Subjects:
 Tire Rotation When should I rotate my tires? Regular tire rotation promotes more uniform wear for all of the tires on a vehicle. Check your vehicle owner's manual for the manufacturer's rotation recommendations. If no rotation period is specified, tires should be rotated every 10,000 to 12,000 kilometers. The first rotation is the most important. A full size spare may be included in the rotation pattern. DO NOT include a temporary or 'mini' spare in your rotation. When tires are rotated, inflation pressures must be adjusted to the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations. Uneven tire wear may also be caused by misalignment or mechanical problems.  Tire Care How do I take care of my new tires? 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. Air Pressure How much air should I put in my tires? 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 this information:
Tire Balance Why should I balance my tires? 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. Tire Alignment What is alignment? 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. Uneven front or rear tire wear or changes in your vehicle's handling or steering response (i.e. pulling to one side) can indicate misalignment. Many vehicles today are equipped with rear suspensions that can be adjusted for alignment. Your vehicle may need a "front-end" alignment or a "four-wheel" alignment, depending on the symptoms you are experiencing. The moderate cost of having your vehicle aligned can more than pay for itself in tire mileage, performance and comfort. Tire Inspection What should I do if I feel a vibration? 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. Driving Tips Do my driving habits affect the life of tires? They certainly can. Here are some tips to increase the life of your tires: 1) 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. 2) Avoid fast turns on curves and around corners; fast starts and panic stops. 3) Don't ride on the edge of the pavement or drive over curbs, potholes, or other obstructions. Repairs or replace used tires Do I have to replace my present tires with the same size tires? 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 Can I mix tire types on my car? Tires of different size designations, constructions, and stages of wear may affect vehicle handling and stability. For best all-around performance, the same type tire should be used on all four wheel positions. It is recommended that you NOT mix radial and non-radial tires on a vehicle. However, if mixing is unavoidable, never mix radial and non-radial tires on the same axle. If two radial and two non-radial are to be installed on a vehicle, the two radials MUST be installed on the rear axle and the two non-radials on the front axle. If I buy only two tires, should I put them on the front or the rear? 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. When radial tires are used with bias or bias belted tires on the same car (not recommended), the radials must always be placed on the rear axle. Never mix radial and bias-ply tires on the same axle. Isn't it easy to mount a tire on a wheel? Can't I do it myself? 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. How should a flat tire be repaired? 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 is 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. Do not attempt to repair tires with tread punctures larger than 1/4 inch (6 mm), or any sidewall puncture. Also, never repair tires which are worn below 2/32 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. If I have a flat tire, is this covered by my warranty? If your tire loses air because of a defect in workmanship or materials, and if the tire falls within warranty wear and age parameters, it is covered under warranty. Some common causes of sudden or slow air loss which are not covered by warranty are: 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). How do I know when I need new tires? 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. Warranty How many miles should I expect from my original equipment tires? Michelin, BFGoodrich and Uniroyal do not offer a written mileage promise on any tires supplied as original equipment. Due to the variety of styles, construction features, tread compounds, vehicle applications, geographical conditions and driving habits, it is difficult to provide a specific mileage expectancy. However, any tire wear concern should always be presented to your local authorized MAST retailer for further evaluation. MAST and many of our authorized retailers offer specific mileage warranties on several lines of tires sold as replacement tires, including some tires that are used as original equipment. These mileage warranties are administered based on the retail outlets verification of proper tire maintenance having been performed. How do I get warranty information on a Michelin, BFGoodrich or Uniroyal tire? All authorized retailers have been provided full authority in determining warranty eligibility on Michelin, BFGoodrich or Uniroyal tires. To find the nearest authorized retailer in your area, call the consumer relations number listed in your warranty booklet. Many authorized retailers are also listed in the 'Tire Dealers - Retail' section of the Yellow Pages under the appropriate brand logo. The links below will take you to the Dealer Locator feature in the corresponding MAST brand Internet website: Winter Driving What are the precautions to follow during winter conditions? The most dangerous road conditions occur right around freezing temperature. Develop a sense of great delicacy in control applications. The recovery phase of a skid usually needs to be done more slowly on snow, since there's less stored energy in the springs. While front-wheel drive may give greater traction from a standing start and four-wheel drive gives a greater sense of stability, the drivetrain has less to do with the amount of grip available than your tires and suspension design. It's easy to feel invulnerable in a four-wheel drive vehicle. But remember that the laws of physics are irrefutable and no amount of vehicle technology, including four-wheel drive, will save you when you've broken them. When braking in deep snow, without anti-lock brakes, it may help to use cadence braking -- lock the brakes, releasing only long enough to steer if the vehicle starts to slide to one side or the other. This is not just pumping. But long periods of lock up with a short release of brake pressure when necessary. |
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