximum operating inflation pressure.
1. P-METRIC SIDEWALL CODE:
1.1 Tire Class:
- "P" designates a P-Metric passenger constructed tire built to US standards.
- "LT" designates a light truck tire. LT tires are not part of the P-Metric family, but they are also built to US standards.
- The absence of a letter indicates a passenger constructed tire built to European standards.
- The section width will be 3 digits
- Our example tire has a section width of 205 mm.
- Find the aspect ratio by looking for the two-digit number after the slash.
- Our example tire has an aspect ratio of 65, meaning that its sidewall height is 65% percent of its 205mm section width.
- “R” stands for radial construction, where the tire’s plies run at 90 degrees to the centerline of the tread.
- “D” stands for diagonal bias construction, where the plies are situated at angles lower than 90 degrees.
NOTE: The wheel diameter is the last figure in a P-Metric sidewall code. It indicates the diameter of the wheel of which it can be mounted on. Our example tire has a wheel diameter of 16, meaning that it will fit on a 16-inch wheel.
2. OTHER SIDEWALL MARKINGS:
2.1 Load Index and Speed Ratings:
The load index is a number explicitly indicating how much weight your tire can carry at different inflations. You can find this number in the load index table, where it refers to your tire’s carrying capacity in pounds. Our example tire has a load range of 92, which corresponds to 1389 lbs. at 36 psi.
The speed rating is a letter indicating the maximum speed that a tire can safely reach and maintain, as determined by laboratory testing. Our example tire has an “H” speed rating, which means it can safely travel at speeds up to 130 mph.
2.2 US DOT and Safety Standard Markings:
The DOT designation indicates that the tire meets or exceeds the U.S. Department of Transportation's safety requirements for on-road use. Tires without this designation should not be legally driven on US public roads.
The plant code appears as the two letters after “DOT.” These characters identify the tire’s manufacturer and site of creation. After the plant code, you will find two characters that express the tire size in a code determined by the manufacturer.
The first three characters after the dash represent brand characteristics in a code also determined by the manufacturer. The plant code, tire size, and brand characteristics are intended for the manufacturer’s internal use.
After the brand characteristics, there are four numbers representing the tire’s date of creation. The first two numbers in this sequence tell you the tire’s manufactured week.
- The manufactured week identifies which week of the year the tire was made in.
- Our example tire lists 10 as its manufactured week, so it was produced in the 10th week of the year.
- The manufactured year identifies the year the tire was produced.
- Combine the manufacture week and year to determine exactly when the tire was made.
- Our example tire lists 16 as its manufactured year, so it was made during the 10th week of 2016.
The Tread wear grade appears first. It offers a relative score describing a tire’s ability to resist wear.
• Our example tire’s 520 tread wear rating places it in a numerical context along with others made by the same manufacturer.
The Traction grade appears next. This ranking describes the tire’s ability to stop on straight, wet surfaces under controlled conditions.
- Traction grades are given on a comparative scale: AA, A, B, and C. The highest is AA; the lowest is C.
- Our example tire has an “A” traction grade, meaning that it has very good but not superior stopping power on wet surfaces.
- Temperature grades are also given on a comparative scale: A, B, and C.
- Our example tire has the highest temperature grade, an “A.”
The maximum load capacity, like the load index, identifies your tire’s load carrying capacity when inflated to its maximum air pressure.
The maximum air pressure represents the tire’s maximum operating inflation pressure.
- Standard and extra load tires meet the maximum load at 36 and 42 PSI, respectively, and maintain that load up to the tire’s maximum operating inflation pressure.
- The example tire has a maximum pressure of 44 psi.
- Remember that these maximum load and air pressure limits apply to the tire and not your vehicle. Always check your owner’s manual for your vehicle’s cold inflation pressure recommendations.
