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About Barry Smith
(Top Expert on this page)

Expertise
I have over 30 years experience in the design, manufacturing, and testing of tires. I have served as the technical advisor to the "800" number. I have authored or co-authored many publications - usually without credit. I can answer almost any technical question, but please don`t ask me to compare brands. I probably have prejudices because of my work experience.

Experience
Member SAE (Society of Automotive Engineers) Member Tire Society (Tire Technical Organization) SCCA Regional Competiton License holder Authored many training manuals on tires, their care and use.

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Questions Answered By Expert Barry Smith
In Category Tires

Subject	Date Asked

quite tires	10/5/2008
Q: I recently bought a 2001 honda accord sedan it came with low profile tires it looks sharp but the ... A: Frank, This is a common problem with low profile tires and there isn't much you can do except to ...
Different tires on the front and rear.	10/5/2008
Q: I want to put new 17-inch tires on a 1987 Buick Grand National, with wider ones on the rear. I can ... A: Rick, Obviously the best situation is to have 4 of the same tire on the car. Having a mix of ...
dealer swapped tires?	10/4/2008
Q: My fiance recently took her car into the dealership to have an oil change and tire rotation ... A: Brian, There are bits and pieces of information that are either missing or do not make sense. So ...
mounting 22" tires on a 22.5" wheels	10/4/2008
Q: I currently have 22.5" wheels/tires on my dually pickup & was wondering if 22" tires will fit on the ... A: Jason, DO NOT - repeat - DO NOT mount 22" tires on 22.5" rims. The rim diameter is the rim ...
psi	10/3/2008
Q: Please give me the correct psi for a Goodyear Viva 2 P215/70R15. I have two on the front of my ... A: Angela, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker – commonly called the tire placard - ...
Tires pressure	10/2/2008
Q: today I bought a set of tires Cooper ATR discoverer 265/70 R18 filled to 36PSI 260KPA ,frankly I'm ... A: Lamine, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker - commonly called the placard - that ...
"V" & "H" ratings	10/2/2008
Q: What is the difference in tires with the H & V ratings? Is the V actually worth the additional ... A: Esther, You've no doubt read up on the difference in the speed ratings. If not read this: ...
RV tires	10/1/2008
Q: I have a 32ft fifth-wheel camper/trailer with two axles. Weight is probaly 9,500 lbs. Tires are 15 ... A: Chuck, This is a vehicle issue. Tires do not wear unevenly unless the alignment is off. So you ...
Tires for an electric S10 pickup	10/1/2008
Q: Barry -- I have converted a 2002 Chevy S10 shortbed pickup to all-electric power. Specifically: I ... A: Steve, I’m going to make a number of assumption and they ought to be obvious as I go along. The ...
Tire Pressure Confusion	10/1/2008
Q: I'm confused. My car manual tells me that Toyota recommends 60 psi for the tires in my Corrola, but ... A: Alex, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker - commonly called the placard - that will ...
Replacement for OEM Tires	9/30/2008
Q: Re: 1997 Geo Tracker - 4-door - 4WD automatic, with manual locking front hubs The original tires on ... A: Wayne, First, you should never find yourself in a position where you have to replace only 2 tires ...
tire noise/searching	9/30/2008
Q: .. I just purchased a 2009 Prius with the touring option, which came with Bridgestone ... A: Dennis, Is the only time this happens is when the pavement has grooves in it? If so, you have ...
Tires for an electric S10 pickup	9/30/2008
Q: Barry -- I have converted a 2002 Chevy S10 shortbed pickup to all-electric power. Specifically: I ... A: Steve, Thanks for the information, but before I can answer your questions I need to get some more ...
Tire Pressure	9/29/2008
Q: I have 16' Lamar dump bed trailer. I can't find and placard. It has 10.00lb tandem axles. It came ... A: Albert, Let's assume that the 2 10,000# axles are needed as well as 4 tires, whose load carrying ...
Tire noise	9/29/2008
Q: I just had the front end aligned and tires rotated. The front tires had a fair amount of wear mostly ... A: Sue, What you have is irregular wear. Irregular wear is caused by misalignment and aggravated by ...
tires and fuel efficiency	9/28/2008
Q: For safety reasons, I am writing for my 7th grade kid. He has to come up with a science project. He ... A: Irene, Tires are tested for rolling resistance using a machine dedicated to that purpose. There ...
Tires for an electric S10 pickup	9/28/2008
Q: Barry -- I have converted a 2002 Chevy S10 shortbed pickup to all-electric power. Specifically: I ... A: Steve, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker – commonly called the vehicle placard - ...
tires	9/25/2008
Q: what does it mean when the says the belt is gone on the inside of tire and what can happen if not ... A: Hope, This does not make sense. Belts on a tire do not just disappear and they aren't replaced. ...
Tire only leaks when mounted on vehicle and in certain position.	9/24/2008
Q: I bought a used Focus back in March. A week or two later my tire went flat. I brought it to a tire ... A: Brian, It might help if you told me the location of the leak on the tire - center of the tread, ...
8r tires	9/23/2008
Q: My motorhome has 225/70/19.5 tires on it now. Think about 8r tires. I know there a little taller and ... A: Bill, A 225/70R19.5 has overall diameter of 31.93", has an allowable rim width range of 6" to 6 ...
tires- dry rot	9/23/2008
Q: I just bought a car three and a half months ago. This past Sunday, my passenger front tire blew out. ... A: Carina, I disagree. Tires do not blow out from dry rot. While the tires might be old - and they ...
Tires	9/23/2008
Q: what is the differences between 225/45/17 vs. 225/55/17 tires for AWD (Jaguar X-type), will this ... A: Wen, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker – commonly called the vehicle placard - ...
Different tires, with reverse tread	9/22/2008
Q: I recently bought one new tire from a tire dealer, and after I got home I noticed that the tread was ... A: Paul, Do the tires have directional arrows on the sidewall? If so, then the tire needs to be ...
xl tires and lt tire ride quality	9/22/2008
Q: same size tire but an xl, it can carry more weight with additional air added to it above max ... A: Dennis, The basic principle is that the load a tire can carrying depends on many things - and ...
chaging tire sizes	9/21/2008
Q: I HAVE A 93 CADILLAC SEVELLE WITH 225/60/16 TIRE SIZE. I HAVE A SET OF 17IN. RIMS I WANT TO PUT ON ... A: Leron, If you want to have the ride the same - or improve - you should not go larger in rim ...
LOAD RANGE/TIRES	9/21/2008
Q: I BOUGHT A '96 FORD E250 VAN..(Handicapped with passenger side wheelchair lift installed)..Presently ... A: Tony, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker – commonly called the vehicle placard - ...
Can tire sizes be changed?	9/20/2008
Q: I have a Ford F-250 short bed 4x4 diesel pickup. I need the diesel power but only use the pickup ... A: Bruce, P metric tires are designed for passenger cars and have to be derated so they can be used on ...
Goodyear Wrangler Silent Armor Date Code	9/20/2008
Q: Could you help me find out the manufacturing date of a set of four new P265/70R17 113T tires? All ... A: Tom, DOT codes are a 10 to 12 digit number located near the letters "DOT". BTW the digits can be ...
Tires & Hitch Weight	9/19/2008
Q: Order and received a 2007 Cameo by Carriage in April 2007. Labor Day 2008 had a tire go bad - front ... A: DJ, Sounds like you have done a lot of homework. It's been my experience that trailers need to ...
Hairline Cracks in Tires	9/18/2008
Q: My tire dealer inspected my tires and saw hairline cracks all over the tread area and some on the ... A: Sarah, I can't make an assessment without looking at the cracks. Superficial cracks might be OK, ...
Tire cupping	9/18/2008
Q: Barry, Is tire cupping always on the rear, other than perhaps a bad bearing on the front? I have ... A: John, The term "cupping" is widely misused. What you probably have is "irregular wear", which is ...
