The tire industry standard used for measuring tire tread depths in the United States is in 1/32nd-inch increments (millimeters are used in countries observing metric standards).New tires fitted to cars, vans, crossovers and light-duty light trucks are typically molded with a beginning tread depth of 10/32nd- to 12/32nd-inch. Tires used on heavy-duty trucks, commercial vans and tractor trailers are often equipped with deeper treaded...
read moreWhile all tires appear round and black, how much traction they provide in adverse weather, how quietly and comfortably they ride, as well as how long they last can vary greatly. Every tire’s performance depends on its manufacturer’s design technology, rubber compounding capabilities and production proficiency.Since O.E. tires are developed through the cooperative efforts between the vehicle and tire manufacturer’s engineers, they have...
read moreGood/Better/BestWhile all tires appear round and black, how much traction they provide in adverse weather, how quietly and comfortably they ride, as well as how long they wear can vary greatly. Every tire’s performance depends on its manufacturer’s design technology, rubber compounding capabilities and production proficiency.Many automotive service providers offer a choice of Good, Better, and Best tires from which drivers can choose....
read moreAccording to the laws of physics, a closed system’s gas volume and pressure only remains constant as long as its temperature remain constant. Since a tire’s air chamber is a closed system filled with a gas, tire inflation pressures react (rise or fall) in line with changes in their operating temperature. As a general rule, tire pressures change 2% (about 1 pound per square inch (psi) for car tires) for every 10° Fahrenheit change in a...
read moreTires are parts of a vehicle that wear out over an extended period of time. Today’s U.S. averages of 13,500-miles driven annually and 45,000-mile tread lives means it takes the typical driver a little over three years to wear out a set of tires.However it’s important to note that tire traction in wet and wintry driving conditions gradually diminish as the treads wear. This is because as tread grooves become shallower, they lose some of...
read moreLike every other wear component on a vehicle (brakes, batteries, belts and wiper blades, etc.), tires must be eventually replaced because a combination of wear, damage or exposure to the elements will eventually take their toll.Brake pads wear thin, batteries lose power, engine belts crack and wipers streak. When it comes to tires, a number of conditions or combinations of them will make replacement necessary.Tread Wear – Tires provide...
read moreAs the part of a tire that rolls in contact with the road, tread patterns incorporate a variety of features molded into their rubber compound that support the vehicle’s load while resisting heat and wear. Tread patterns are often classified by the design of their ribs, blocks, lugs and/or grooves that have allowed engineers to tune the tire’s traction, handling and noise. Tread pattern: includes multiple ribs, blocks, lugs or a...
read moreTire Tread Pattern TypesTread patterns help tune a tire’s traction and handling capabilities to its intended driving conditions. While the most common tread patterns address traction in multiple driving conditions, others are designed further enhance traction to meet specific dry, wet or winter driving challenges. Tread patterns can also influence tire serviceability by either permitting or prohibiting tire rotation and...
read moreIn addition to constantly supporting the vehicle’s weight, even when it’s parked, tires will be stretched about 32 million times as they roll through a typical 40,000-mile lifetime. Tires will also experience subfreezing-cold through scorching-hot temperatures, as well as be exposed to direct sunlight, ultraviolet rays, harsh chemicals, acid rain, snow, slush and ice.In order to be up to these challenges, tires must be complex products...
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