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Table of Contents VIP Product Reviewers Club... 3 Introduction... 4 Chapter 1... 5 The Importance of Tire Care... 5 Tires Play Multiple Roles... 5 Chapter 2... 7 The Right Tire Size... 7 Tire Sizing... 7 Finding Your Tire Size... 9 Chapter 3... 10 Load Capacity... 10 Why Does Load Capacity Matter?... 10 Chapter 4... 11 Tire Pressure... 11 Determining Correct Tire Pressure... 11 Potential Air Pressure Related Tire Problems... 12 Chapter 5... 13 Alignments... 13 What s an Alignment?... 13 Chapter 6... 15 Rotation and Balance... 15 The Purpose of Rotation and Balance Service... 15 Potential Problems... 16 Chapter 7... 17 Regular Inspection... 17 Your Inspection... 17 Chapter 8... 19 Bonus Tip Save in the Future... 19 Conclusion... 20 Works Cited... 21 2

VIP Product Reviewers Club Congratulations on your purchase of P.I. Auto Stores Digital Tire Inflator. You ve taken the first step toward saving money by reducing fuel consumption and protecting your vehicle as well as your safety. At P.I. Auto Stores, we take pride in developing the highest quality automotive tools and equipment for our customers, and we back our products with a full money-back guarantee if you re not satisfied. We re also very proud of the community we ve built, and love to interact and give back to our customers. We invite you to take the next step and become part of our growing family! As one of our Exclusive Members of our VIP Product Review Club, you ll be the first to know when P.I. Stores are launching a new product and have the opportunity to receive FREE Pre- Launch New Products to Trial and Review. You ll also receive heavily discounted coupon codes for our current products. To become an Exclusive Member and receive regular discounts and giveaways please CLICK THIS LINK www.pistores.com/vip 3

Introduction Tires aren t flashy. They re not decked out in chrome, or made of carbon fiber. They re not painted candy apple red, or outfitted with horsepower-enhancing features. Still, for all that, they re four of the most important features of your vehicle. Your tires are the only things separating your car from the road, and they re subject to immense heat, stress and wear and tear on a daily basis. They re also expensive replacing tires before their time is a needless expenditure that too many drivers must face on a regular basis. There s a simple answer here the right tire care and maintenance can help enhance your safety, improve your fuel economy and even save you money over the life of the tires. Not sure what you should do in terms of tire care? Don t worry; we created this book just for you. You ll find the most important care and maintenance steps listed, as well as numerous other things that any driver should know about their tires and road safety. Whether you re driving a sedan, a minivan, an SUV or something else, this book is for you. Proper tire care is essential for every vehicle on the road. 4

Chapter 1 The Importance of Tire Care The only thing that stands between your vehicle and the harsh surface of the road is a thin layer of steel-belted rubber your tires. Your tires do more than just help your car, truck or minivan roll down the pavement. They re an essential automotive component, and proper tire care is vital. Tires Play Multiple Roles While the humble car tire might seem rather basic, they re anything but. A significant amount of engineering and design goes into every tire, from the quality of the steel belts to the makeup of the rubber to the design of the tread and any special features (water handling, snow capabilities, etc.). Tires also play several roles during driving. Tires act as: Part of your suspension system, partially cushioning your ride and helping shock absorbers do their job A safety net to prevent your wheels, exhaust system and undercarriage from impacting on the road s surface A significant part of your fuel economy well-maintained tires ensure you re getting the most from your gas Traction your tires are the only things that provide traction on and off the road, in whatever conditions Mother Nature throws at you A stylish element while tires have an undeniably utilitarian job, that doesn t mean they don t add to (or detract from) your vehicle s overall appearance 5

As you can see, tires have a lot of roles to play, and in order to do so, they must be maintained properly. Good tire care will help ensure that you re able to rely on your tires for a long time, that they look great, and that they don t cause safety problems. With the right care, you can minimize the risk of having a blowout, potentially preventing accidents. You can save money on gas, as well as on replacing tires before their time. So, what should you do to maintain your tires? Really, it s pretty simple. In the following chapters, we ll walk you through everything you need to know about tire care and maintenance. 6

