A tire's most important job is to carry the load required of it, and the load range/ply rating branded on the tire's sidewall indicates how much load the tire is designed to carry (at a specific pressure). Whenever changing tire sizes or from one tire type to another, it's important to ensure...
Why do we change our tires and wheels? Aside from necessity, most of us do it for performance, comfort and style. But to be sure our tires are performing properly and that we're rolling comfortably and in style, we'll need to correctly install our new tires and wheels. Here's a few tips from us...
Proper wheel installation requires the wheel-attaching hardware (lug nuts or bolts) be tightened to the recommended torque specification for the vehicle make, model and year. Torque specifications are usually found in the vehicle's owner's manual.* Proper torque requires using the correct...
Nothing Lasts Forever... and Tires Are No Exception Tires are manufactured by bonding rubber to fabric plies and steel cords. Despite the anti-aging ingredients mixed into the rubber compounds, there is a realization that tires are perishable, as well as a growing awareness that some tires...
As a general rule, tires should not be mixed on any vehicle unless specified as acceptable by the tire or vehicle manufacturer. Drivers should avoid mixing tires with different tread patterns, internal constructions or sizes, and use identical tires on all of their vehicle's wheel positions in...
Parabolic Reflector The parabolic reflector with its highly reflective "silvered" surface is featured in many of today's lights. Parabolic reflectors have been used in automotive lighting systems almost since the introduction of the automobile, and have been refined during the last 90 years....
Unfortunately humans do not always see well enough. Yet our need to see doesn't end when the sun goes down! The risk of having an accident at night is about twice as high as during the day despite the fact that there is less traffic on the road. While the lights of modern vehicles are typically...
Halogen Light Bulbs Halogen bulbs are the most common type of headlight bulb in today's automobile industry. Halogen bulbs contain a gas mixture that includes halogen compounds that help some of the tungsten particles return to the filament as it cools. Thanks to this process, the light output...
Proper auxiliary light aiming is the most important part of an installation. If the lights are not properly aimed they will not achieve optimum performance and they can be very dangerous. The danger comes from the beam pattern being aimed right into oncoming traffic thus blinding the oncoming...
Since "experience is the best teacher," the Tire Rack team drives on as many of the tires we offer as possible. This testing allows us to better understand a tire's ride and noise qualities on the road, and its performance capabilities on the track. And even though Mother Nature is very...
A snowstorm can quickly change driving on mountain roads from an enjoyable adventure into a hazardous experience. Years ago, government agencies in mountainous regions required vehicles to be equipped with tire chains (or at least have them stored in the trunk) before the vehicle would be...
It is imperative to keep the same level of traction at all four corners of the car; otherwise, the full benefits of ABS or traction control systems will be lost. So when you put winter / snow tires on your vehicle, always put them on in a set of four. If you were to put winter / snow tires on...
ABS (Anti-Lock Brake), Traction Control and Vehicle Stability Systems While anti-lock brakes, traction control, and vehicle stability systems help make it easier to utilize your tire's full potential, none of these systems actually provides more traction. These systems are only capable of...
Because winter tires typically have very aggressive tread designs they are more susceptible to the irregular wear that can be caused by suspension misalignment (or worn parts). Of the three normal alignment adjustments (caster, camber and toe) the camber and toe settings are the most important...
But Do I Really Need Winter Tires? Won't All-Season Tires Work Just Fine? Why Four Winter Tires? What If My Car Has Traction Control? What If My Car Has ABS Brakes? What If My Car Has Front-Wheel Drive? What If My Car Has All-Wheel Drive? Isn't It Better To Stay Off the Roads If It's...
Need help choosing the right products for your vehicle? Our US-based team of highly trained experts has the knowledge and passion to help. Just pick up the phone and give us a ring. Or let's chat via email. We love solving problems and lending a hand (or an ear).
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