Increasing tire size on 2005 Toyota Sienna	9/18/2008
Q: I am in the market for a third set of tires for a 2005 Toyota Sienna LE FWD(the OEM Michelins and ... A: Craig, There is no reason a size change should affect tire wear - except for a change in load ...
tire cupping/ feathering	9/17/2008
Q: my 07 dodge caliber, dunlop sp50's has developed "cupping, feathering" on all 4 tires it has 14K mi ... A: Greg, This type of wear is caused by misalignment and aggravated by low inflation pressure. ...
wrong tires for 3/4 ton	9/15/2008
Q: I had two tires installed on a 3/4 ton Dodge 2500 diesel Big O tires installed a P rated tire ... A: Pat, Those are the wrong tires and they are dangerous. They do not have enough load carrying ...
alignment and...	9/14/2008
Q: I have a 2004 Safary van with only 35,000 miles on it and all 4 tires lost much of the thread on ... A: Gabe, It could be either end, but I believe your Safari has a solid rear axle, so it's hard to have ...
alignment and...	9/14/2008
Q: I have a 2004 Safary van with only 35,000 miles on it and all 4 tires lost much of the thread on ... A: Gabe, What you have is one sided wear,and that's an alignment issue. However, underinflation will ...
tire valve stem replacement	9/13/2008
Q: I have never replaced a value stem any tricks, dos it nerd lob or seal? BJ A: BJ, For snap in valves, there is a tool that screws onto the end of the valve that makes this very ...
tires cupping	9/13/2008
Q: I own a 2008 scion xd. My problem is all 4 of my tires are cupping. The Toyota dealership is telling ... A: Brian, While technically cupping is caused by bad shocks or out of balance tires, the term is used ...
Tire Manufacture	9/12/2008
Q: I am a Mechanical Engineering student studying in Australia sitting a unit called Engineering ... A: Erika, There are a couple of resources you might draw upon. The Rubber Manufacturers Association, ...
mixing tires	9/12/2008
Q: I have 1995 toyota camry with Michelin XSE tires. one of them got busted and the dealer said I could ... A: George, The best situation is to have 4 identical tires on a vehicle - brand trade name state of ...
Correct Tires for Tandem Car Hauler	9/11/2008
Q: I bought a used tandem axel car hauler. It has 4 different brands of radial tires and at least two ... A: Charlie, Let's assume your values are correct. I'll skip all the math and tell you that an ...
Tire Pressure	9/11/2008
Q: What is the optimum tire pressure I should use on my tires? I have P275/55/20 Capitol TP9000 ... A: Brian, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker - commonly called the placard - that ...
tires	9/10/2008
Q: can i mount a 255/40/18 on a 18x8 rim safetly. bf goodrich web site says rim width for that size ... A: Jimmy, CAN you mount a 255/40R18 on an 8" rim? Sure!! SHOULD you mount a 255/40R18 on an 8" rim? ...
1983 Mercedes Turbo Diesel	9/8/2008
Q: My 300D is showing a speed of about 8% faster than what the actual speed of the car is going (GPS ... A: Robert, We need to do this in steps: On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker – ...
tire diameter	9/8/2008
Q: I bought new tires for the front of my car because they seemed to be going bald. They are the same ... A: Jamie, Honda has the answer. It is their transmission and they will be able to tell you how ...
tire dates	9/8/2008
Q: I have goodyear wrangler tires on my vehicle. Could you please decipher the following ... A: Nancy, DOT codes are a 10 to 12 digit number located near the letters "DOT". BTW the digits can be ...
S-rating on tires	9/7/2008
Q: Is the S rating on tires important? I haven't heard anything about it before now, when my wife was ... A: jon, The 3 digits after the tire size are called the Service Description. The Service Description ...
tire tread crack	9/7/2008
Q: I purchased four New general tires 185/65/R15 altimax HP for my 89 Volvo 740. I notice that one of ... A: Kin, Without looking at the tires, it is hard to be exact, but it sounds like this the result of ...
5th wheel tire blowots	9/6/2008
Q: My husband and I bought a 2008 Stellar 31ft 5th wheel. 4th trip had a blowout. its not our first ... A: Jana, I have never been able to completely figure this out, but it seems the problem exists ...
tire noise	9/5/2008
Q: I have purchased a 2006 mustang, it has a noise that sounds like a wheel bearing is going. I have ... A: John, I agree. Irregular wear patterns can sound like bad wheel bearings. Irregular wear is ...
Age of my tires...	9/5/2008
Q: My husband recently purchased "used" tires on craigslist and we're trying to figure out how old they ... A: Linda, DOT codes are a 10 to 12 digit number located near the letters "DOT". BTW the digits can be ...
Who's right?????	9/5/2008
Q: I own a 1992 Gulfstream motor home (class C) built on a Ford E-350 chassis that specifies ... A: Paul, You are correct. My ability to think is a lot faster than my 2 fingers can type - and that ...
Who's right?????	9/3/2008
Q: I own a 1992 Gulfstream motor home (class C) built on a Ford E-350 chassis that specifies ... A: Paul, Kai Tire is correct. Your local repair shop was wrong. Here's what to do: First confront ...
Proper load range for 2003 F350 7.3L diesel crewcab	9/3/2008
Q: Barry, I purchased a set of tires for my 2003 F-350 crewcab with a 7.3L diesel which the tire shop ... A: Steve, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker - commonly called the placard - that ...
Cooper CS4 Tires	9/3/2008
Q: I can't find a manufacture date on my new tires. Can you tell me how or what the date is? The only ... A: Patsy, DOT codes are a 10 to 12 digit number located near the letters "DOT". BTW the digits can be ...
tire speed ratings	8/30/2008
Q: The factory equiped tires on my car, a 1996 Infiniti G20, had an 88H load/speed rating. My front ... A: David, Putting the best tires on the rear is basically this: If you lose control of the front ...
tire speed ratings	8/29/2008
Q: The factory equiped tires on my car, a 1996 Infiniti G20, had an 88H load/speed rating. My front ... A: David, It's not a good idea to mix speed ratings within a vehicle. And it's best to have the best ...
Aftermarket wheels and tires	8/29/2008
Q: Barry- I have a 2004 2500 Ram 4x4. The placard on the truck for the front lists LT265/70 R17-E ... A: Eric, To get the same load carrying capacity as the tires currently on your vehicle: LT265/70R17 ...
Cooper tires	8/28/2008
Q: I'm trying to find the date of my Cooper tires. I understand the 3 and 4 digit code following the ... A: Mark, DOT codes are a 10 to 12 digit number located near the letters "DOT". BTW the digits can be ...
matching sizes	8/26/2008
Q: I have a '98 Audi A-4 and recently got a flat on one of the tires beyond repair. The gentleman at ... A: Jared, This is a question you need to ask Bridgestone, but it sounds to me like you've identified a ...
repo tires you referrred to...	8/25/2008
Q: What are repo tires? ANSWER: Adam, I'm not sure what you may be looking at, but it could mean ... A: Adam, Thanks. It was as I suspected. How to avoid? These tires will be advertized as authentic ...
repo tires you referrred to...	8/25/2008
Q: What are repo tires? A: Adam, I'm not sure what you may be looking at, but it could mean "reproduction" - meaning tires ...
Load range	8/22/2008
Q: I have a 2003 F250 4 X 4 reg cab. original tires LT265-75R16 load range E. i would like to put on ... A: Vince, The stock rims on your truck are 7" wide. An LT285/75R16 requires a minimum of a 7 1/2" ...
Roll Resistance	8/22/2008
Q: Barry, both our passenger vehicles need new shoes. We drive mostly highway. Been reading about a ... A: Al, I explain all of this here: http://www.geocities.com/barrystiretech/rrandfe.html But the ...
science project	8/21/2008
Q: my son is doing a science project on tires , his question is , is there anything else tires can be ... A: Brandi, The word "tires" is used to describe the portion of the wheel that contacts the road ...