Chapter 2 The Right Tire Size Tire care begins long before you ever touch your tires. In fact, it begins by choosing the right tire size for your vehicle. Tires are definitely not a one-size-fits-all thing, and even if you have the right rim size, you could still be putting the wrong size tires on your vehicle, which can cause any number of problems. Tire Sizing Determining the right tire size for your vehicle is pretty simple. If you re riding on OEM tires (the ones that came on your car from the factory), you can just check the sidewall. You ll find a series of letters and numbers there, something like this: P205/60/R16 That s your tire size. Four elements go into sizing (sometimes five). Let s break the size down into its various components. P (or another letter starting the size): This is the tire s class rating. P stands for passenger car. There are others, including LT, which stands for light truck. If there isn t a letter at the front of the tire size, you re dealing with a European tire, which is measured with the metric system. Section Width: The first series of numbers (the 205 in the example above) is the section width. Basically, this is the width of the tread, measured from one sidewall to the other across the tire. The higher the number, the wider the tire s tread will be. For instance, a 265 is wider (and larger overall) than a 205. Aspect Ratio: The second number in the series (the 60 in the example above) is the tire s aspect ratio. Essentially, this is the height of the tire s sidewall. The lower this number, the shorter (lower profile) the tire will be. A 60 is shorter than a 70, for example. 7

It s not a measure in inches, though. It s a percentage of the section width (in the size example above, the aspect ratio would be 60% of the section width). R: This stands for radial. Most tires today are radial, but you can still find some bias tires on the market. 16: The final number in the size is the diameter of your wheel. In the example above, the tire would be installed on a 16-inch rim. That s really all there is to reading a tire size, although there are other important ratings found on the sidewall. One of these is the tire s speed rating, which will be given directly after the tire s size and look something like this: 92H The 92 in the size above is an indication of the tire s load rating, which tells you how much weight it can bear. Load ratings range from 0 at the lowest end to 279 at the highest. The average passenger car falls somewhere in the 75 105 range, but you ll need to ensure that you re installing tires rated for the weight of your vehicle (for instance, a heavy-duty truck would require significantly higher load ratings than a passenger car). The H in the example above is the tire s speed rating. Essentially, the closer to Z you get, the higher the speed rating, although that s not completely accurate, as W and Y rated tires have higher speed ratings than Z rated tires do. All four tires on your car should have the same speed rating, as this will affect many things, from the hardness/softness of the rubber to how soon they ll wear out and the amount of heat they can withstand (generated by friction on the road) and your cornering (handling) abilities. Below, you ll find a handy tire speed-rating chart: L M N Q 75 mph 81 mph 87 mph 99 mph 8

R S T U H V Z W Y (Y) 106 mph 112 mph 118 mph 124 mph 130 mph 149 mph 149+ mph 168 mph 186 mph 186+ mph Finding Your Tire Size The most important thing to know about tire sizes is that your vehicle has a specific rating. You can easily locate this size by opening the driver front door and looking at the vehicle information placard in the doorframe. This should list the tire size for your vehicle, as well as the front and rear tire pressure the manufacturer specifies. If your placard is missing or illegible, you can also find your tire size by contacting an automotive service center, which will have not only the standard OEM size on file, but possibly other sizes that the manufacturer allows on your specific vehicle. 9

Chapter 3 Load Capacity We touched on load capacity in the previous chapter, but it bears further scrutiny. This is a very important rating, and should not be exceeded. Why Does Load Capacity Matter? Each tire has a specific load capacity. This is an indication of the amount of weight the tire can safely handle while in use. Exceeding this number puts you at risk for everything from excessive tire wear to blowouts while driving. You ll find your tire s load capacity on the sidewall, usually beside, above or below the tire s maximum pressure rating, and it will look something like this: MAX LOAD 645 kg (1400 lbs.) This is the total weight per tire (using the size above, each tire is capable of supporting up to 1400 lbs. with maximum tire inflation). Ideally, you ll never approach either maximum load capacity or maximum tire pressure. Choose a tire with a load capacity rating that s well within the weight of your vehicle, including the additional weight of driver, passengers and any commonly carried cargo. You ll still need to bear that number in mind even after you ve chosen your tires, as well. Make sure you never exceed that maximum load limit. Cargo, passengers, gear, clothing, luggage it all adds up and it can be surprisingly easy to approach and even surpass your tire load capacity. 10

