Improper wheel alignment can cause three basic problems: irregular tire wear, handling problems and crooked steering wheel. This is an excellent video from Hunter Engineering demonstrating the importance of a wheel alignment and how one will protect your tire investment.

Why A Wheel Alignment Is So Important

There are many basics of car maintenance we all do regularly: check and change our oil, wash our car, check that we have air in our tires. Most people overlook the importance of rotating their tires and the usefulness of this simple procedure. While each car and tire combination is different, basic maintenance of the tires can assist in making your vehicle perform at its best.

Significance
Rotating your tires is important due to tire wear. Tires work differently, depending on their location on your vehicle. Rotating them on a regular basis will even the wear, prolonging their lifespan. A criss-cross pattern is used when moving the tires to their new position allowing the tires to wear evenly.

Time Frame
Every vehicle is different, but most manufacturers recommend that you rotate your tires every 5,000 to 10,000 miles. Check with your owner’s manual for information specific to your vehicle.

Considerations
Rotating tires is a simple procedure that can be done at your local Tire Pros.

Effects
Right-side tires have more exposure to curbs and other road hazards; moving them to the other side of the vehicle prevents excessive outside wear. Front tires will show more wear if you are driving a front-drive vehicle. It is important to visually inspect your tires on a regular basis. Obvious signs of wear need immediate attention.

Benefits
Rotating your tires on a timely basis will help keep maintenance cost down on your vehicle. Evenly wearing through your tires will prolong their life and lessen the frequency of having to invest in a new set. Tires that are maintained well will keep you safer while driving.

Be sure to visit your local Tire Pros and save $70 on a set of four Michelin passenger or light truck tires. The promotion runs from July 8 – August 9, 1010.

1. The first number (205 in this example) is a three-digit number, which refers to the overall width of the tire, in millimeters.
2. The second number (55) refers to the aspect ratio, which is the relationship between the tire’s height and its width. In this example, the sidewall’s height is about 55% of the tire’s width.
3. The letter following the aspect ratio is usually an “R,” standing for “radial.”
4. The next number indicates the diameter of the wheel rim on which the tire will fit (16 inches, in this example).
5. The final number and letter represent the load index and speed rating. The load index is an assigned number ranging from 0 to 279, corresponding with the load-carrying capacity of the tire; that is, how much weight it is certified to carry at maximum inflation pressure. The rating can be matched against a load index chart to determine corresponding maximum weights.
6. The speed rating tells you the top speed at which the tire can operate. Speed ratings were developed to control the safe performance of tires at standardized speeds. A letter from A to Z symbolizes a tire’s certified speed rating. To maintain the speed capability of a vehicle, use replacement tires with ratings equal to or greater than those of the original tires.

It is important to note that markings do not always appear exactly as they do in this example, as tires can be certified under a variety of designations.

This 4th of July, make sure to stop by your local Tire Pros for savings on tires and services.

Emergency situations can happen at any time. That’s why it’s important for you and your family to know what to do when these situations arise. Knowing how to handle your automobile during these times can put your mind at ease and help keep your family safe on the road.

Tire Blowouts
A tire blowout, which is characterized by the loud noise of your tire bursting and the sudden loss of air, can happen without warning. Taking the right actions can help you safely maintain control of your vehicle and maneuver your car to a safe stop. Here are some tips to help you make the right decisions:

Do slightly accelerate. This will keep the vehicle momentum constant and will compensate for the pulling of the vehicle towards the flat tire.

Do keep the steering wheel held straight and firm.

Do put on your hazard lights. Once the vehicle is under control, slow down and when safe, move to the side of the road out of traffic.

Don’t panic.

Don’t step on the brake.

Don’t abruptly release your foot from the accelerator.

Don’t jerk or overcorrect the steering.

When Your Brakes Fail
No one wants to think about their brakes failing while driving. It can be a scary situation. Having the knowledge to handle this type of emergency and keep your family safe in the process is priceless.

What to do:

• Take your foot off the gas pedal.
• Quickly pump your brakes to try to use any residual pressure in the brakes.
• Shift into a lower gear, release the clutch pedal (for manual transmissions) and apply the emergency brake.
• If your automobile has an automatic transmission, simply apply the emergency brake.
• Try to ease the car to the side of the road safely or look for something to rub against. A fence, guardrail or bushes would work. If possible, select something that will give way when you hit against it to reduce damage to you and the car.

Come on in to Tire Pros this month and receive a $75 pre-paid American Express card with the purchase of any 4 Continental passenger or light truck tires. This is an exclusive promotion only available at your local Tire Pros. June 1-30, 2010.

Click here to find a Tire Pros near you.

Tire Pros will partner with the Rubber Manufacturers Association to promote National Tire Safety Week from June 6-12, 2010, offering drivers free tire air pressure checks.

Tire Pros participation in the National Tire Safety Week awareness program highlights the importance of proper air pressure, tire alignment, rotation and tread wear. Our expert tire technicians are here to advise and educate customers about tire safety practices related to the many brands and categories of tires we offer our customers.

Stop by your Local Tire Pros during National Tire Safety Week and stay informed. To locate a Tire Pros by you, click here.

It takes only a small misalignment to create problems with your vehicle, which is why proper wheel alignment is very important. Simply put, all of components that make your vehicle go straight are called alignment. Misalignment can be caused by many factors including merely driving your vehicle. Potholes can be common culprits. A sizable pothole can bump your suspension out of the precisely calculated set of measurements that dictate proper wheel alignment.

Why is wheel alignment important?