Load range E or C	8/19/2008
Q: I own a used 84 GMC C2500 3+3 non-dually 2WD long bed Camper Special pickup with a curb weight of ... A: Ed, According to Tire Guides, this vehicle probably originally had LT215/85R16's inflated to 51 psi ...
tires	8/18/2008
Q: We bought Goodyear Viva 2 tires for our 2005 Kia Sedona minivan at Walmart about 18 months ago. ... A: Scott, Tires do not wear more on the inner portion of the tire unless the vehicle is out of ...
Tire balencing - types	8/18/2008
Q: I just came from my local tire shop, which is one of the better and faster ones in town (a community ... A: John, Balancing is a mass distribution problem. Static balance only takes care of the imbalance in ...
Changing Tire Size	8/18/2008
Q: My '03 Toyota Celica has P195/60R15 H tires. Generally, what should I expect if these tires are ... A: Bob, Aside from a speedometer (and odometer) error of 3% - which will cause you to think you are ...
warped tires	8/17/2008
Q: I purchased 4 new Eldorado tires 18 months before a terrible shimmy developed in the front of my ... A: Anna, Here's the way warranties work. If you have a problem with a product, you return the product ...
Excessive wear on the inner portions of the rear tires (Gmc 3500)	8/16/2008
Q: I recently purchased a used truck from a supposed reputable dealership. I have now driven it 220 ... A: Christof, The first thing you should do is get an alignment. Be sure to ask for a printout. What ...
TIRE CHOP	8/16/2008
Q: My 2007 Dodge Dakota had extreme tire chop on front tires on outside tread at 6,000 miles (Goodyear ... A: Kenny, I suggest you take it somewhere else for an alignment. This is one of those cases where I ...
Goodyear Assurance Tripletred	8/16/2008
Q: My mom has had three blow outs in the last 7 months after she got the consumer report recommended ... A: Dawn, There is a recall on tire valves: The recall number is 08T018000 ...
tire pressure	8/15/2008
Q: We recently put a set on Bridgestone Turanza Serenity tires on my wifes 2007 Pontiac G6-GT sedan. ... A: ray, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker – commonly called the vehicle placard - ...
Tire Noise	8/14/2008
Q: I just replaced the original tires (after driving 65,000 miles) on my 2003 Acura 2.3TL with the ... A: Nitin, No, the tires are not defective. However, it may be the characteristic of the tires. But ...
Tire Noise	8/14/2008
Q: I just replaced the original tires (after driving 65,000 miles) on my 2003 Acura 2.3TL with the ... A: Nitin, Tire noise comes from three areas - the tires, the road surface, and the interaction between ...
tire repair question	8/14/2008
Q: I have brand new 20 inch tires that I stupidly did not put road hazard on. I hit something in the ... A: Dee, The only area of a passenger car tires that is repairable is the tread area, not including the ...
Front tire inflation for truck with camper	8/13/2008
Q: Barry: I have a Ford F350 Diesel that I carry a camper on. The placard on the door post states the ... A: Mike, Look at the placard again. There should be the letters "GAWR" with a value for the front and ...
Bump	8/13/2008
Q: I assume this is a tire problem---not sure. I have noticed a constant "bump-bump bump" when my 2004 ... A: Keefe, See if you can determine what corner it is coming from - at the very least whether it is ...
bolt pattern	8/12/2008
Q: I have some old wheels with a 3 lug pattern. Do you know what they fit. A: Eric, The only cars that used 3 bolt holes were French. Renault, Citroen, Peugeot come to mind. ...
tire pressure	8/12/2008
Q: I have a 2002 camery. The tire is p215/60R16 94v On the side it says that the psi should be 44 max. ... A: David, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker – commonly called the vehicle placard - ...
Truck tires w/ Cab over Camper	8/11/2008
Q: Barry, hello! My husband and I recently acquired a new GMC-2500HD and are hoping to take it camping ... A: Becky, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker - commonly called the placard - that ...
steering vibration as 60 MPH	8/10/2008
Q: I have a Lincoln LS 2004 with an intermittent shake (vibration) in the steering wheel at 60 MPH. On ... A: Jack, At this point, I think you can rule out pretty much everything from the tire end of things. ...
Wrong tire load causing problems?	8/9/2008
Q: I have a 2000 Silverado 2500. It comes factory with 255 tires. I bought some used tires that are a ... A: Chase, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker – commonly called the vehicle placard - ...
Tire inflation pressure	8/9/2008
Q: What is the proper tire pressure for Falken XIEX ZE912 215/60R16 95H M+S on Honda CRV 2000, 2 wheel ... A: Les, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker – commonly called the vehicle placard - ...
Wheels/tires of 99 mercury cougar	8/9/2008
Q: My son wants to bid on some rims that are 4x108. The tires are Falken 205/40zR17 84w. He is fixing ... A: Jan, It is important that ALL the rim parameters fit the vehicle. Bolt circle: 4 X 107.9mm - and ...
passenger vs light truck	8/8/2008
Q: I have a Nissan Titan 2005 which has 245/75/17 tires. I ordered 4 Michelin LT tires for it but was ... A: Joe, this isn't a case of right or wrong. This is a case what's the best. Yur truck came with P ...
tire pressure	8/7/2008
Q: We recently purchased a ford E150 american conversion van. it is a leftover brand new 2006. It has ... A: Pauline, According to Tire Guides, a 2006 Ford E-150 came with P235/70R16 Extra Load tires (just ...
Michelin tire out of round	8/7/2008
Q: I bought a set of Michelin Sport Pilot MMX tires about 5 years ago for a custom car. The tires sat ... A: Darvin, First confirm the tire is moving relative to the rim. Mark the location of the valve stem ...
TIRES AND RIMS	8/7/2008
Q: I HAVE AN 1989 FORD MUSTANG LX WITH A 5.0 ENGINE IT HAS 245 45 16 TIRES ON IT THEY NEED TO BE ... A: Mike, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker - commonly called the placard - that will ...
Michelin Tires on Chrysler minivan	8/7/2008
Q: We purchased 4 Michelin Harmony tires for our 2003 minivan in May 08, right after we noticed the van ... A: Leon, So if the front tires were switched side to side and the pull didn't change, then it is the ...
Michelin Tires on Chrysler minivan	8/7/2008
Q: We purchased 4 Michelin Harmony tires for our 2003 minivan in May 08, right after we noticed the van ... A: Leon, One last test. Swap the front tires. If the pull changes, it's the tires. If the pull ...
Volvo S60 tire presure	8/7/2008
Q: I have a 2001 Volvo S60 2.4 (not turbo) but replaced the wheels and tires with 205.55.R16 tires. ... A: Jack, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker – commonly called the vehicle placard - ...
Truck Tire INflation	8/6/2008
Q: I own a 93 F150 4WD. The tire placard says use LT235/75 15 tires recommending 35 PSI front, 41 PSI ... A: Robert, You should look at the door placard again, because my book says the tire size Is "P" not ...
H-Rated Tires on a V-Rated OEM	8/6/2008
Q: My husband has a 2003 Honda Accord Coupe V6 with top speed at 160. The manufacturer of course ... A: LaShonda, There are so many variables here that I can only talk in generalities. Going down in ...
tire codes	8/6/2008
Q: The tires on a 1996 Volvo 850 we bought from my brother-in-law has a code like this: DOT VWCB ... A: Carol, Yes, those are the first 4 letters in the DOT Code. DOT codes are a 10 to 12 digit number ...
Wheels going out of balance	8/6/2008
Q: I own a 03 Acura TL. Last month I have purchased a new set of after market rims for the car. I had ... A: Mieszko, First, there is no glue involved in mounting a tire on the rim. What you see being ...
reversing the GoodYear Eagle RS A	8/5/2008
Q: Had tires changed on a Grand Prix with good used Good Year Eagle RSA P225/60R16 tires. The tire ... A: Grant, These are not directional tires. They are asymetrical tires - they are different across the ...
