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Your vehicle's tires are its only link to the road's surface. Think about it: four contact points about the size of the sole of an average man's shoes are all that stand between your safety and disaster. They are actually very sophisticated in their function and the way they are created. They must absorb a lot of stress such as: extreme heat and cold, brutal road conditions and sometimes, unexpected and extreme driving demands. Many times though, someone who is looking to save a few bucks will purchase mismatched or underperforming tires, only to pay for that mistake further down the road when they fail and tragedy strikes. Here are a few things to think about when purchasing your next set of tires so you (or someone in your family) won't end up as a sad statistic. First, unless you plan on street racing, replace old tires with those of identical size. Look at the sidewall of your current tires for that information. There will be three sets of numbers, with the second one preceded by an "R" which stands for the wheel's radius. Typical wheel radiuses on automobiles usually range from 13-16 inches and on pickups and vans - 16-18 inches. Next comes your tire's tread wear rating. A reasonable warrantee life expectancy for a set of tires is around 40,000 miles. Ask your salesman to show you a UTQG (Uniform Tire Quality Grading) rating for the tires you are interested in. The Federal Department of Transportation requires tire manufacturers to independently grade their tires under the UTQG metrics for traction, tread wear and temperature resistance. Clear values are established. Traction and temperature resistance ratings can vary depending on the tire's desired performance level. But tread wear ratings are quite accurate: the higher the grade, the longer the tread life. So, a tire grade of 150 wears 50 percent longer than a tire grade of 100. This suggests that a 40,000 mile warranted tire, if driven and maintained properly, could last 50,000 miles: assuming your tires are properly inflated and you don't drive like a teenager on prom night. UTQG labeling gives you a good idea of what you can expect from your tires' tread life. What about Ride Quality? Low profile tires may look cool. But they don't stand up very well to bumps or potholes, compared to a traditional tire with a higher sidewall. Lower profile tires also can damage wheels more easily, especially when encountering bumps or potholes at 50 MPH. So if you want your ride to look cool, that's fine. Just be prepared for the downside. Tread Noise: Some tread designs are noisier than others; and can vary depending on tread designs, and tire brands. Some do a really good job of muffling road noise: others, not so much. If most of your driving is just around the neighborhood with little freeway driving, this might not be important. But if you do a lot of highway driving, especially if it's an SUV, a knowledgeable salesperson should be able to help you consider your options and tell you which tires are quieter. Montgomery, AL tires and auto parts, top quality selection of tools, expert advice and reasonable prices. For more information please visit our website today at http://jenkinstireandauto.com.
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