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Q:
Can my driving habits affect the life of my tires?
A: They certainly can. Here are some tips
to increase the life of your tires:
- Don't speed:
excessive heat is generated when driving at high speeds. This
heat increases the rate of tire wear and reduces the tire's durability.
- Avoid fast
turns on curves and around corners; fast starts and panic stops.
- Don't ride
on the edge of the pavement or drive over curbs, potholes, or
other obstructions.
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Q. Do my new tires require any
special treatment?
A. Your new tires will probably feel different
from the tires that were replaced. Drive carefully as you become
familiar with their performance and handling. Take special care
when braking, accelerating, cornering, or when driving in the rain,
because these are the times when the differences will be most noticeable.
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Q.
How can I check my tires for wear problems?
A. Tires often give their owners signs
of problems in plenty of time to have them corrected. Learn to "read"
these early warning signs and you can prevent many wear problems
that shorten tire life by thousands of miles.
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Q: How
do I know when I need new tires?
A. Many tires have tread wear indicator
bars molded into the tread. When the tread is worn down to where
you can see a solid bar of rubber across the width of the tread,
it is time to replace the tire. Here's another simple test you can
perform to measure tread depth on your tires. Place a penny into
a tread groove with Lincoln's head upside down and facing you. If
you can see the top of Lincoln's head, it's time to get a new tire.
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Q: How long should my original
equipment (O.E.) tires last?
A. Due to the variety of styles, construction
features, treat compounds, vehicle applications, geographical conditions
and driving habits, it is difficult to provide specific mileage
expectancy. Many of our tires feature specific mileage warranties,
including some tires that are used as original equipment.
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Q: How much air should I put in
my tires?
A. Proper inflation is the single most
important part of tire care. The inflation pressure on the side
of the tire is the MAXIMUM operating pressure. It is not necessarily
the right inflation for your vehicle. Always use the inflation recommended
by the vehicle manufacturer. You can find it in your owner's manual,
posted on the edge of the driver's door, on a door post, in the
center console, or on the inside of the glovebox door. Always check
inflation when tires are COLD: when the vehicle has been driven
less than a mile or one hour or more after driving. Use a good quality
tire gauge. Note: It's natural for radial tires to have a slight
bulge in the sidewall at their proper inflation pressure. Check
or adjust inflation every few weeks, before any long trip or if
traveling with a heavy load. And don't forget to check the spare.
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Q:
Is it safe to repair a flat tire?
A. If a tire loses all or most of its
air pressure, it must be removed from the wheel for a complete internal
inspection to be sure it's not damaged. Tires that are run even
short distances while flat are often damaged beyond repair. Most
punctures, nail holes, or cuts up to 1/4 inch -- confined to the
tread -- may be satisfactorily repaired by trained personnel using
industry-approved methods. Don't repair tires with tread punctures
larger than 1/4 inch, or with any sidewall puncture. Also, never
repair tires that are worn below 1/16 inch tread depth. Your best
bet is to make sure your spare tire is always ready to do the job.
Check it regularly for proper air pressure and be sure that it is
in good shape. If your car is equipped with one of the several types
of temporary spares, be sure to check the spare tire's sidewall
for the correct inflation pressure, speed, and mileage limitations.
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Q: Isn't it easy to mount a tire
on a wheel? Can't I do it myself?
A. Never try to mount your own tires.
Tire mounting is a job for the people who have the proper equipment
and experience. If you try to do it yourself, you run the risk of
serious injury to yourself as well as possible damage to the tire
and rim.
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Q:
Must I replace my present tires with the same size tires?
A. Never choose a smaller size than those
that came with the car. Tires should always be replaced with the
same size designation -- or approved options -- as recommended by
the vehicle.
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Q: My
tire has gone flat. What could cause this?
A. Some common causes of sudden or slow
air loss:
- Road hazard
injuries (punctures, cuts, impact damage to the liner, ply material
or sidewall rubber).
- Valve stem
or valve core leakage (damaged or aged rubber stem or a loose
or damaged valve core).
- Leaking from
the bead seating area (corrosive buildup on the wheels which prevents
a proper seal between the wheel flange and the tire beads, bead
seating area damage from accidental mounting or dismounting injury,
foreign material between the rim flange area and the tire bead
seating area, bent rim flange).
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Q: Should I "mix"
tire types on my car?
A. Tires of different size designations,
constructions, and stages of wear may affect vehicle handling and
stability. For best all-around performance, it is recommended that
all tires be of the same size, construction (radial,non-radial)
and speed rating. If tires of different speed ratings are mounted
on a vehicle, the same size, type and speed ratings need to be placed
on the same axle, the tires with the lower speed rating will be
the determining factor for permissible tire related vehicle speed.
Never mix radial and bias-ply tires on the same axle.
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Q: Should I rotate my tires?
A. Regular and proper tire rotation promotes
more uniform wear for all of the tires on a vehicle. We recommend
tire rotation at least every 6,000 miles. Four-wheel drive vehicles
may require rotation even sooner - such as every 4,000 miles. Check
your vehicle owner's manual for the manufacturer's rotation recommendations.