99 f350 super duty SRW 2wd	8/5/2008
Q: Use a truck camper, and are pushing my luck with weight limits of 265/75r16s. Been reading on Forums ... A: Jay, Yes, it is true. But you should check to be sure as I am working off of information contained ...
difference in tire size	8/4/2008
Q: I need to replace my tires on my 03 Ford Taurus LX. When I research the correct size to get, I am ... A: Holly, If your car has P215/60R16's on it now, then you have 16" rims - and 15" tires will not fit. ...
tire chop	8/4/2008
Q: what causes the chop effect on the tread of a tire ? if you run your hand over the face of the tread ... A: Jim, There are 3 causes: 1) It's normal wear due to the fact that a tread element has to bend as ...
tire rotation	8/4/2008
Q: I have firestone destination le on a f-150, what rotation pattern do i use? ford manual suggests ... A: Chris, Any rotation pattern is better than none at all. The best pattern is the one you described ...
Offset	8/4/2008
Q: I have 16" wheels, 5x100mm, with 45mm offset. I'm might buy some second hand wheels but wanted to ... A: Ray, This is not a job for amatuers. Not only is the bolt circle: ...
TIRE PRESSURE FOR 1/2 PICKUP TRUCK	8/4/2008
Q: SHOULD THE TIRE PRESSURE FOR A 98 DODGE RAM PICKUP TRUCK WITH A REGULAR CAMPER SHELL, BE LOWER FOR ... A: Walter, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker commonly - called the vehicle placard - ...
tire and wheel ratings	8/3/2008
Q: I have a large horse trailer with 16" g rated tires (3500lbs at 94psi) and steel wheels that state ... A: Kelley, The tire and wheel ratings have to EXCEED the weight of the truck - and they currently ...
tire and wheel ratings	8/3/2008
Q: I have a large horse trailer with 16" g rated tires (3500lbs at 94psi) and steel wheels that state ... A: Kelley, Let's see: 4 tires at 3500 # each = 14,000 #. The axle weights is 15K, so you are 1,000 # ...
Correct tire pressure	8/3/2008
Q: I have a BMW Z3. My manual was stolen from my car. Can you tell me the correct tire pressure for ... A: Diana, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker commonly - called the vehicle placard - ...
Steering wheel/tire vibration	8/2/2008
Q: I have a 2000 Dodge Dakota 4x2, which has about 57,000 miles on it. Recently it has developed a ... A: Lisa, If rotating the tires didn't move the vibration from the steering wheel to the seat, then the ...
Missing balancing weight?	8/2/2008
Q: I have a 2005 GMC Envoy, the rear right side tire is missing the balancing weight. How would that ... A: Liz, Balance weights are used to reduce tire and rim vibrations. But you should be aware that ...
Tire Codes	8/1/2008
Q: I just bought a brand new set of Yokohama (Geolander H/TS GO51) SUV tires for my 2003 Toyota ... A: Patrick, DOT codes are a 10 to 12 digit number located near the letters "DOT". BTW the digits can ...
tire size for a 2001 ford escape	8/1/2008
Q: My current tire on my 2001 ford escape is a 235/35/16, can I use a 225 60 16 on the escape and still ... A: Kevin, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker - commonly called the placard - that ...
"ZR" vs "R"	8/1/2008
Q: What is the difference between at P255ZR17 and a P255R17 tire? A: Richard, I don't think I can do better than what Tire Rack did: ...
Tire air levels	7/31/2008
Q: How much air should I feel my tires up with on a 2000 Mitsubishi Montero Sport A: Nicole, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker commonly - called the vehicle placard - ...
vibration	7/31/2008
Q: I own a 2004 Toyota Tacoma 4X4 with 75,000 miles on it. Last month I took my truck to a local front ... A: Kelly, Obviously it has something to do with the tire change. Wheel end vibrations are usually ...
Large size wheels/rims	7/31/2008
Q: I am currently looking for new rims for my 2000 Ford Mustang GT. I found a good deal on a wheel and ... A: Tim, There is an element of truth to this. Some vehicles are sensitive to tire diameter and ...
tyres	7/31/2008
Q: hallo, i would like to know the difference between,truck tyres,passenger and light truck tyres so ... A: Esther, This is a complex area because the "rules" differ. First read up about tire standardizing ...
Age of tires	7/30/2008
Q: I bought new tires for my car less than a year ago. And where I work, I am very paranoid now about ... A: Angela, DOT codes are a 10 to 12 digit number located near the letters "DOT". BTW the digits can ...
"DOT CODES"	7/30/2008
Q: I RECENTLY PURCHASED A 2008 MAZDA TRIBUTE AND HAVE ALSO SEEN THE 20/20 ARTICLE ON AGED NEW TIRES. ... A: Lisa, DOT codes are a 10 to 12 digit number located near the letters "DOT". BTW the digits can be ...
Tires - 2005 Ford Taurus	7/29/2008
Q: Is the P205/60-R16 the "wrong size" tire for a 2005 Ford Taurus or do you have to use P215/60-R16? ... A: Karla, The proper tire size for a 2005 Taurus is P215/60R16. To use a tire smaller than that not ...
tire mfg. date	7/28/2008
Q: Barry, I am curious to decipher the mfg. date on the Nitto tires I bought last December 2007. On ... A: Pat, DOT codes are a 10 to 12 digit number located near the letters "DOT". BTW the digits can be ...
defective Bridgestone tires, what are my options?	7/27/2008
Q: I bought four new Bridgestone Weatherforce p175/70r13 tires (at Sears) 2-3 years ago, and in the ... A: Lexi, I am not a lawyer, but here's my understanding of the legal implications. Warranty only ...
Tire noise on Mazda CX9	7/27/2008
Q: Morning, I own a 2007 Mazda CX9 Grand Touring model with the 20" rims. I bought it new in July 07, ... A: Dave, It sounds like you had a problem and it was corrected - the alignment - except that the ...
2005 Focus rear tire wear and vibration	7/26/2008
Q: I have a 2005 Focus with 130,000 Km. I am on my 5th set of tires and I think I need a another set. ... A: Mark, It does sound like you have an alignment problem. It sounds like the alignment tech at the ...
Do I use standard or loaded tyre pressures on my Xzara Picasso	7/25/2008
Q: I'm going on holiday this weekend - two adults in front, two teenage girls in rear, about four small ... A: Fraser, Your question is a little confusing. I suspect it is because you've confused a couple of ...
tire pressure letting siz / font size	7/25/2008
Q: Has there been any effort to change the size of tire pressure lettering on the side of tires? The ... A: James, During the recent Ford / Firestone situation, what was printed on the sidewall, and how ...
tire pressure	7/24/2008
Q: What is the correct psi for tire size 215/60-16 0n a 1992 toyota crown majesta, A: Marvin, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker commonly - called the vehicle placard - ...
Cracks inside the Tire Treads	7/23/2008
Q: Costco, Sams etc). 25K miles later, according to my mechanic who is very reliable, I have cracks ... A: David, Rubber is an organic material and it loses its properties over time. This comes out as ...
Tire placard and payload of a 1 ton	7/22/2008
Q: My F350 1 ton GVWR = 11400/Curb Weight 7300. Dealers tell me gross payload =11400-7300=4100 lb. Tire ... A: Brian, GVWR is Gross Vehicle Weight Rating. That's the absolute max the vehicle is allowed to ...
Tire Mounting	7/21/2008
Q: I was told that a new tire should be mounted with the"Paint Dot" on the sidewall lined up with the ... A: Liz, Some tire manufacturers put a dot to indicate the high point of the run out of the tire - some ...
Tire size	7/21/2008
Q: I have a 1996 Roadtrek RV that is built on a Dodge 3500 Maxivan. Roadtrek specs call for a ... A: Brent, You have to be very carefull here. There are letters in front of the tire size and they are ...
please help!	7/21/2008
Q: I have a 2002 Chevy Tahoe. I have been looking at new tires. My Tahoe currently has 255/70R16 on it ... A: Brandi, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker commonly - called the vehicle placard - ...
tire cupping	7/19/2008
Q: I have a 2005 Ford Focus with Potenza G009 tires on it. The tires were put on less than 15000 miles ... A: Gin, What you have is irregular wear, which is caused by misalignment and aggravated by ...
tire size change	7/18/2008
Q: I have a 1998 Saturn SL2 stock tire size is 185/65/R15. I had a blow out on the back right. Replace ... A: Kirt, It's best to have 4 of the same tire all around - meaning 4 of the same size, brand, tire ...
tire mounting	7/18/2008
Q: Yesterday I purchased a pair of Douglas brand 15" tires at Walmart and had them mounted on the front ... A: Dan, These are obviously asymetrical tires - meaning the tread pattern is different depending on ...