Improper wheel alignment can effect driving performance as well as cost you money. Total alignment sets all four wheels positioned straight ahead and parallel. The following are benefits of wheel alignment:

o Improves gas mileage – In the recent economy and a year of outrageous gas prices, everyone is looking to better their gas mileage to save money. By having your vehicle aligned properly, it decreases any resistance while rolling which increases your gas mileage. It is also important to make sure that your tires are properly inflated as this will help gas mileage as well.

o Reduces tire wear – Premature tire wear can be costly. One of the signs of wheel misalignment is excessive or uneven tire wear. If your vehicle is not aligned properly, your tires can show wear more quickly due to their not rolling straight and being dragged in the wrong direction. You will have to replace them more often, costing you more. Proper alignment can save you money in the long run.

o Improves the handling of your vehicle – Other signs of improper alignment pertain to the handling of our vehicle. These signs can be if your steering wheel pulls to the left or right, if it is not centered when driving straight ahead or if it vibrates or shimmies. Steering wheel vibration can also indicate tire wear or if they have not been inflated properly. While driving, your vehicle can also have a feeling of looseness or wandering. All of these signs can be corrected with total alignment which can absorb any road shock and provide a smoother ride.

o Improves safety – Proper wheel alignment can help you drive more safely by improving steering and tracking problems. The improved handling and control of your vehicle can help you prevent or avoid accidents.

Why is four-wheel alignment recommended?

Simply put, your front wheels “steer” or drive the vehicle while the rear wheels “direct” the vehicle. Four-wheel alignment solves handling problems by referencing all four wheels to a common centerline.

Yearly maintenance is recommended.

Regular vehicle maintenance is recommended for optimal operation of your vehicle and its safety. It is important that you follow the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations listed in your owner’s manual, however as a general rule your wheel alignment and tire check up should be scheduled every 10,000 miles or at least once per year.

Often a suspension system inspection can be included as a part of this regular maintenance. This inspection can allow your Tire Pros ASE Certified Technician to spot potential problems or worn parts now before they become costly problems later.

Protect your tire investment and visit your local Tire Pros for an alignment check. You’ll be glad you did.

The science behind selecting tires for performance driving

There is no one change that can affect the overall braking, handling, and cornering ability of an automobile more than a set of tires. For sportier drivers, choosing a new set of tires can be an agonizing decision. Unlike certain racing teams bound by a contract or series rules to run a specific type or brand of tire, today’s corner carving motorists can choose from a vast array of street legal ultra high performance [UHP] tires. Some of these tires are even thinly disguised DOT approved R-compound racing tires. Before running out and shodding your ride with the stickiest of shoes, consider that driving on public roads in harsh weather and driving on a prepared racecourse on a sunny day are two entirely different things.

Costly Compromise
The key to Ultra High Performance (UHP) tires’ superior grip over more conventional tires is a combination of internal construction and rubber compound. Saving the usual string of acronyms is that a UHP tire has a stiffer carcass than its softer grocery getting counterpart. The UHP tire’s softer rubber compound works with the stiffer carcass to make a UHP tire what it is. Choosing a UHP tire for daily driving usually means choosing once, and replacing often. The tradeoff for rolling on super sticky shoes is rapidly accelerated wear over conventional, less gripping tire compounds. The measure of tire tread wear is called the Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG) tread wear rating. A UHP tire with a UTQG rating of 100 will in general wear out four times faster than a tire with a 400 rating. Even with this standard measuring system, UHP tire tread wear can vary based on driving style or type of vehicle.

Wheels on Fire
A high horsepower all-wheel-drive car such as a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution can easily burn through a set of the expensive stock summer UHP tires in less than 10,000 miles of spirited driving. The EVO rolls off the showroom floor shod with a set of UHP tires with a UTQG tread wear of 120. Less enthusiastic drivers may be able to stretch the same set of tires on the same car to 20,000 miles. This is why using only the UTQG tread wear rating as a guide is not an exact measure of potential UHP tire wear. Beyond the tread wear rating is the traction and temperature rating. Traction is certainly the name of the game with UHP tires, but temperature rating is also extremely important. A summer UHP tire can turn as hard as a hockey puck when the thermometer dips down to winter levels.

Traction Season
While a set of dedicated snow tires is the only answer for driving in snowy climates, there is a new class of tire in the UHP market. While rapid wear is still the name of the game with the stickiest summer UHP tires, a new class of all-season UHP tires brings improved tread wear along with super handling potential all-season around. Like the UTQG ratings, the term all-season should be approached realistically. Occasional snow in the winter and rain in the summer is the operating world of the all-season UHP tire. The all-season UHP tire falls in between a near R-compound summer-only UHP and a less gripping performance tire. An all-season UHP is a good middle ground between the two.

Sizing Up
When upgrading to a higher performance tire, the safest and easiest strategy to tire performance improvement without upgrading the wheels is to upgrade to a UHP tire of the same size as stock. The next step up is actually a step down. Decreasing the sidewall height of a tire while slightly increasing its width is called a Plus Zero. While it is tempting to shoehorn as wide a tire as possible on to stock wheels, this strategy is potentially dangerous and can actually decrease performance. Dramatic changes in the width or sidewall height of a tire starts with changing the size of the wheel itself, which is another story entirely. Shortening the height of the sidewall can improve handling and possibly looks, but also bring with it a harsher ride.

Stop by your local Tire Pros to help you evaluate the many choices available today. Based on your individual needs and driving habits, the experts at Tire Pros can help you make the best choice.