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...
Advantages of Correct Tire Inflation Maintaining correct tire inflation pressure helps optimize tire performance and fuel economy. Correct tire inflation pressure allows drivers to experience tire comfort, durability and performance designed to match the needs of their vehicles. Tire...
Everybody knows tires are black, round, and hold air, so it can come as a bit of a shock when brand new tires have a white, waxy film on the sidewalls and shoulder area. It doesn't wash off easily, and it "balls up" when you rub it with your finger. What is it? Why is it there? Sometimes it can...
New Tires Generate More Rolling Resistance Than Worn TiresIt's been observed that rolling resistance drops by about 20%, as a tread wears from its original molded depth to worn. While this reduction in rolling resistance over time is subtle, a switch from worn tires to a new set increase...
While deep snow and ice-covered roads are two of the most challenging conditions North American drivers will face, tire developments during the last decade have noticeably advanced wintertime mobility. The technological revolution of dedicated winter tireswinter tires for drivers in the...
With more and more nearly silent-running electric vehicles entering the market, and as the owners of luxury automobiles demand ever-increasing levels of refinement, vehicle manufacturers continually seek out new methods to reduce the interior noise level of their offerings. One of the sources...
Tire studs look like short, fat nails with a flat head on the bottom and a tungsten pin on the top. They are inserted flat-head-down into holes molded into the tread design when the tire was manufactured. The extended fingers of a pneumatic stud gun are inserted into the molded holes and expand...
Tires are comprised of many layers of rubber, steel and fabric. Due to these different components, your new tires require a break-in period to ensure that they deliver their normal ride quality and maximum performance. As tires are cured, a release lubricant is applied to prevent them from...
For security reasons, all replacement keys for wheel locks must be purchased directly from the manufacturer. You will need the wheel lock I.D. registration number located on the McGard I.D. registration card originally sent with your wheel locks (examples shown below) when ordering replacement...
The term "tramlining" is being used to describe when directional control is disrupted by the vehicle's tendency to follow the longitudinal ruts and/or grooves in the road. Its name could be compared to the tram or trolley driver who does not steer because his vehicle follows the path...
All-Weather tires, occasionally referred to as "Premium Traction" tires, are non-winter tires that are marked with the three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol and designed to be a year-round solution for drivers in environments that experience all four seasons, but don't receive sufficient...
Photo #1 - No Protection While curbs and debris on the road have never been considered a tire's friend, many of today's tires resist accidental damage by featuring thicker rubber molded at key locations on their sidewalls. This helps reduce damage to the tires and/or wheels when drivers...
Since tires play such an important role in establishing the personality of a vehicle, numerous vehicle manufacturers require their tire suppliers identify some or all of their Original Equipment (OE) tires with symbols or codes branded on the sidewalls that confirm the tire's original use. Some...
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