Douglas Tire manufacture	7/17/2008
Q: I put 4 Douglas tires on my wifes Dodge Van in January 08. They are the noisest tires I have ever ... A: Curt, PJ = Kelly Springfeild in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Kelly Springfeild is wholly owned by ...
Rear End Sway Under Load	7/17/2008
Q: Barry, I have a Dodge Ram 5500 with a wrecker body. The tires are Goodyear 225/70R19.5 with a load ... A: Bob, I'm not sure if this is a duplicate post or not. If it is, ignore it, please. I will still ...
max load at psi?	7/17/2008
Q: What is meant by 1550 lbs max load at 35 psi? Most midsize vehicles weigh more than 1550 lbs. Or is ... A: Larry, The figure you referred to is the load carrying capacity of the tire - and in this case, it ...
Viva 2 Tires Purchased from walmart	7/16/2008
Q: I bought a set of 4 tires from walmart, April 2008 - I ran over some gravel in the road and two ... A: Lillie, No this is not typical, but it is also not unheard of. I suggest you go back to WalMart ...
Rear End Sway Under Load	7/16/2008
Q: Barry, I have a Dodge Ram 5500 with a wrecker body. The tires are Goodyear 225/70R19.5 with a load ... A: Bob, It is possible that the tire pressure is causing the problem. So the first step in the ...
Wheel RPM and Air Presure...	7/15/2008
Q: The subject came up that one of our employees was driving around with his rear passenger side tire, ... A: Tim, I don't think you are going to like my answer but here goes: You asked: ...
DOT tire codes	7/14/2008
Q: I recently saw a 2020 undercover report on "new"tires sold in the US. I recently purchased a set of ... A: Dave, You gave me everything except the date code. Look on the other side of the tires. There you ...
maintaining proper tire pressure at high altitude	7/13/2008
Q: Mr. Smith: If my automotive tires are set to 32 p.s.i. at sea level, I understand that my tire ... A: John, Yes, this is true, but you have to consider that the temperature is likely to drop as you go ...
Date coding	7/11/2008
Q: I have two older GoodYear Eagle ST tires they are new old stock with the following information ... A: Ken The DOT codes consist of a 10 to 12 digit number that appear in the immediate vicinity of the ...
Michelin Tires	7/10/2008
Q: I recently purchased a set of LT265/70R17 tires for my Dodge 2500 Diesel truck. Original set was ... A: Kyle, The problem here is that the Hunter GSP9700 uses a relatively small diameter wheel, while the ...
Nissan Pickup Tire Inflation	7/10/2008
Q: Barry, I have a 1994 Nissan Pickup. The placard on the door states GAWR FR 2200, 26 PSI and GAWR ... A: Chris, If I'm giving out advice, I alwas say use the placard pressure and maybe 3 to 5 psi more. ...
tires rotated wrong	7/9/2008
Q: I had tires rotated and heard a thumping noise. Long story - the directional tires were rotated ... A: Cinda, The real problem here is irregular wear which is caused by misalignment and aggravated by ...
Can I use P-metric tires on my truck?	7/8/2008
Q: I own a 1994 Chevy C2500 ext cab Truck. The label on the door jam says the tires should be ... A: Tony, First, the original rims on your truck are 6.5" wide. That means the widest tire you can put ...
Replacing Murano front tires with a different brand.	7/7/2008
Q: Is it acceptable to replace my AWD Murano's front tires with a different brand if I match the size ... A: Kerry, It is not quite clear from the manual what Mitsubishi thinks - and they are the folks in the ...
Mazda Tribute AWD matching tires?	7/6/2008
Q: I have an 02 Tribute with the original tires used only in the summer (studs are on 7 mos of the ... A: Sue, You should check with Mazda to be sure, but I believe they will say that in order to protect ...
Replacing Murano front tires with a different brand.	7/5/2008
Q: Is it acceptable to replace my AWD Murano's front tires with a different brand if I match the size ... A: Kerry, There are slight and not so slight differences in the diameter of tires - even within the ...
Tire pressure - tire rating vs. owner's manual.	7/4/2008
Q: this question may have come up already, if so I have not found it. I ride a motorbike and the ... A: Robert, Did you change tire size? If not, then the pressure listed in the manual is the correct ...
Steering wheel/vehicle vibration	7/3/2008
Q: My kid drove off the road and over a ditch in our 96 Chevy Corsica. The whole tire was wobbling took ... A: Nicole, If the tire was woobling, it means it took quite a hit - and the safe thing to do is ...
Pirelli P215 55R 16 97H	7/1/2008
Q: I have 4 of these all season tires and want to confirm best and max tire inflation. Pirelli website ... A: Bill, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker - commonly called the placard - that will ...
Tire load rating	6/30/2008
Q: My wife and I had 4 tires on my 1999 suburban 1500 2 wheel drive vehicle. the tires are P235/75R15 ... A: Bart, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker commonly - called the vehicle placard - ...
Tire Life	6/30/2008
Q: I put 4 General Radials on my 76 Camaro in 1994. The tires have done about 2000 miles total. They ... A: Chris, Do a quick google and look for tire aging. You will find many statements that say that ...
tire number question	6/29/2008
Q: I have an ATV. the tire sizes are: 22 x 10 x 9 22 x 12 x7 Could you please explain what each of ... A: Ronald, A 22 X 10 - 9 (notice how the size is officialy designated) 22 = Overall diameter in ...
Tire tread wear	6/29/2008
Q: recently i went shopping for a used suv, i found one that fits my budget but the two front tires had ... A: Robert, You should be aware that steering tires tend to wear on the shoulders and drive tires tend ...
Different Size Tires	6/28/2008
Q: Have a 2001 Nissan Altima GXE Special Edition. Door jamb calls for 205 tires. Costco installed ... A: TK, Tire sizing consists of 4 important elements: There are sometimes letters in front of the tire ...
tires, alignment, Mazda 3	6/27/2008
Q: I went to a tire & repair place for new tires and alignment. After they had put on the tires & ... A: Barbara, Unfortunately, things don't stay the same - and that goes for cars as well. Sometimes a ...
steering wheel violently wobbles over 45mph	6/26/2008
Q: We had our relatively new tires on our odessy rotated and rebalanced 3 days ago. All was good with ... A: Andy, It seems quite likely that the road tar is throwing the balance off. You could buy new ...
tire noise	6/26/2008
Q: i have an 02 f150 and last week i put on 17" factory ford wheels with goodyear wranger at/s to ... A: Jason, First step would be to balance the tires. Find someone with a Hunter GSP9700 balancer and ...
2003 honda EX sedan with MXV4 91V	6/26/2008
Q: I need 4 new tires for my 2003 Honda, I have MICH MXV4 on there now. I have an opportunity to ... A: Ron, Going towards a lower speed rating usually hurts handling. So the crispness you feel when you ...
tires, alignment, Mazda 3	6/26/2008
Q: I went to a tire & repair place for new tires and alignment. After they had put on the tires & ... A: Barbara, 1) Yes, there are kits that will allow for increased range of adjustments for alignment - ...
Vibrations & Tires	6/25/2008
Q: I recently had new tires put on my 2002 BMW 525i, prior to which I had no vibrations. After Sears ... A: Christy, You should go back to Sears and tell them you want new tires - a different brand. While ...
2006 Dodge Durango	6/25/2008
Q: I have a 2006 Dodge Durango SUV (non pickup truck) and the required tires are 225/45/R17 however I ... A: Heather, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker - commonly called the placard - that ...
