Mounting and Balancing

A balanced tire is when the mass of the tire, when mounted on its wheel and the car's axle, is uniformly distributed around the axle. An out of balance tire can adversely affect ride quality, shorten
the life of your tires, bearings, shocks and other suspension components.

If you have a vibration that is dependent on speed, and usually becomes noticeable around 35 mph and increases as your speed increases, it's probably balance related. The other primary cause of vibrations is that the tire and wheel assembly isn't perfectly round. If we go out far enough past the decimal point, nothing is perfectly round. This includes your wheels and tires. The problem is
when the high spot on the tire, and the high spot on the wheel end up being matched to
each other. This effectively doubles the amount of "hop" or runout. If there is a "hop",
many times the problem can be fixed by simply rotating the tire on the wheel slightly.

Tire Rotation

Tire rotation can be beneficial in several ways. When done at the recommended times,
it can preserve balanced handling and traction of the tires and even out tire wear.
It can even provide performance advantages. Tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles, even if they don't show signs of wear.

Each tire on your car is supporting a different amount of weight at it's location. Unequal
weight causes your tires to wear at different rates. By having your tires rotated, you can
extend their life expectancy. Tire rotation can often be done with oil change intervals while
the vehicle is off the ground anyway. Tire rotation helps even out tire wear by allowing each tire
to serve in as many of the vehicle's wheel positions as possible. Remember, tire rotation
can't correct wear problems due to worn mechanical parts or incorrect inflation pressures.

Air Pressure

The air pressure inside the tire is what supports the car. The tire is basically just a container to
put the air in. Improper inflation is the single greatest cause of tire damage. The correct air
pressure is required for good handling, traction and durability.Fall and early winter months are
the most critical times to check inflation pressures because the days are getting shorter and the temperatures are getting colder. And since air is a gas, it contracts when cooled. For every 10 degrees Fahrenheit change in ambient temperature, your tire's inflation pressure will change
by about 1 psi. It will go down with lower temps, and up with higher temps. Tires tend to
lose about 1 psi per month, so check them often.

Tread Wear

As your tire wears, its ability to grip the road in adverse conditions decreases. If your tires are
neglected, the tread can wear completely away, leaving the surface of the tire smooth or bald.
This is not only dangerous, it's also illegal in many states. Almost all tires have wear bars,
small raised points of rubber in the grooves that show up when tires are worn out. If your tread
is the same height as the wear bars, it's time for a new tire. Every once in a while, feel the tread
of your tires. If you feel high and low areas, or unusually smooth areas, you may have irregular
tread wear. Consult the professionals at P-Natic's Tire Service promptly.

 

Penny Test - test for safe tread depth

A US penny can be used to check tire tread.

· Take a penny and put Lincoln's head into one of the grooves of the tire tread.
· If part of his head is covered by the tread, you're driving with the legal amount of tread.
· If you can see all of Lincoln's head, it's time to replace the tire.

Coins of other currencies with heads on the obverse can be used with similar results.

 

Alignment

You would think that your tires and wheels are moving in a straight line when you are driving
straight. But, if your car's suspension system is out of alignment, it may cause your tires to
move in a slightly different direction than what you're steering them. Friction on the tire, irregular treadwear, potholes, and rough roads are often the culprit. Have your alignment checked-
about every 10,000 miles, or at least once a year, to avoid unnecessary problems.
Misalignment could also result in a major repair bill if it is not corrected.