10-10-2012, 03:54 PM
10 THINGS YOUR TYRES CAN TELL YOU ABOUT YOUR CAR
10 THINGS YOUR TYRES.pdf (Size: 1.08 MB / Downloads: 44)
Center Wear
The Diagnosis: This tire was overinflated, causing the center ring only to contact the road.
Consequently, whoever drove this car had only a fraction of the rubber contacting the asphalt, so
his or her traction suffered.
To find the correct tire pressure, check the door placard or the owner's manual. Check the
pressure when the tires are cold, before you start driving. Some people claim that you should
overinflate tires to reduce rolling resistance and increase fuel economy. But that's a fool's game.
You might save some fuel, but you'll pay more in prematurely worn tires.
If your pressure is correct but you still see center wear, this could indicate that the wheel and
tires are not properly matched. There is one caveat here: Woody Rogers, product information
specialist at Tire Rack, says that some rear-wheel-drive vehicles can produce center wear on
certain tires, even if they're properly aired up and maintained. But that's true only for highpowered
sports cars.
Cracking and Bulging
The Diagnosis: This usually comes from hitting a pothole, curb, or debris. Under inflation and
over inflation put tires at a greater risk of damage from impacts.
Large cracks in the sidewall that runs along the rim are either impact-related or caused by
chronic under inflation. Numerous small cracks in the sidewall or tread blocks come from
exposure to the elements and age.
Bulging is what looks like a pimple in the tire, most often in its sidewall. It happens when there's
an impact that causes internal damage, but the damage doesn't show up until weeks or months
later. With cracks or with bulging, you're looking at buying a replacement. "[The tire] should be
removed from service, regardless of the cost," Rogers says. "Eventually, it will fail."