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Frequently Asked Questions (courtesy of Big O Tires Inc.)

• How Much Air Should I Put In My Tires?
  • It depends on the vehicle application, the size of the tires, how much weight is put on the tires, and a host of other engineering-based calculations that the vehicle and tire manufacturers work together to set for each vehicle. These air pressure specifications are in your Owner’s Manual, and on a decal positioned in the glove box or on the driver’s side doorjamb of your vehicle.
    
    
• How Often Should I Inspect My Tires?
  • The Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) recommends that you check your tires, including the spare, once a month. All tires leak air over time, with some losing as much as a half a pound of pressure a month. If you’re losing any more air than this, you probably have a leak that needs to be repaired. Tires that are under-inflated or over-inflated can wear unevenly, and will generally increase tread wear significantly. Under-inflation may also increase the risk of tire failure or blowout. These reasons, plus the fact that under-inflated tires reduce your overall fuel efficiency are all good reasons to get in the habit of checking your tires monthly.
    
    
• How Do I Check The Air Pressure?
  • I’s really pretty easy to check your tires’ air pressure and reset them to the proper level. All you need is an accurate tire pressure gauge, an air compressor (gas station or home-owned) and about five minutes. Or, you could let a Big O Tires associate do it for you…fast and free.

    First, check the decal in your vehicle’s glove box or on the driver’s side doorjamb for the correct air pressure, noting that the pressure level may differ for the front and rear tires. Recommended tire inflation pressures are always for COLD tires, which means you check the tires in the morning or after the vehicle has been sitting for a couple of hours. Driving heats up the tires and causes the air inside to expand, which will cause the readings to be several pounds higher. Next, use an accurate tire gauge; don’t rely on the built-in gauge on a gas station air hose or compressor, as they tend to be inaccurate. An accurate gauge will give you a good reading and you can add or release air from the valve stem until your tires’ pressure matches the recommendation

• When Is It Time To Replace My Tires?
  • Handling and braking performance will deteriorate as the tread on your tires wears down. If you see any change in your vehicle’s performance, Big O recommends that you have the tires checked by one of our tire professionals. However, there are industry guidelines that address this question. The Rubber Manufacturer’s Association (RMA) as well as the National Highway Transportation and Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicate that tires with remaining tread of 2/16 of an inch or less are unsafe and should be replaced. Built-in treadwear indicators, or “wear bars”, which look like narrow strips of smooth rubber across the tread will appear on the tire when the tread is worn down to 1/16 of an inch. When you see these “wear bars,” the tire is worn out and should be replaced. You can also use the “Penny Test” to quickly check the tread depth. Place a penny into a tread groove. If part of Lincoln’s head is covered by the tread, your tread depth is probably still acceptable. If you can see all of Abe’s head, you should probably replace the tire.
    
    

          

• Why Should I Rotate My Tires?
  • The simple answer is to extend the useful life of your tires. The purpose of rotating your tires on a regular basis is to achieve more uniform wear across the tread on all tires on the vehicle. Before rotating the tires, refer to your vehicle’s Owner’s Manual for rotation recommendations, or just stop by any Big O Tires location. If there is no period specified, then you should have the tires rotated every 5,000 miles, or sooner if signs of irregular or uneven tire wear appear. If your tires do show irregular or uneven tire wear, Big O Tires can check your vehicle for any misalignment, imbalance or other mechanical problem at the time that the technician rotates your tires.
    
    
• The Unseen Dangers of Worn Tires
  • Continuing to drive on a severely worn tire or tires can lead to serious control, braking and drivability issues. Your tires are your only contact with the road and if they do not work together to grip the road securely, your ability to control the vehicle can be impaired. Below are a few of the “unseen dangers” of driving on worn tires:
    
    

    1. Heat Build-Up – Worn tire tread increases heat build-up. As the distance between the tire and the road decreases due to reduced tread there is less air flowing between the grooves to cool the tires. Heat is an enemy of tire rubber and a major cause of failure.

    2. Puncture – The tire tread protects the tire casing from puncture. Worn tread greatly increases the possibility of a tire blowout due to puncture.

    3. Hydroplaning – Worn tire tread can cause hydroplaning (your tires skating across a wet surface with little gripping power). This problem can begin at 5/32nds inch of tread remaining.
    
    4. Underinflation – Tires with worn tread are much more likely to be seriously underinflated. This condition can adversely affect steering, braking and fuel economy.

• Should I Replace All 4 Tires At Once? 
  • Today’s vehicles are more complicated and “touchy” than ever before, and in most cases it is recommended that you replace the tires on the vehicle in sets of four. You would expect a tire retailer to make this type of recommendation, but it really makes sense for a number of reasons:
    

    1. Protect Your Transmission & Transfer Case – All-wheel and four-wheel drive vehicles require that all four tire circumferences remain very close to the same measurement. Replacing only 1 or 2 tires will mean that these measurements are not similar and could cause damage.
    
    2. Reduce Uneven Front-To Rear Tire Wear – For maximum stability and handling, particularly in wet or slippery conditions, it is recommended that tires be replaced in sets of four and rotated on a regular basis. Note: if you don’t buy four tires, you should have the new tires installed on the rear of the vehicle for maximum control.
    
    3. Maintain Accurate ABS Brake & Traction Stability – Today’s computer-driven vehicles measure the rotational speed of each wheel as you drive and quickly compensate engine performance and braking action when one or more tires are traveling at a different rate of speed. Prolonged driving with uneven tire sizes could affect these readings and the adjustments made.