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In a straight line stop, the "AA" graded tire should allow you the stop your car on wet roads in a shorter distance than tires graded "A", "B" or "C". When driving on wet roads, good traction is important to your safety. Tires graded "C" offer the least traction on wet roads.

No. Mileage is determined primarily by driving habits. Drivers who start off slowly can expect the best tread life. Those who consistently make "jack rabbit" starts and stops and fast tire screeching turns will get the least.   Studies have shown that treadwear for the same tire can be as low as 14,000 for some drivers, but as high as 30,000 miles for other drivers in the same geographical area. Proper maintenance is also important. Under- or over-inflation, unbalanced wheels and wheel misalign...

Correct. It is not a measure of tread life. It indicates on that, under the same general conditions, one tire can be expected to produce more mileage than another, not what the mileage will be. Again, actual tread life is strongly influenced by where you live and how you drive. In some parts of the country, tires wear out faster. For example, the local rock used for road construction is rougher in some geographical area than in others. The same tire might give 20,000 miles in one part of the co...

The higher the number, the greater tread life you should expect. A tire with a grade of 200 should give you twice as much mileage as one rated at 100, provided that you keep the tires inflated properly, the wheels aligned and tires balanced and drive then under normal conditions. Failure to care for your tires will greatly reduce the tread life and can also create a safety hazard. How you drive, and under what road conditions, also affect treadwear.

When mounting wheels & tires on to the vehicle, ensure the following checks are made: - Wheels are not damaged in any way - There is no dirt or oily build up between the hub and the wheel - Lugs are properly torqued - Both tire beads are securely mounted - Any retaining clips on the brake drums are removed Tires are manufactured to close tolerances, however as they wear their mass can become unevenly distributed, negatively affecting the original balance. The most common signs of unbalanc...

Below are the most common (but not the only) causes of noise and vibration problems: - Tire / wheel assembly is out of balance - No hub rings on aftermarket wheels - Incorrect mounting hardware for aftermarket wheels - Tire is poorly seated on the rim - Irregular tire wear - Out of round rim - Out of round tire Do not ignore apparent impacts, pulling, or vibration. This could be an indicator of tire damage as much as mechanical problems that should be inspected by a professional. If the...

A puncture to any area of a tire's tread will affect performance and safety, and therefore must be immediately attended to through either replacement of the tire (spare or new tire) or a patch. Any patch that is applied to a tire must be applied to both the outer part of the tire (tread) and the inner part of the tire. The reason for this is that the rubber on each side is very different (inside is made of halo butyl rubber meant for holding air, while the outside is a harder durable rubber pri...

Vehicle alignment is one of the most important factors in tire care. For most vehicles, poor alignment results in excessive and/or uneven tire wear. Improper alignment can reduce a tire's life by more than 70%. Improper alignment on either the front or rear wheels can result in unusual tread wear, damage to your suspension, and unusual handling for the car. Wheel alignments should be performed every time you install a new set of tires, and any time you experience an impact such as a large potho...

Because each tire on your car typically supports a different amount of weight, and your driving patterns will typically wear out one tire faster than the others, it's important to rotate your tires every 5000 to 8000 miles. Rotation patterns differ depending on what kind of vehicle you drive. The best place to check is in your vehicle's owners manual. If you cannot find what you are looking for, below are some diagrams showing you the most common patterns.   Of course, if your vehicle has diff...

As your tires wear down, their ability to grip the road decreases. Each tire has what are known as wear bars. These appear at various points around the tire as bars running through the tread design from one side of the tire to the other. When your tires are legally worn out (2/32") the tread will be at the same level as the tread wear indicators and they will be easily visible. Usually before the tire gets to this point, they will begin to feel unsafe. If that is the case, do not wait for them ...