If no rotation period is specified, tires should be rotated every
6,000 to 8,000 miles. The first rotation is the most important.
When tires are rotated, inflation pressures must be adjusted to
the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations. Uneven tire wear may
also be due to misalignment or mechanical problems.
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Q: What is alignment?
A. A vehicle is said to be properly aligned
when all suspension and steering components are sound and when the
tire and wheel assemblies are running straight and true. Proper
alignment is necessary for even tread wear and precise steering.
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Q:
How important is wheel alignment?
A. Think of it this way. Research indicates
that the average car is driven about 12,000 miles per year. A car
with toe alignment just 0.34 degrees (Just 0.17 inches) out of specification
has dragged its tires sideways for more than 68 miles by the end
of the year!
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Q:
What are the "symptoms" of a car that's out
of alignment?
A. Have your car checked if you notice:
- Excessive
or uneven tire wear.
- Steering
wheel pulls to the left or right.
- Feeling of
looseness or wandering.
- Steering
wheel vibration or shimmy.
- Steering
wheel is not centered when car is moving straight ahead.
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Q:
How often should I have my car aligned?
A. Follow the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation
noted in your owner's manual. But, as a general rule, have your
vehicle's tires checked every 10,000 miles or at least once a year.
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Q:
What should I do if I notice a vibration?
A. Vibration is an indication that your
car has a problem that needs attention. The tires, steering system
and suspension system should be checked to help determine the possible
cause and correction of the vibration. If left unattended, the vibration
could cause excessive tire and suspension wear. It could even be
dangerous. Goodyear retailers offer expert diagnosis and repair.
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Q: When buying just two new
tires, should they be put on the front or rear?
A. When radial tires are used with bias
or bias belted tires on the same car, the radials must always be
placed on the rear axle. Never mix radial and bias-ply tires on
the same axle. When you select a pair of replacement tires in the
same size and construction as those on the car, we recommend you
put them on the rear axle. A single new tire should be paired on
the rear axle with the tire having the most tread depth of the other
three.
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Q: Why do my tires need to
be balanced?
A. Properly balanced tires are important
for driving comfort and long tire life. Unbalanced tires can cause
vibration, resulting in driver fatigue, premature tire wear and
unnecessary wear to your vehicle's suspension. Tires should be balanced
when they are mounted on wheels for the first time or when they
are remounted after repair. Tires should be rebalanced at the first
sign of vibration or "shimmy." Vibration may also be due
to misalignment or mechanical problems. Many Goodyear retailers
can provide expert diagnosis and repair.
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Q: Can I drive normally on my
spare tire (donut)?
A. Many newer vehicles come equipped with
a temporary spare. These tires are usually much smaller than the
other tires on your car. It is important to realize that these spares
have far more limitations than a typical tire, including speed and
recommended driving distance. Some spare tires even require the
use of a special canister to inflate the tire. You should familiarize
yourself with the spare by reading the owner's manual and the sidewall
of the spare. And remember, check the air pressure of the spare
frequently.
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Q: What is an all-season
tire?
A. All-season tires are designed to provide
higher levels of snow traction than non-all-season tires. These
letters mean "Mud and Snow." Even the best all-season
tires will not provide acceptable levels of traction if you drive
too fast in snow/ice conditions, and if you do not allow at least
12 times more stopping distance on wintry roads.
For Safe Winter Driving:
- Reduce your
speed. Even good road conditions can deteriorate quickly.
- Increase
your stopping distance - at least 12 times more than on dry roads.
You may not always need that much distance, but when you do, you'll
be glad you were playing it safe.
- Check the
condition of your tires. Worn tires provide less grip.
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Q:
What is plus sizing?
A. Plus sizing wheels and tires has become
the hottest trend among enthusiasts. Adding inches to the wheel
diameter for wider, low aspect ratio tires can increase your car’s
handling capabilities. The increased wheel widths in plus sizing
also contribute to greater tire stability and improved cornering
and maneuverability.
- Plus
Zero. Plus zero sizing increases the section width and
lowers the aspect ratio of the tire while retaining the wheel
diameter. This replacement tire increases the contact area and
lowers the tread profile for improved traction and quicker response.
(Ex., OE = 185/65R14, Plus 0 = 195/60R14)
- Plus
One. This sizing mounts tires with an increased section
width and a lower aspect ratio on wheels of a wider diameter.
For example, a plus one fitment for a car with 14-inch original
equipment wheels would use 15-inch wheels (OE = 185/65R14, Plus
1 = 195/55R15.) As a general rule of thumb, plus one sizing increases
section width by 10 mm, decreases aspect ratio by 10 points, and
increases rim diameter by 1 inch.
- Plus
Two. A plus two fitment for a car with 14-inch original
equipment wheels would use 16-inch wheels (OE = 185/65R14, Plus
2 = 205/45R16.) As a general rule of thumb, plus two sizing increases
section width by 20 mm, decreases aspect ratio by 20 points, and
increases rim diameter by 2 inches.
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