Chapter 4 Tire Pressure Each tire has a maximum air pressure rating stamped on the sidewall, but you need to ignore that number. That s the tire s maximum PSI, but it has little or nothing to do with your vehicle. In addition, maintaining proper tire pressure is one of the most important aspects of proper tire care. We ll walk you through the various considerations in this chapter. Determining Correct Tire Pressure Before we delve into the problems that can occur with incorrect tire pressure, you need to know what pressure(s) your vehicle requires. Like your OEM tire size, you ll find this information listed on the driver side door placard. Don t be surprised if you see a different pressure listed for the front and rear tires this is pretty common today. You should see something like this: Front: 32 Rear: 35 Make sure that when you check your tire pressure, you check it against these numbers, not against the maximum PSI listed on the tire s sidewall. The two are not the same, and you should always follow the automaker s recommendations for pressure rather than the tire manufacturer s (tire makers manufacture tires for a wide range of vehicles). A simple tire pressure gauge can help ensure that you can tell what your tire pressure is at a glance and whether you need to add (or remove) any air. 11

Potential Air Pressure Related Tire Problems The more air inside a tire, the harder it becomes. Think of a balloon. With a little air, it s soft and pliable. A little more air, and it becomes firmer. A lot of air and it s hard. Too much air, and it pops. Your tires are just like balloons. However, it goes beyond the potential for a blowout (most tires aren t going to blow out with just a few extra PSI, but they can be subject to some pretty serious wear and tear). Low Tire Pressure: If your tire pressure is too low, they will begin to wear out along the outside edge of both sidewalls. This is because the tire is too soft to keep just the tread in contact with the road s surface. Other problems with low tire pressure include: A greater likelihood of cord separation Potential bead failure due to high friction Potential for standing wave deformation Potential bead separation from the wheel High Tire Pressure: If your tire pressure is too high, the center of the tread will begin wearing away. This is because the tire is overinflated and the tread is rounded, putting just the center of the tread in contact with the road, rather than the entire section width. Additional problems stemming from over inflation include: Greater susceptibility to damage (potholes, road debris, etc.) Faster wear Check your tire pressure regularly (every week or two should be fine) and keep an accurate tire pressure gauge in each vehicle. Always ensure that you re inflating your tires to the OEM ratings found on your door placard. 12

Chapter 5 Alignments Your vehicle s steering and suspension system is incredibly complex in order to provide good handling and to cope with the challenges of the road. However, it s not perfect, and because it s made up of a lot of different moving parts, it can be thrown out of true over time and through usage. Having wheels tires aligned regularly is an important part of good tire care. What s an Alignment? If you ve never had one done, you might be wondering exactly what a wheel alignment actually is. While it has nothing to do with your tires, it has an immediate impact on them. Essentially, the alignment of your wheels determines how your car handles. If it s in line, it will drive straight, or true. If it s out of alignment, it may pull to one side or another, but that s not an accurate measure of how aligned your wheels are. During an alignment, a certified mechanic will put your car on a special rack with individual sensors for each wheel. These sensors are connected to a computer, which compares the readings on your car to specifications from the automaker. Based on these readings, the mechanic can then adjust three variables to align the wheels. Those three variables are camber, caster and toe. Camber: Camber is the angular orientation of the tire in relation to the vehicle and road surface (in and out at the top and bottom of the tire). Caster: This is the angular orientation of the tire, measured on a diagonal from lower front to upper back. Toe: Toe is the measure of the longitudinal angle of your car s tires (toe in means the tires are pointing inward, while toe out means they re pointing outward). 13

By adjusting these variables, the mechanic can ensure that your wheels are aligned, and that your tire wear will be reduced. There are several potential problems stemming from poor wheel alignment, including stress on the steering and suspension system. However, early tire wear and failure are the most visible issues. If your wheels are out of alignment, your tires will usually begin wearing on either the inner or outer edge (but not both wear on both edges indicates low tire pressure). As that wear continues, it will eventually eat into the rubber, revealing the steel belts and leading to premature tire failure. Inspect your tires regularly for signs of edge wear indicative of an alignment problem. However, understand that it s impossible to check your alignment on your own it has to be done in a professional automotive service shop. 14

