Tire Performance Questions
How many miles will I get on my tires?
Do I have to replace my present tires with the same size tires?
Can I replace the tires on my car with a lower speed-rated tire?

 
Maintenance Questions
How do I take care of my new tires?
What air pressure is right for my tires?
Should I balance my tires? Why?
What is alignment? When do I need it?
Should I rotate my tires? How? When?
Can I mix speed-rated tires on my car?
If I only purchase two new tires, where should they be mounted?
What should I do if I feel a vibration?
How do I know when my tires are worn out?
My vehicle is driven much less than the national average of 12-15,000 miles. How long can I keep these tires on my vehicle if I do not consider them worn out?

 
Warranty Questions
What is the warranty on my tire?
How do I find out if my tire is warrantable?


 
Tire Performance Questions

How many miles will I get on my tires?
There are many factors that affect the tread life  of your tires: tread compounds , construction features, vehicle application, tire maintenance, geographic conditions, atmospheric conditions, driving habits, etc. Take special care when braking, accelerating, and cornering, to increase the life of the tires. If you have concerns about the rate of wear on your tires, consult your local Uniroyal® tire retailer.

See the Uniroyal tires warranty.
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Do I have to replace my present tires with the same size tires?
Never choose a tire that is smaller in size  or has less load carrying capacity  than the tire that came with the car. Tires should always be replaced with the same size designation -- or approved options -- as recommended by the vehicle or tire manufacturer. The correct tire size can be found on the door placard  of the vehicle or by consulting your local Uniroyal tire retailer.
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Can I replace the tires on my car with a lower speed-rated tire?
When replacing speed-rated  tires, you must use replacement tires with ratings equal to or greater than those of the original equipment  tires if the speed capability of the vehicle is to be maintained. The handling of a performance vehicle may be different when the replacement tires are not the same speed rating. Refer to the vehicle owner's manual to identify any tire speed rating restriction that could affect the operation of the vehicle.*

* Exceeding the legal speed limit is neither recommended nor endorsed.
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Maintenance Questions

How do I take care of my new tires?
Properly maintained tires will give you a more comfortable ride and a longer tread life . Here are a few tips on proper maintenance: Top

What air pressure is right for my tires?
Proper inflation is the single most important factor in tire care. The inflation pressure imprinted on the sidewall  of the tire is the MAXIMUM operating pressure determined by the tire manufacturer. It is not necessarily the correct tire inflation for your vehicle. You should ALWAYS use the inflation recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. This information can be found in the owner's manual and often on a placard  located in the vehicle's doorjamb, inside the fuel hatch, or on the glove compartment door.

Always check the pressure when the tires are "cold" -- at least three hours after the vehicle has been stopped and before it has been driven one mile. It's best to inflate your tires in the morning before the day's heat. And don't forget to check the spare tire.
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Should I balance my tires? Why?
Balancing  means compensating for both the weight of the tire and wheel after the tire is mounted . A wheel is out of balance when one area is heavier or lighter than the rest. This can cause irregular treadwear and vibration, and increase the stress on the front-end parts, which may cause them to wear prematurely.

You should have your wheels balanced whenever a tire is replaced, when a balance weight is moved or removed, and whenever you purchase new tires. Of course, at the first sign of vibration or irregular treadwear, your car should be thoroughly checked for wheel balance and alignment , and for worn or broken mechanical parts.
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What is alignment? When do I need it?
Alignment  generally refers to the adjustment of a vehicle's front and rear suspension parts. Proper alignment ensures that your vehicle handles correctly and will help increase the life and performance of your tires.

The alignment of your vehicle can be knocked out of adjustment from daily impacts such as potholes and railroad crossings, or by more severe accidents. You should have the alignment checked if:
  • You know you have hit something.
  • You see a wear pattern developing on the shoulders  of the tires.
  • You notice a difference in your vehicle's handling.
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Should I rotate my tires? How? When?
Regular rotation extends the life of your tires, saving you time and money in the long run. For rotation, each tire and wheel is removed from your vehicle and moved to a different position. This ensures that all of the tires wear evenly and last longer. If no period is specified in your owner's manual, the tires should be rotated every 6,000-8,000 miles.

