Q. How do I know if my tires are underinflated?
A. If your vehicle was manufactured after 2007, it will likely have a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), which notifies you if the tire pressure drops below its optimum setting. If you don’t have a TPMS, you can use a tire pressure gauge to find out what the tire pressure is.
Q. What do the numbers and letters on the sidewall of my tires mean?
A. In the example P185/75R1482S the breakdown is as follows:
A. If your vehicle was manufactured after 2007, it will likely have a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), which notifies you if the tire pressure drops below its optimum setting. If you don’t have a TPMS, you can use a tire pressure gauge to find out what the tire pressure is.
Q. What do the numbers and letters on the sidewall of my tires mean?
A. In the example P185/75R1482S the breakdown is as follows:
P = Service Type: Indicates this is a passenger vehicle tire, as opposed to a tire made for a light truck (LT) or other vehicle.
185 = Section Width: The width of the tire in millimetres from sidewall to sidewall.
75 = Aspect Ratio: The ratio of height of the sidewall to the width of the tire. This sidewall’s height is 75% of its width.
R = Internal Construction: How the plies are constructed in the tire carcass. "R" means radial, "B" means the tire is belted bias construction and "D" means diagonal bias construction.
14 = Rim Diameter: The diameter of the wheel (centre hole of the tire) in inches.
82 = Load Index: This tire has an industry-standard maximum load of 475 kg (1,047 lbs).
S = Speed Rating: This tire has an industry-standard maximum service speed of 209 kph (130 mph). Different letters correspond to different maximum service speeds.
Q. What is the difference between all season tires, all weather tires, and winter tires?
A. All-season tires are designed to provide traction in dry and wet road conditions. They are ideal for spring, summer and fall. But below +7C, they lose traction.
Winter tires are designed with a specialized compound that allows the rubber to remain flexible in cold temperatures to improve traction and grip.
All weather tires are a hybrid of all season tires and winter tires. They provide more winter performance than all season tires, as well as great performance in mild winter conditions. All weather tires are well suited to regions where snowfall is minimal and temperatures approach 0°C.
Note that only winter and all weather tires come with the Mountain Snowflake symbol on their sidewalls. This symbol indicates the tire has been designed for use in winter conditions.
Q. How do I know if my winter tires are worn out and need replacing?A. Use a tread depth gauge. If your tread is less than 4/32 of an inch, you should consider replacing your tires. If your tires have tread less than 2/32 of an inch, they are considered legally bald and must be replaced.
Q. How do I know if my winter tires are worn out and need replacing?A. Use a tread depth gauge. If your tread is less than 4/32 of an inch, you should consider replacing your tires. If your tires have tread less than 2/32 of an inch, they are considered legally bald and must be replaced.
Don’t have a tread depth gauge? Try the nickel test. Take a nickel, and place it in the deepest groove of the tire, with the year at the bottom. If you can see any of the year, consider having your tires inspected, as they are likely below 4/32 of an inch and will soon need to be replaced. If you can see the year completely, the tread is likely below 2/32 of an inch. These tires are considered legally bald and must be replaced.
  |
