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Tire balance, also referred to as tire unbalance or imbalance, describes the distribution of mass within an automobile tire or the wheel to which it is attached. When the tire rotates, asymmetries of mass cause the wheel to wobble, which can cause ride disturbances, usually vertical and lateral vibrations. It can also result in a wobbling of the steering wheel. The ride disturbance, due to unbalance, usually increases with speed. Vehicle suspensions can become excited by tire unbalance forces w...

The side of the road is not a fun place. In fact, it can be dangerous. Thankfully, there’s run flat technology. Run flat tires allow you to drive for a limited distance and reduced speed after a puncture or other event has resulted in either a drop in tire inflation pressure or a complete loss of inflation pressure. For example, MICHELIN® Zero Pressure (ZP) tires provide run-flat technology that allows you to drive up to 50 miles at 50 mph with a flat tire. Never mix run flat tires with tires ...

1. Tire Specs This describes the fundamental characteristics of your tire. Size, construction, speed rating and more. Tire Class - "P" This designates the type of vehicle the tire fits. P is for passenger metric. Other letters are LT (for light truck), T (for temporary spare) and ST (for special trailers). If your tire has no letter, it signifies that your tire is a euro “metric” size. Section Width - "225" This is the width of the tire (or thickness) in millimeters, if measured from a tire’...

Tire upgrading, or plus sizing, is a practice where performance-minded drivers upgrade their original equipment wheels with wider, bigger wheels. Why? It can make the vehicle look sportier. Plus, it offers better handling when done properly. There are two ways to plus-size: Plus 1, 2, Etc. Plus Zero Plus 1, 2, Etc. The most popular form of plus sizing is increasing your vehicle’s wheel diameter and your tire’s rim diameter.  An example is changing from a 14” wheel to a 15” wheel. This i...

The Origin of Speed Ratings We can thank Germany's famous Autobahn for tire speed ratings. Tire speed ratings range from A (the lowest) to Y (the highest). But the chart is not completely in alphabetical order. For example, H is between U and V, with the common perception that H stood for "high performance" at one time. As manufacturers continue to add speed to their vehicles, tire speed ratings evolve to match the speeds. For example, Z was the highest rated speed at 149+ until W & Y were us...

The carcass contains textile cord topping layers between steel belt and inner liner. If the textile cords of carcass are damaged due to sudden impact with a road hazard or a pothole, the sidewall of tire may arise like bump. This is why the internal air pressure pushes the surface through the gap in the cord. This is called Cord Impact Break(Bubble).

  It's important to have the proper air pressure in your tires, as underinflation may lead to tire failure. The right amount of air for your tires is specified by the vehicle manufacturer and is shown on the vehicle door edge, door post, glove box door or fuel door. It is also listed in the owner's manual.   1. When you check the air pressure, make sure the tires are cool - meaning they are not hot from driving even a mile. (NOTE: If you have to drive a distance to get air, check and record the...

    Pressure   Underinflation is a tire's #1 Enemy. It results in unnecessary tire stress, irregular wear, loss of control and accidents. A tire can lose up to half of its air pressure and not appear to be flat!   Learn more about Air Pressure   Alignment   Is your vehicle pulling to one side, or shaking? A bad jolt from hitting a curb or pothole can throw your front end out of alignment and damage your tires. Have a tire dealer check the alignment periodically to ensure that your car is proper...

The UTQG rating is made up of three components:   Treadwear   The treadwear grade is a comparative rating based on the wear rate of the tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified government test track. A tire graded 200 would last twice as long on the government test course under specified test conditions as one graded 100. It is an oversimplification to assume treadwear grades will be proportional directly to your actual tire mileage. The relative performance of tires depends ...

As summer quickly comes to a close, fall is right around the corner!  And with fall comes several items that need to be on the “back-to-school check list” to help students prepare for their upcoming school year.     Completing a car maintenance checklist is imperative to both student safety and mobility.  It also underlines the importance of auto repair and tire service to maintain properly serviced vehicles. Use this simple back-to school checklist for tips to ensure auto repair and tire con...