Get an e-mail reminder when it's time to rotate your tires.
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Can I mix speed-rated tires on my car?
If tires of different speed ratings  are mounted  on a vehicle, it is recommended that the lower speed-rated tires be placed on the front axle. This is to prevent a potential oversteer  condition. Also, vehicle handling may be affected and the vehicle's speed capacity is limited to the lowest speed-rated tire.*

* Exceeding the legal speed limit is neither recommended nor endorsed.
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If I only purchase two new tires, where should they be mounted?
For front or rear wheel drive vehicles, we recommend mounting  the new tires on the rear axle, in order to prevent an oversteer  condition. When purchasing a single new tire, it should be paired on the rear axle with the tire having the greatest remaining tread depth . When radial  tires are unavoidably used with bias-ply tires  on the same vehicle (not recommended), the radial tires must ALWAYS be placed on the rear axle. NEVER mix radial and bias-ply tires on the same axle.

For 4-wheel drive vehicles, if no instructions for tire mixing appear in the vehicle owner's manual, adhere to the following guidelines:
  • Do not mix sizes --all four tires must be branded with the same tire size.
  • Do not mix radial and bias-ply tires.
  • Outside circumference of all four tires should be within one and one-half (1-1/2) inches of each other.
  • Do not mix tread  patterns such as all-terrain and all-season.
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What should I do if I feel a vibration?
A vibration while driving indicates that there is a problem that needs attention. The tires, steering system and suspension system should be checked IMMEDIATELY to help determine the possible cause of the vibration. If the vibration is not corrected it could cause excessive tire and suspension wear. It could even be dangerous.
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How do I know when my tires are worn out?
All tires have treadwear indicator bars at 2/32" of remaining tread . When the tread is worn down to 2/32" or where you can see the treadwear indicator bars on any section of you tire, the tire is worn out and should be replaced. Take your vehicle to your local Uniroyal tire retailer for an inspection and have them measure the remaining tread with a tread depth  gauge.
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My vehicle is driven much less than the national average of 12-15,000 miles. How long can I keep these tires on my vehicle if I do not consider them worn out?
The following recommendation applies to passenger car and light truck tires. Tires are composed of various types of material and rubber compounds, having performance properties essential to the proper functioning of the tire itself. These component properties evolve over time. For each tire, this evolution depends upon many factors such as weather, storage conditions, and conditions of use (load, speed, inflation pressure, maintenance etc.) to which the tire is subjected throughout its life. This service-related evolution varies widely so that accurately predicting the serviceable life of any specific tire in advance is not possible.

That it is why, in addition to regular inspections and inflation pressure maintenance by consumers, it is recommended to have passenger car and light truck tires, including spare tires, inspected regularly by a qualified tire specialist, such as a tire dealer, who will assess the tire's suitability for continued service. Tires which have been in use for 5 years or more should continue to be inspected by a specialist at least annually.

Consumers are strongly encouraged to be aware not only of their tires' visual condition and inflation pressure but also of any change in dynamic performance such as increased air loss, noise or vibration, which could be an indication that the tires need to be removed from service to prevent tire failure.

It is impossible to predict when tires should be replaced based on their calendar age alone . However the older a tire the greater the chance that it will need to be replaced due to the service-related evolution or other conditions found upon inspection or detected during use.

While most tires will need replacement before they achieve 10 years, it is recommended that any tires in service 10 years or more from the date of manufacture, including spare tires, be replaced with new tires as a simple precaution even if such tires appear serviceable and even if they have not reached the legal wear limit.

For tires that were on an original equipment vehicle (i.e., acquired by the consumer on a new vehicle), follow the vehicle manufacturer's tire replacement recommendations, when specified (but not to exceed 10 years).

The date when a tire was manufactured is located on the sidewall of each tire. Consumers should locate the Department of Transportation or DOT code on the tire which begins with DOT and ends with the week and year of manufacture. For example, a DOT code ending with "2204" indicates a tire made in the 22nd week (May) of 2004.
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Warranty Questions

What is the warranty on my tires?
Limited warranties cover defects in workmanship and material for the life of the original usable tread  or for six years from date of purchase, whichever occurs first. The date of purchase for tires installed as original equipment is documented by the new vehicle registration. If no proof of purchase can be produced, the six years will be determined from the date of the tire's manufacture. Some tires may carry a limited warranty for tread life  or mileage. Please refer to the tire manufacturer's warranty for your specific tire or call the tire manufacturer's consumer relations department.

For U.S Uniroyal Consumer Relations, call 1-877-UNIROYAL.

See the Uniroyal tires warranty.
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How do I find out if my tire is warrantable?
Take the tire to your local Uniroyal tire retailer and have them properly inspect the tire. Tell the dealer what you are experiencing so they can diagnose the problem.
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