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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? 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? What is the warranty on my tire? How do I find out if my tire is warrantable? |
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Tire Performance Questions
How many miles will I get on my tires? There are many factors that affect the tread life See the Uniroyal tires warranty. Do I have to replace my present tires with the same size tires? Never choose a tire that is smaller in size Can I replace the tires on my car with a lower speed-rated tire? When replacing speed-rated * 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
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 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. Should I balance my tires? Why? Balancing 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 What is alignment? When do I need it? Alignment 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:
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. Can I mix speed-rated tires on my car? If tires of different speed ratings * Exceeding the legal speed limit is neither recommended nor endorsed. If I only purchase two new tires, where should they be mounted? For front or rear wheel drive vehicles, we recommend mounting For 4-wheel drive vehicles, if no instructions for tire mixing appear in the vehicle owner's manual, adhere to the following guidelines:
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. How do I know when my tires are worn out? All tires have treadwear indicator bars at 2/32" of remaining tread 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 For U.S Uniroyal Consumer Relations, call 1-877-UNIROYAL. See the Uniroyal tires warranty. 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. |
Tread life The life of tire before it is pulled from service; mileage. |
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Rubber compound A combination of raw materials blended according to carefully developed procedures. The rubber compound is specially adapted to the performance required of each type of tire. |
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Size The combination of tire width, construction type, aspect ratio, and rim size used in differentiating tires. |
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Load-carrying capacity Indicates how much weight a tire is certified to carry at maximum inflation pressure. |
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Tire placard A metal or paper tag permanently affixed to a vehicle, which indicates the appropriate tire size and inflation pressures for the vehicle. The placard can ordinarily be found on either the driver's doorpost, the glove box lid, or the fuel filler door. |
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Speed rating An alphabetical code (A-Z) assigned to a tire indicating the range of speeds at which the tire can carry a load under specified service conditions. |
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Original equipment Tires selected by a vehicle manufacturer that best matches tire performance to vehicle performance characteristics. Also known as OE. |
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Balance/Imbalance The state in which a tire and wheel spin with all their weight distributed equally. To correct an imbalance, a trained mechanic will add weights on the interior or exterior of the wheel. |
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Mounting This is the act of putting the tire on wheel and ensuring that the assembly is balanced. When you purchase new tires, they will need to be professionally mounted. It is also standard for the tire dealer to charge a nominal fee for a valve stem. |
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Alignment Adjusting all wheels on the vehicle so that they are pointed in the optimum direction relative to the road and each other. |
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Sidewall That portion of a tire between the tread and the bead. Protects the tire against impacts with curbs, etc. This is also where the sidewall markings can be found which tell you important information regarding the tire. |
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Shoulder The area of a tire where the tread and sidewall meet. |
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Oversteer Condition when the rear wheels are carving a larger arc than the front wheels or the intended line of the turn. Rear "slip angles" exceed those of the front tires. This is often described as a "loose" condition, as the car feels like it may swap ends, or be "twitchy." |
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Tread depth The depth of usable tread rubber measured in 32nds of an inch. If a tire comes new with 10/32nds of rubber, you have 8/32nds of usable rubber. Tires have to be replaced when the wear bars are visible at 2/32nds. |
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Radial ply tire A type of tire with plies arranged so cords in the body run at 90-degree angles to the center line of the tread. |
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Bias-Ply A type of tire with crossed layers of ply cord running diagonally to the center line of the tread. |
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Tread That portion of a tire that comes into contact with the road. It is distinguished by the design of its ribs and grooves. Provides traction in a variety of conditions, withstands high forces, and resists wear, abrasion, and heat. |
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