IDEAL TIRE OF USA, INC.
Table of Contents
How do I know how much air pressure I should have in my tires?How should I check my tires for proper inflation?
When should I rotate my tires?
What should I look for when inspecting my tires?
What is the difference between a rope-type plug and a tire patch?
How do I know if my tires need to be balanced?
How do I know how much air pressure I should have in my tires?
The "right amount" of air for your tires can be found on the door edge, door post, or fuel door on your vehicle. It is also listed in the owner's manual.
Note: Proper inflation pressure is important for proper traction, riding comfort, fuel mileage, and tire wear.
If the tires are overinflated the tire bulges in the center, pulling the edges of the tire away from the road. An overinflated tire causes rapid wear in the center and will not allow all of the tread to contact the road for maximum traction.
If the tires are underinflated the sidewalls flex excessively. An underinflated tire causes the center of the tread to buckle up away from the road and cause rapid wear on the tire's outer edges.
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How should I check my tires for proper inflation?
The following steps describe how to check the proper air pressure of your vehicle.
Make sure your tires are cool preferably after the vehicle has been sitting overnight or after standing out of direct sunlight for three or four hours before continuing.
Step 1: Remove the cap from the valve on one tire.
Step 2: Firmly press a tire gauge onto the valve.
Step 3: Add air, if needed, up to recommended air pressure listed by your vehicles manufacture.
Step 4: If you overfilled the tire, release air by pushing on the metal stem in the valve with the tip of a pen. Be sure to recheck the air pressure with your tire gauge.
Step 5: Replace the valve cap.
Step 6: Repeat with each tire. Don't forget your spare!
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When should I rotate my tires?
Always refer to your vehicle's owner's manual for rotation recommendations. If the manual does not specify when you should rotate your tires, a safe bet would be to rotate your tires about every 6,000 miles. Having your tires rotated you will achieve a more uniform wear for all tires on your vehicle.
Caution: Before having your tires rotated, inspect your tires for any unusual wear and correct any mechanical problems or purchase a new tire if needed.
Recommendation for tire rotation is as follows:
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Tire Rotation Patterns |
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What should I look for when inspecting my tires?
Visually check your tires for uneven wear. You want to look for high and low areas or unusually smooth areas where there should be tread (no steel belts should be showing). When checking your tires for damage always look to see if any nails, screws, glass, stones or other objects may have punctured your tires. Anything might have happened to the sidewalls due to curbing or road hazards. Inspect the sidewalls for cracking, puncture wounds or bulging.
In order to check to see if your tires have enough tread, place a penny into a tread groove. If part of Lincoln's head is covered by the tread, you're driving with the proper amount of tread. If you can see all of his head, we recommend you buy a tire.
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What is the difference between a rope-type plug and a tire patch?
You should never attempt to repair a tire yourself. We recommend that you visit an authorized tire dealer when needing tire repair. We do not recommend applying a rope-type plug or string repair, unless they are RMA approved. A rope-type plug or string repair is applied from the tire's exterior which does not allow for inspection of the interior of the tire for possible tire damage.
We at Ideal Tire of USA, Inc. recommend that punctured tires be dismounted from the wheel and repaired with an interior patch. Dismounting the tire from the wheel allows us to visually inspect the inside of the tire.
If the tire has been punctured on the sidewall which exceeds 1/4", the tire needs to be replaced.
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How do I know if my tires need to be balanced?
To operate smoothly, it is essential that a tire and wheel be properly balanced. Tire imbalance will cause poor ride, excessive tire wear, and steering and suspension component wear. A good indication of tire imbalance is if your car is shimmying or shaking or the tire and wheel hops up and down.
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