Tires are an important part of your new car, greatly affecting safety and performance. When you purchase a new vehicle, you can expect it to come equipped with a standard tire of a type recommended by the vehicle's manufacturer. Some dealers may choose to replace these standard tires with higher-performance tires or more attractive tires. You should check that the tires that are provided with your new vehicle are brand-new tires and not re-treaded or generic brand, low-price tires. Tires are available in a seemingly unlimited variety of sizes, models, and constructions, and the choices may be confusing to the non-expert. However, all the information you need concerning a tire is normally molded on the sidewall of the tire itself. This useful information includes the type, for example passenger car tire or light truck tire; the width of the tire in millimeters; the ratio of height to width of the tire, sometimes called the aspect ratio; a type code denoting whether the tire is of radial, belted, or diagonal bias construction; a load index and maximum speed symbol; maximum inflation pressure; tread wear and traction information; and a code indicating the ply composition and materials used. Since much of this information is coded, you may need qualified assistance to decipher the data. A car dealer can explain the relative benefits of the various types of tire and assist you in selecting suitable tires based on your local climate and how you intend to use your new vehicle.
©2006 Crossroads Mobile. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