Tires	6/23/2008
Q: I have a 2002 Grand Caravan ES that needs tires. It states I need 215/65/R16 tire size. I have ... A: Karen, No. That would be going down 2 sizes in load carrying capacity and that increases the risk ...
Differing tire pressure recommendations	6/22/2008
Q: I own a 1993 Chevy Suburban. The label on the door jam says the tires should be LT245/75R16 with a ... A: Carin, Ordinarily I don't recommend the replacement of "LT" tires with "P" tires. The reason I ...
AWD tire diameters	6/22/2008
Q: I have worked in the Automotive industry for many years. I am a factory Rep for Alignment systems, ... A: Dave, This is a difficult question to answer - as you have already pointed out - because the answer ...
Downgrade in tire speed ratings	6/21/2008
Q: I have a 2007 Nissan Maxima with 225/55R17, V speed rating tires and am a non-aggressive driver. ... A: Jay, First, changing tires - even within the same size and speed rating - can have a profound ...
Yokohama tires for Maxima-99	6/19/2008
Q: Recently Mr. Tire shop have put a new set of Yokohama tires on my Maxima-99. I have selected the ... A: Michael, There is probably nothing wrong - except the way it looks. The way a tire looks doesn't ...
replacing tires with different size	6/19/2008
Q: I'm getting ready to buy all new tires for my 94 Suburban. It has 245/75/R16 tires on it now. The ... A: Cori, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker - commonly called the placard - that will ...
tire noise	6/18/2008
Q: At 51,000 miles on my 2000 Cavalier I replaced by tires in August, 2006. 2 years and 20,000 miles ... A: Kris, No, this is not normal and it is usually caused by irregular wear - which in turn is usually ...
Toyota 4Runner tires	6/18/2008
Q: I have a 2006 Toyota 4Runner purchased new with Dunlop tires. At 18,000 I have had the car back to ... A: Heidi, I suspect the dealer is trying to get out of this situation as best he can. Diagnosing ...
Michelin Tires Tread Wear Out	6/18/2008
Q: I only had 20K on my Michelin Destiny tires for my Nissan Maxima and the inside of the front tires ... A: Renee, There are a number of situations here: First is that tires generally look OK until just ...
tire load rating vs axle rating	6/17/2008
Q: Is there a relationship between the tire load rating and the axle rating? A: Leslie, Yes. The simple answer is: The load rating of the tire at the specified pressure must be ...
spare tire	6/17/2008
Q: How far is it safe to drive on a small spare tire? Vehicle is Toyota Matrix. A: Linda, If the spare is a minispare - 50 miles at 50 mph max. If it is a fullsize spare - one that ...
Should I really have to replace my tires every 30-40,000 miles	6/17/2008
Q: I purchased a 2005 Hondy Odessey in July of 2005. One of the main features on the vehicle is the PAX ... A: Belinda, You always the right, but you have 70,000 miles on your vehicle and that dilutes any ...
Unrepairable flat	6/17/2008
Q: I have a Mercury Mountaineer with Michelin tires. I picked up a nail in the left rear tire on the ... A: Bob, The Rubber Manufacturers Association, in conjunction with both the tirer manufacturers and the ...
tire cupping on a towed jeep	6/16/2008
Q: I tow my jeep wrangler behind my motorhome on all 4 wheels using a tow bar. After just 2500 miles I ... A: Chris, Cupping is caused by misalignment and aggravated by insufficient inflation pressure and ...
Getting new tires	6/16/2008
Q: Have you every had any complaints about mileage dropping after the purchase a Uniroyal (Tiger Paw) ... A: Kay, You should be aware of a couple of things: 1) New tires have worse fuel economy than worn ...
cupping tires	6/16/2008
Q: I have a 2007 Dodge Caliber and it has a little over 18,000 miles on it. When I took it for its ... A: Kathy, You need to find a shop that will tell you that the alignment has to be within the inner ...
Truck rim question for my 2005 Mercury Mountaineer	6/16/2008
Q: I am having trouble with my old rims that i used to have on my blazer. They are size 255/55/r18. I ... A: John, GM and Ford use different bolt circles. They are only 0.4mm different in diameter, but that ...
cupping tires	6/15/2008
Q: I have a 2007 Dodge Caliber and it has a little over 18,000 miles on it. When I took it for its ... A: Kathy, Correct me if I am wrong, but tires aren't covered by the warranty because they are ...
Tires 4 wheel drive	6/15/2008
Q: I have a Jeep Cherokee Laredo 2003 that needs new front tires. The salesman said that I need to buy ... A: Julie, The overall diameter of tires is important for All Wheel Drive and 4X4's because differences ...
Tire cracking and life	6/15/2008
Q: I have just acquired a car whose tires are said to be 'perished and cracking'.I do have some close ... A: Peter, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker commonly - called the vehicle placard - ...
Tire Rotation Questions...	6/15/2008
Q: I have seen the recommendations to put 2 NEW tires on the rear of the car, if only buying two tires. ... A: Jeff, The difference between tires with 7/32nds and 8/32nds is so small that it doesn't matter. ...
tire purchase	6/14/2008
Q: I just purchased 4 Yokohama YK520 93V tires. when I got home I looked more closely and the tires ... A: Linda, It is extremely bad form to sell someone something different that what he thinks he is ...
Trailer tires-which ones	6/13/2008
Q: I have a 19" boat on a single axle trailer.The stamp on trailer says 205-14 inch tires 35# air 3000 ... A: Phil, I'm going to take a guess that the stamp on the trailer says: ST205/75R14 Load Range B and ...
Yokohoma tires - new	6/13/2008
Q: I just purchased four new yokohoma tires for my trailblazer. Everything seems fine, until you ride ... A: Michelle, First, you have a specific problem with a specific tire, but other than the manufacturer, ...
Yokohoma tires - new	6/13/2008
Q: I just purchased four new yokohoma tires for my trailblazer. Everything seems fine, until you ride ... A: Michelle, This condition is called groove wander and it is caused by the grooves in the tires ...
LT245/7516E BRIDGESTONE DUELLER AT REVO	6/13/2008
Q: JUST INSTALLED THE TIRES ABOVE ON A 2000 2500 CHEVY. ALL TIRES ARE PROPERLY INFLATED AT 80PSI. THE ... A: Ron, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker - commonly called the placard - that lists ...
Innerliner	6/13/2008
Q: I have a problem in my factory that occurs to the interline in curing process, sometimes at the ... A: Ngoc, If it is difficult to diagnose this stuff without seeing the defect, but this sounds like a ...
Tire cracking and life	6/12/2008
Q: I have just acquired a car whose tires are said to be 'perished and cracking'.I do have some close ... A: Peter, I saw the photo and if this is the 13 year old tire, it looks exactly like I'd expect a 13 ...
How much air in H3 tire	6/12/2008
Q: How much air am i suppose to have on my H3 tires i have 16 inch tires that came with my H3 and i ... A: Mimi, In order answer your question, I need three bits of information: On every vehicle sold in ...
Tire cured	6/12/2008
Q: I worked in the manufacturing. I have a knotty problem, Tire after cured, the area the rim line or ... A: Nam, This is going to require a number of steps. 1) Section the tire and see if the cracks are ...
tire fitting question	6/12/2008
Q: I have an 03 astro cargo AWD van. the tires are a P215/60R 16. I destroy tires. I notice that ... A: Colin, For you, there are no other options. The other vehicles you mentioned use LT metric tires ...
Tire cracking and life	6/11/2008
Q: I have just acquired a car whose tires are said to be 'perished and cracking'.I do have some close ... A: Peter, If you've read some of my answers, you'll know that a 13 year old tire should be replaced ...
Tire sizes	6/10/2008
Q: will a p205 40r17 tire fit the same rim as a p205 50r17 with no complications? And what do the 40 ... A: Katie, You need to read up on tire sizing and Tire Rack has done a better job than I could: ...
