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Tire Tips
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Check Your Air
Pressure
Keep your tires properly inflated and you could improve gas mileage by more
than $1.50 every time you fill your tank. The recommended tire pressure for
your vehicle is located on a sticker inside your driver-side door or noted in
your owner's manual.
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Maintain Your Air
Filter
Replacing a clogged air filter can increase your vehicle's gas mileage by as
much as 10%.
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Watch The Weight
Excess weight in your vehicle can reduce gas mileage by 1-2% for every 100
pounds, so watch what you keep in your trunk.
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Know Your Oil
Improve your gas mileage by up to 2% with the proper grade of motor oil.
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Keep It Tuned
Keeping up with regular vehicle maintenance can allow you to increase your gas
mileage by an average of 4.1%.
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Keep It Capped
Did you know about 147 million gallons of gas evaporate every year from
vehicles without gas caps?
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Avoid Fast Starts
Don't be a hot-head! Aggressive acceleration can reduce your gas mileage by up
to a whopping 33%!
Tire Safety 101: Rules That Should Never
Be Broken:
- Before you replace your tires, always consult your
vehicle’s owner’s manual and follow the manufacturer’s replacement tire
recommendations. Vehicle handling may be significantly affected by a change in
tire size or type.
- When selecting tires that are different from the
original equipment size, see a professional installer. This will help assure
proper clearance, load carrying capacity and inflation pressure. Never exceed
the maximum load capacity and inflation pressure listed on the sidewall of
your tire.
- Always drive safely and obey all traffic laws. Avoid
sudden, sharp turns or lane changes. Failure to follow these cautionary
procedures may result in loss of control of your vehicle. It could even lead
to an accident, serious injury or death.
For more information about tire safety visit the
RMA Tire Safety
website
Tire Maintenance:
Check Your Tire Inflation
- Proper tire inflation is essential for safe driving
and long tire life. It's wise to check your tires' air pressure at least once
a month with an accurate tire pressure gauge. Be sure to check pressure while
your tires are cold and have not been used recently. Even driving a mile will
cause your tire pressure to increase and give you an inaccurate reading.
- Should you experience continuous loss of inflation
pressure, it could be an indication of a possible tire or wheel assembly
problem. Consult your tire professional immediately if you encounter this
situation.
Check Your Tire Tread
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There are two popular
ways to check for signs of tire tread wear. One easy way is the penny
test. Simply insert a penny into your tire's tread groove with Lincoln's
head upside down and facing you. If you can see all of Lincoln's head,
it's time to replace your tires.
Another way is to look at the tread wear
indicator bar that's molded into your tires. The bars are located at the
bottoms of the tread grooves in several locations around the tire. When a
tire is so worn that these bars become visibly flush with the adjacent
tread ribs, it's time to replace the tire. |
Goodyear suggests you check your tire tread using
either method every 3,000 miles.
Know What Certain Wear Patterns Mean
- As tires wear, sometimes wear patterns emerge that
can indicate problems with your vehicle or tires. If you see any of these
patterns, have your tires checked by a professional Goodyear Retailer. Here
are some wear patterns to watch for.
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Wear on both
edges: UNDERINFLATION
Underinflation of a tire reduces its treadlife by increasing the tread
wear on its outside edges, or shoulders. It also generates excessive heat
which reduces tire toughness. Finally, it reduces fuel economy through
increased rolling resistance because soft tires make your vehicle work
harder. Abnormal tire wear may also be caused by misalignment or
mechanical problems. |
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Wear in
center: OVERINFLATION
When a tire is overinflated, the center of the tread bears most of the
load and wears out faster than the outside edges. Uneven wear reduces the
useful life of a tire. It could also be the result of misalignment or
mechanical problems. |
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Cups or dips
in the tread: WORN PARTS
Cupping (also called dipping) is most common on front tires, although rear
tires can cup as well. It may be a sign that wheels are out of balance or
that suspension or steering system parts are worn out. |
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Sawtooth
edges: MISALIGNMENT
If the edges of your tire tread take on a sawtooth or feathered
appearance, it's because of erratic scrubbing against the road. The
solution is an alignment correction. |
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Tire Balancing
- If your tires are unbalanced, you'll notice
vibration. This can lead to driver fatigue, premature or irregular tire wear
and unnecessary wear to your vehicle's suspension. Your tires should be
balanced when they are mounted on wheels for the first time or when they are
remounted after repair. Check your tire balance at the first sign of vibration
or shimmy.
Vehicle Alignment
- Your vehicle is properly aligned when all of its
suspension and steering components are working smoothly and when its tire and
wheel assemblies are running straight and true. If you notice uneven tread
wear, it could be due to a misalignment and your vehicle should be serviced by
a professional.
Tire Rotation
- While many people are knowledgeable enough to rotate
their own tires, the procedure is especially quick and easy for a
professional. Your vehicle's owner's manual will specify the proper rotation
pattern and schedule for your vehicle. If no specific schedule is indicated, a
good rule of thumb is to rotate your tires every 6,000 to 8,000 miles.
Tire Repair
- Tire repairs should be made by a trained tire
professional. Proper repair procedure includes dismounting the tire from the
wheel. This allows for thorough inspection of the tire for damage, as well as
the use of a patch and plug to repair any punctures that fall within the
guidelines for repair.
Tire Buying Guide:
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Put some
Vrooom in
your life!
