Myths About Tires and Tire Safety

A commonly held misconception, it’s actually much safer to install the new ones on the rear of the vehicle when replacing only two tires. Installing the new tires on the front axle provides less hydroplane resistance and makes the vehicle more susceptible to a driving condition called oversteer, AKA fishtailing.

Installing the new tires on the rear means that, while the front tires are more likely to hydroplane, you’ll be better able to control the vehicle thanks to the steering wheel.

When the front tires hydroplane, it’s a condition called understeer, which is much easier to control than oversteer. By simply taking your foot off the gas, the vehicle will slow down, allowing the front tires to regain traction. Oversteer, on the other hand, is much harder to control.

Installing the new tires on the rear of the vehicle provides more reliable hydroplane resistance. On vehicles with fitment restrictions, such as staggered fitment or dual rear wheels, you might not be able to install the new tires on the rear axle. In that case, we recommend making sure the remaining tires have enough tread depth before replacing only two tires.

Many people think that when replacing tires on an AWD/4WD system, you don’t have to replace all four tires at once. But that doesn't necessarily hold true.

In fact, even on two-wheel drive vehicles, we typically recommend replacing all four tires at once, because it gives you the most control over your ride’s performance. But when it comes to AWD tire replacement, things get a little complicated because of the way these AWD/4WD systems work.

Briefly, your AWD/4WD systems can actually be damaged if you replace less than four tires and there is a large difference in tread depth between the new and old tires.

Why? These systems distribute power based on what’s called “slippage”, or when one tire spins faster or slower than the rest. Even a slight difference in tread depth can be seen as slippage, which can overactivate your system. Over an extended period of time, this can cause some serious damage to your AWD/4WD system.

When replacing tires on your AWD or 4WD vehicle, you can get the best performance, and stay safest on the road, when you replace all four tires at the same time.

Contrary to popular belief, the air pressure listed on the tire’s sidewall is not the recommended air pressure. In fact, it’s the maximum air pressure at which the tire can safely operate to support the tire's maximum load.

For OE (original equipment) tires, you can also find the max air pressure in the owner’s manual or on the door placard.

If the tires on your ride aren’t the OE size or they have a different load index, you may need a new recommended air pressure to support the updated tire specs. We can help you determine the new recommended air pressure using a load/inflation table.

While having a low-profile tire with a large diameter wheel may improve steering response by reducing sidewall flex, it doesn’t ultimately provide improved handling. Tire performance features such as the tread design and rubber compound, as well as the vehicle suspension play the greatest role in handling performance.

Although tires from different brands may have the same size listed on the sidewall, the tires often don’t have the same exact dimensions.

In other words, tires can vary slightly in size from brand to brand, even if they’re listed as the same size.

Tires may even vary by size within the same brand. This is important when it comes to tire mixing, and it is particularly important to keep in mind if you drive a 4WD or AWD vehicle.

Despite the common use of the phrase ‘kicking the tires’, the only way to accurately check a tire’s air pressure is with an air pressure gauge. Visually inspecting and/or kicking the tires may lead you to believe they’re properly inflated even if they’re low on air.

If you don’t use a proper tire gauge, you may be driving on tires that are underinflated, putting unnecessary strain on the tires. The best way to avoid this is to always check your air pressure with a tire pressure gauge.

While plugs and sealant are a nice stopgap, they’re not the safest option. Why? Because they don’t allow you to inspect the inside of the tire, which may have been damaged by the puncture or being driven on while low. Plugs and sealant also don’t repair the inner liner, the part of the tire that seals in the air pressure.

The surest way to repair a tire is to fill the hole with a solid rubber filler and vulcanize a patch to the inner liner, effectively sealing the hole and repairing the liner at the same time.

This process helps ensure that the tire maintains the proper air pressure and keeps moisture and debris from making its way into the hole, which can cause further damage.

Although tread depth is very important when it comes to tire safety, it isn’t the only consideration. Several other variables can compromise your tire’s performance.

One of the most important factors is how old the tire is. As tires age, the rubber molecules change, losing grip and structural integrity. They can also develop dry rot, AKA weathering or ozone cracking, caused by exposure to heat and ultraviolet rays over time.

Even if the tire still has tread, we recommend replacement at six years of age. If your tire is ten years of age or older, it is considered non-serviceable.

When it comes to summer tires vs. all-season tires, you might think that all-season tires would have the best performance in wet weather, but that’s not the case.

Because all-season tires are modified to provide moderate traction in winter conditions, some compromises are made. This means they don’t perform as well in wet weather as summer tires.

Summer tires have a more pliable rubber compound for better grip on wet roads, while their wide grooves evacuate standing water from the contact patch rapidly. Just remember, since summer tires are optimized for wet and dry performance in the summer, they should never be used in winter or snowy conditions.

Looking for summer or all-season tires for your ride? We’ve got you covered with a massive range of options, not to mention our unbeatable low prices!