Cupping of Tires	6/9/2008
Q: 2004 Tahoe - 4wd - both the original Bridgestones and a replacement set of Michelin Cross Terrains ... A: Jack, Cupping is caused by misalignment and aggravated by insufficient inflation pressure and ...
tire pressures	6/9/2008
Q: I need to know the difference between the tires pressures during winter and summer. A: Brian, If you mean: "What are the differences between operating pressures between summer and ...
99 sat sl2 low profile tires	6/8/2008
Q: As you may guess from the subject line, I have a 99 saturn sl2. I bought my car without the stock ... A: Ashleigh, You asked "Did they really fix the tire in the first place." I hope you realize that I ...
LT tires on an SUV	6/7/2008
Q: I am looking to replace the tires on my 2007 Pontiac Torrent (AWD) with some LT tires. I have not ... A: Paul, I am not a fan of replacing "P" tires with "LT" tires - and apparently I am not alone!. ...
proper tire pressure	6/6/2008
Q: I just bought a '94 jeep wrangler, but have no manual. I'm trying to find out the proper tire ... A: Steve, I forgot to tell you that the placard is usually located on a doorpost or in the glove box - ...
"indents" in tire sidewall	6/6/2008
Q: I have BF Goodrich Momenta S/E P215/75R15 whitewalls with 14,000 miles and have noticed one slight ... A: Alex, Every passenger car tire will have one of these for every ply. They may be hard to find, but ...
Tire Pressure tolerance on Run Flats	6/6/2008
Q: I have run flats on my Cooper and the placard says to inflate to 35psi. Is it ok to overinflate by ... A: Dick, I'm not quite sure how to structure this answer, so bear with me if it gets a little wordy. ...
proper tire pressure	6/6/2008
Q: I just bought a '94 jeep wrangler, but have no manual. I'm trying to find out the proper tire ... A: Steve, On every vehicle sold in the US there is a sticker - commonly called the vehicle placard ...
Pulling left	6/2/2008
Q: I have an S reg fiesta which has been serviced yearly. I do very little mileage (10-15 miles per ... A: Adele, It is obvious that the problem is in the tires - and just the pair on the front (which used ...
Tire Size	5/31/2008
Q: I had to replace my tires on a 2006 Acura TL, original size was P235/45R17. The Goodyear dealer sold ... A: George, That level of tire size change is small compared to the difference between tires. In other ...
Tire size	5/30/2008
Q: I purchased a 2004 Chrysler Pacifica last year and recently had a blow out with one of my ... A: Tamara, First find the vehicle placard. It is usually located on a doorpost or in the glovebox. ...
Jeep Liberty tires	5/27/2008
Q: I have a 2003 Jeep Liberty that needs new tires. It currently has P235 70R16 tires on the stock ... A: David, You need to match load carrying capacity. To do otherwise is to compromise safety. That ...
tires/wheels	5/27/2008
Q: I have a 04 Lincoln LS with 20 inch wheels and 225/35-20 Nito Nt420 tires. Ever since I bought ... A: Marlene, If the tire shop that sold you the tires will not stand behind the product they sold you, ...
tires/wheels	5/27/2008
Q: I have a 04 Lincoln LS with 20 inch wheels and 225/35-20 Nito Nt420 tires. Ever since I bought ... A: Marlene, Have you had the tires and wheels rebalanced? Did the wheels come with hub rings? Did ...
195 or 205 and what's the difference?	5/25/2008
Q: Bought a GEO 95 Tracker. On my way to PO to get Owner's Manual got a flat. Tow took me to their ... A: Bobbe, You need to read up on tire sizing, and Tire Rack did a pretty good job of it: ...
Use of Lt tire on SUV	5/24/2008
Q: Barry I've appreciated your answers to other questions. I've read about being cautious about ... A: Don, I am not a fan of using LT tires in place of "P" tires and this is one of those. LT tires ...
Tire Installation	5/24/2008
Q: This is my problem - my car started making a loud clunking noise from the rear immediately ... A: Amy, This seems fairly unlikely, but possible. The brake caliper bracket is fairly strong and ...
CRV 2005 Tyres	5/22/2008
Q: Original tyre size was 215/65/R16 which were replaced with 235/60/R16 thinking of good road grip & ... A: CRVTYRE, Changing tire size is a minor change compared the effect the difference in the tire itself ...
tires	5/21/2008
Q: My Japanese Yanmar tractor was EOM with 5.00x14 lug front tires rated 10ply. Busted a front tire on ... A: Don, What does the owners manual say about inflation pressure? Or what does the vehicle ...
Put new tires/rims and have shimmy	5/20/2008
Q: First of all thankyou for your time. I have an 02 VW golf TDI. I originally had P195/65R15 Goodyear ... A: Josh, I'll bet these require a hub ring. Check with the rim manufacturer to get the specs. Let me ...
Put new tires/rims and have shimmy	5/20/2008
Q: First of all thankyou for your time. I have an 02 VW golf TDI. I originally had P195/65R15 Goodyear ... A: Josh, When you installed the 17" rims did they require a hub ring? It is fairly common for ...
Tires	5/20/2008
Q: I recently purchased some Hankook tires. They are on the rear of my 2002 Honda Accord. They sound ... A: Matthew, The first thing I would do is check the inflation pressure. If you are using the same ...
Tire size	5/20/2008
Q: I have a 2004 GMC K2500HD - 6.0 V8 w/ a 4.10 rear. Tires are 245/75/16 - want to change to ... A: Kent, I hate to throw cold water on your idea, but the stock rim is too narrow for a 295/75R16. If ...
Wheels/Rims	5/18/2008
Q: How do you measure the size of a rim on a vehicle? A: Babatunde, The rim should be stamped with the nominal size somewhere. The dimensions are typically ...
Tire air pressure and rotation	5/17/2008
Q: Barry, I recently bought some Firestone Destination M/T with UNI-T and I love them. The guy at ... A: Phil, On every vehicle sold in the US, there is a sticker - commonly called the placard - that will ...
tire air pressure and different sizes	5/16/2008
Q: I have a 99 Miata. I'm puzzled that when I just bought a set of Doral 195/50 R15 81H M+S tires that ... A: Dick, On every vehicle there is a sticker - commonly called the placard - that will list the ...
Inside tire wear	5/15/2008
Q: I have a 2007 Dodge Caliber I've had the tire rotated has they should. I started hearing noise that ... A: Raymond, There is no question about adding tread rubber back onto the tire - it just doesn't ...
Tire noise	5/13/2008
Q: I have a '06 Honda Civic Coupe. I bought a set of tires from wal*Mart and they are incredibly ... A: Mark, Tire noise is a function of 2 things: The tire and the pavement. Pavement has some inherent ...
Expiry date of tires????	5/13/2008
Q: The tires on my car were purchased & installed in January 2002. The tread is still in reasonably ... A: John, There have been many recent bulletins on the subject, but the answer is far from clear. My ...
Tire Worn Out	5/13/2008
Q: I would like to ask if given the same condition, like same vehicle and same usage, which tire will ... A: Ronaldo, What I said about passenger car tires applies to motorcycle tires as well: There are just ...
Tire Worn Out	5/13/2008
Q: I would like to ask if given the same condition, like same vehicle and same usage, which tire will ... A: Ronaldo, Unfortunately, you can not have "like" conditions. There is always something that ...
tire upgrade	5/12/2008
Q: I drive a 1999 mitsubishi montero sport xls. I currently carry 235/75r15. I read on a tire website ... A: Gary, You can not make this change unless you also change the rims. The P265/70R15 came with a 7" ...
Tire pressure	5/11/2008
Q: I just bought a 55 chevy that has 145/65R/15 front tires (its a drag car but will have some street ... A: Doug, This is going to be difficult because the vehicle has been modified extensively and the ...
manufacture dates	5/10/2008
Q: How do you read "dates of manufacture" on Firestone and Goodyear tires? A: Bill, ALL tires are required by law to have a DOT number (It's also called the serial number). It ...
Age on my tires	5/10/2008
Q: My General tires show a code of DOT P566 1UP 30x9.50R15LT 104S. How old are my tires..? I just ... A: Tracie, The DOT code is incomplete. DOT Codes are 10 to 12 digits long. The one you supplied my ...