Chapter 6 Rotation and Balance Your vehicle requires regular maintenance to stay in good operating condition. While oil changes are the most frequent service here, tire rotations should be completed with every other oil change (roughly). In addition, your tires should be balanced periodically. The Purpose of Rotation and Balance Service Unless your vehicle is an all-time all-wheel drive model (most are not), you have a pair of drive tires. If your vehicle is front-wheel drive, those are your front two tires. In a rearwheel drive vehicle, it s the back tires. These are the wheels that provide momentum for your vehicle. The other set just helps your car roll along. It makes sense then that you d have greater tire wear on the drive wheels, and less wear on the non-drive tires. Without rotating your tires regularly, you ll find that those on the drive wheels wear out over a shorter period of time, while the tires on the non-drive wheels see very little wear. Tire rotations are done to keep your tread wear as even as possible. In most instances, rotations should be simple front to back procedures. In other words, the driver rear tire would move to the driver front position, and the driver front tire would move to the rear. The same thing would occur on the passenger side. X-crossing patterns are no longer recommended, although there s nothing inherently wrong with this unless you have directional tires, in which case they must be rotated front to back and never X-crossed (most cars don t have directional tires this is a feature of high-performance tires, not conventional passenger car tires). Balancing is designed to help eliminate vibrations while driving. Your wheel and tire are mounted on a speed-balancing machine, which spins the tire at a high speed and then 15

measures vibration. The results are analyzed, and the machine tells the mechanic how much weight to add, and where to add it on the edge of the wheel. Potential Problems If you don t rotate your tires, you re at risk for a number of problems. The most obvious is premature wear and tear on the drive tires, but you may also find that the non-drive tires are subject to wear issues like: Cupping Scalloping/feathering Over time, these problems will become worse, increasing tire noise, vibration, discomfort and potentially leading to early tire failure. The best option is to have your tires rotated and balanced regularly. They should be rotated at every other oil change, or roughly every 6,000 miles. Balancing should be done on an as needed basis, or every 12,000 miles or so. 16

Chapter 7 Regular Inspection Vigilance is your best defense against tire wear and other problems. By inspecting your tires regularly, you can head off problems early, before your tires sustain substantial damage or create a safety hazard. Inspecting your tires is simple and easy, but it s also a vital part of tire care. Your Inspection Inspecting your tires should require no more than a few minutes every week or two. It should consist of just a few basic steps, and we ve bundled these into a handy checklist below. Always ensure that you re using a reliable, accurate tire pressure gauge, and that you know your OEM-specified tire pressure. Driver Front Tire Pressure Check tread wear Check edge wear Check sidewall condition Driver Rear Tire Pressure Check tread wear Check edge wear Check sidewall condition Passenger Rear Tire Pressure Check tread wear Check edge wear Check sidewall condition Passenger Front Tire Pressure 17

Check tread wear Check edge wear Check sidewall condition During your inspection, keep an eye out for problems like debris in the tire (nails, glass, etc.), as well as for tread separation, cracks in the sidewalls and visible wear bars within the tire treads (these are horizontal bars designed to show you when you re approaching the time to replace your tread). 18

Chapter 8 Bonus Tip Save in the Future Your car is the second largest investment you ll ever make, just behind your home. It makes sense to protect that investment in every way possible. The strategies presented in this book help you achieve multiple goals, including saving on fuel costs while ensuring that your car and your tires are kept in good condition. As a special bonus, we d like to offer you a final bonus tip a coupon to save big on future products to help you protect and care for your car. It s simple. Just use the code below on your next Amazon purchase from us and enjoy significant savings! 19

Conclusion Your tires are an investment, and they re also essential components of your vehicle. They re costly to replace, as well. With the right care and maintenance, you can ensure that you enjoy a comfortable ride, that your tires last as long as possible, and that you re not putting yourself and your passengers in undue danger from damaged tires. Tire care and maintenance steps are surprisingly simple and can generally be done in just a single minute per week, as well as ensuring that you re having the right maintenance services performed at the auto shop. With the right care, your tires will last a long time, and you ll save time, money, gas and avoid serious risks as well. 20

Works Cited http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/infosidewall.do http://auto.howstuffworks.com/under-the-hood/diagnosing-car-problems/body/car-realigned.htm http://tires.about.com/od/tire_safety_maintenance/a/irregular-tire-wear-causes-indicators-and- Remedies.htm 21