What to know

• 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 (found in your owner's manual, on the edge of the driver's door or door post, and on the inside of the glove compartment door).

What to do

• Check or adjust tire inflation every few weeks, before any long trip or before traveling with a heavy load (and don't forget to check the spare).
• Always check inflation when tires are cold (when the vehicle has been driven less than a kilometre, or one hour or more after driving).
• Use a good-quality tire gauge when you inflate your tires.

Please note: It is natural for radial tires to have a slight bulge in the sidewall at their proper inflation pressure.

What to know

• Your driving habits can certainly affect the life of your tires.

What to do

Here are some tips to increase the life of your tires:

• Don't speed: this generates excessive heat that increases the rate of tire wear and reduces the tire's durability.
• Avoid fast turns on curves and around corners, quick starts and panic stops.
• Don't ride on the edge of the pavement or drive over curbs, potholes or other obstructions.

What to know

• 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.
• 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 (like when it pulls to one side) can signal misalignment.
• The fairly small cost of having your vehicle aligned can more than pay for itself in tire mileage, performance and comfort.

What to do

• Your Alliance dealer will align your wheels (depending on your tire symptoms, your vehicle may need a "front-end" or "four-wheel" alignment).

What to know

• Properly balanced tires lead to 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.

What to do

Your Alliance dealer will balance your tires when:

• They are mounted on wheels for the first time.
• They are remounted after repair.
• They vibrate or "shimmy" (vibration may also be due to misalignment or mechanical problems).

What to know

• Your new tires will probably feel different than the tires that were replaced.

What to do

• Drive carefully as you become familiar with your new tires’ performance and handling.
• Be careful when braking, accelerating, cornering or driving in the rain.

What to know

• A vibration is a sign that your car has a problem requiring attention.
• If left unattended, the vibration could cause excessive tire and suspension wear (it could even make it dangerous to drive).

What to do

• The tires, steering system and suspension system should be checked by an Alliance dealer to help identify the possible cause of the vibration and correct repair.

What to know

• Never choose a smaller size than those that came with the car.
• Tires of different size designations may affect vehicle handling and stability.

What to do

• Replace tires with the same size designation or approved options, as recommended by the vehicle or tire manufacturer.

What to know

• 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.

What to do

• Do not mix radial and non-radial tires on a vehicle.
• If mixing is unavoidable, never mix radial and non-radial tires on the same axle.
• If you install two radials and two non-radials on a vehicle, the two radials must be installed on the rear axle and the two non-radials on the front axle.

What to know

• We do not recommend buying only two tires. However, if you do, you should put them on the rear axle (see "What to do" below).

What to do

• When you select a pair of replacement tires in the same size and construction as those on the car, 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).

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, you run the risk of serious injury to yourself as well as possible damage to the tire and rim.

What to know

• Tires that are traveled on even short distances while flat are often damaged beyond repair.
• 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).

What to do

• If a tire loses all or most of its air pressure, it must be removed from the wheel for a complete internal inspection to ensure it is not damaged.
• If your car is equipped with a temporary or "mini" spare, be sure to check the tire's sidewall for the correct inflation pressure, speed and mileage limitations.
• Most punctures, nail holes or cuts up to ¼ 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 ¼ inch (6 mm) or any sidewall puncture.
• Never repair tires that are worn below 2/32-inch tread depth.

What to know

• Many tires have tread wear indicator bars moulded into the tread.

What to do

• 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.

What to know

• Regular tire rotation promotes more uniform tire wear.
• The first rotation is the most important.

What to do

• 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 kilometres.
• 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.

Please note that uneven tire wear may also be caused by misalignment or mechanical problems.

What to know

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 Alliance Dealer for further evaluation.

MICHELIN 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.

What to know

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 that are not covered by warranty are the following:

• 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 that 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, or bent rim flange).

What to know

• All authorized retailers have full authority to determine warranty eligibility on MICHELIN, BFGoodrich or Uniroyal tires.

What to do:

To find the nearest Alliance retailer in your area, consult the dealer locator on this web site.

• You can find many authorized retailers in the "Tire Dealers – Retail" section of the Yellow Pages (under the MICHELIN, BFGoodrich or Uniroyal logos).

What to know

• The most dangerous road conditions occur right around the freezing mark.
• The recovery phase of a skid usually occurs more slowly on snow.
• While front-wheel drive may give greater traction from a standing start and four-wheel drive gives a greater sense of stability, your tires and suspension design have more to do with the amount of grip available than the drivetrain.

What to do

• 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, 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.