Correct Tire Inflation	5/9/2008
Q: Hey ! I have upgraded the wheels on my vw golf . Now i have 17" rims with Michelin Pilot Sport ... A: Mario, The placard on your vehicle is the starting point for the calculation. You need those ...
tire pressure	5/9/2008
Q: Similar to past posts I require the load table info, that can help me set my oversize tires at ... A: Steve, Because the tire is 3 sizes larger than stock, I'm having trouble deciding how far is going ...
tire pressure	5/8/2008
Q: Similar to past posts I require the load table info, that can help me set my oversize tires at ... A: Steve, Normally a larger tire would result in a lower inflation pressure. But I do not recommend ...
Correct Pressure Using Oversize Tires	5/7/2008
Q: I have a 1992 Isuzu Rodeo that I purchased recently, and it has oversize tires (Cooper Discoverer ... A: David, The correct way to do this is to match the load carrying capacity of the original tires - ...
Shaking/bouncing	5/6/2008
Q: My 1999 3/4 ton GMC 4wd Suburban developed a very bad shaking and vibration front and rear. It is ... A: Butch, wheel end vibrations are usually confined to either the front - in the steering wheel - or ...
bad tires	5/6/2008
Q: i just went on a trip with desert dog tires on my 1994 f250 about 180 miles into the trip my front ... A: Eric, On every tire is a serial number. It is located in the vicinity of the letters "DOT" and ...
Tire vibration	5/6/2008
Q: Barry, John mentioned that my question was "outside of my expertise" and therefore could not ... A: T, There are a number of possibilities and tires is only one of them. First, rotate the tires and ...
Inside/Outside Designation	5/4/2008
Q: I recently purchased a set of Continental Sport LX for my son's 05 Rav 4 and asked the sales person ... A: Wade, It is not uncommon for a large retailer to want a "different" tire. This has a number of ...
Inside/Outside Designation	5/3/2008
Q: I recently purchased a set of Continental Sport LX for my son's 05 Rav 4 and asked the sales person ... A: Wade, It is hard to say without looking at a picture of the tread pattern - and your description of ...
low profile tires	5/3/2008
Q: I just bought 4 low profile tires 215/45/17. People are telling me my tires are on backwards I've ... A: Julie, If the tires say "This side out" or words to that effect and that side is out, that is good. ...
radial pinch	4/30/2008
Q: I recently had a front wheel bearing go out on my wife's car and in the process the mechanic told us ... A: Bret, You have 2 separate issues here. 1) "Slipped belts": Belts don't slip, but I suspect what ...
number of plys	4/29/2008
Q: I know the number of plys correspond to the load-carrying capacity of a tire. I've also always ... A: Herb, I'll explain it this way. The single most important feature when it comes to flats and ...
nailed tired	4/26/2008
Q: I bought 40,000 miles tire and now just finished 20,000 miles and one tire has nail in it. All the ... A: Shafi, If you live where wet traction is a concern, it is probably time to replace all the tires ...
tire pressure	4/26/2008
Q: I HAVE A 2000 DODGE DURANGO THAT I RUN 31X10.5R15 TIRES ON.WHAT IS THE PROPER TIRE PRESSURE? A: Tim, One of the option sizes for a 2000 Dodge Durango was a 31X10.50R15LT - and that ought to be ...
tires	4/26/2008
Q: can i put a 225/60/16 instead of a 235/60/16 on a 1999 cadillac? A: Rebecca, This is not a good idea. That would be going down in load carrying capacity and that ...
blown tire	4/25/2008
Q: i have a set of Wanli 205/40zr17 84w tires on my 1997 honda civic dx. i blew one out and was ... A: Darcy, I'm a little confused. You say you have a set of 205/40ZR17 84W's and youwant to replace ...
Tire Noise/Choice	4/24/2008
Q: I understand that tire size may be less of a factor when it comes to noise and vibration, given ... A: Frank, As a general rule, the more boring a tread pattern, more less noise it is going to make. So ...
tires and smooth ride	4/24/2008
Q: I recently purchased a 2004 Nissan Armada off road SE. It cames with 22" rims and tires which made ... A: Lisa, First step is to make sure the inflation pressure is right. On every vehicle sold in the US ...
tire comparison	4/21/2008
Q: I own a 2005 Nissan murano and would like to replace the tires. The existing tires are Goodyear ... A: Ron, If you are satisifed with the tires that are on there now, then get them again. If not, then ...
Profile, Pressure, & rolling resistance	4/20/2008
Q: My 04 Camry (LE) 4 cylinder was originally equipped with P205/65R15 92H tires. A more deluxe ... A: Harry, It's hard to do these comparison because if you change one factor another also gets changed. ...
'65 Mercedes S220	4/18/2008
Q: I'm restoring a 1965 S220 and it has the original 14" alloys, however i feel the tires are too small ... A: Ali, There are 2 directions you could go: 1) Try to keep the car as original as possible The ...
tire & wheel size affect on road noise	4/16/2008
Q: My 2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe has sport tuned suspension and 19" wheels with 40 profile tires and ... A: Dan, I'm sorry, but the reason I didn't answer your question is that noise doesn't have anything to ...
Size compatibility	4/16/2008
Q: Barry, I have a 2002 Nissan Altima. The standard tire size is 205/65/16. Someone gave me some ... A: Bob, This is a bad idea for four reasons: 1) The load carrying capacity of the tires is lower and ...
broken belt	4/16/2008
Q: what causes belts to bereak in tires? A: Rick, The term "broken belt" is widely misused. I'd estimate that 95% of the time the term is ...
tire & wheel size affect on road noise	4/16/2008
Q: My 2006 Infiniti G35 Coupe has sport tuned suspension and 19" wheels with 40 profile tires and ... A: Dan, No there isn't a noise rating. Tire noise is not only the tire, but also the pavement - and ...
Recommended tire pressure	4/16/2008
Q: I've inherited a boat and trailer from my father. The dual axle trailer has Carlisle ST225/75R15 ... A: Tom, Since ride is not a consideration for a trailer, I'd recommend you use the maximum pressure as ...
Reccommended cold tire pressure for 2000 tahoe new body style	4/16/2008
Q: 3 vortec 4x4 LT ducks unlimited conversion with autoride that originally came with 265/70/16, the ... A: Ryan, The original tires had the letter "P" in front of them. I do not recommend switching from P ...
Uneven wear on K1500	4/15/2008
Q: I have a '92 GMC K1500 that is showing uneven wear on all four tires. The tires are wearing on the ... A: Sean An LT225/75R16 at 50 psi has a load carrying capacity of 1940#. A P245/70R16 has a maximum ...
800 x 14 tires	4/14/2008
Q: What is today's equivalent tire size for the old 800 x 14? A: Ron, Unfortunately, there isn't an exact answer. The sizing system are enough different that you ...
old tires	4/13/2008
Q: I sent this Toyota and BBB, tires are dry rotting only 2 and half years old come to find out they ... A: Scott, There are a number of issues here, so let me divide this into sections: Technical: ...
Tires and noise	4/12/2008
Q: I read the post on wheels bearing vs. tires and I have a similar problem. I just put on new ... A: Jon, I'm going to guess that the second set of used tires have irregular wear on them - and that's ...
Tires and noise	4/12/2008
Q: I read the post on wheels bearing vs. tires and I have a similar problem. I just put on new ... A: Jon, There's some bits of missing information that are going to be necessary to resolving this. 1) ...
cracks in the tread	4/9/2008
Q: The tires are Hankook DynaPro MT, 35X12.50 R15LT's, they have small cracks running all through the ... A: Dan, Cracking is a natural result of tires aging and the amount of stress a tire experiences. So ...
tire load capacities	4/9/2008
Q: is there some place I can find a chart that would show me the load capacities for different size ... A: Susan, I'm sorry, but these charts are hard to find - and are designed more for vehicle designers ...
tire size	4/9/2008
Q: I have a 1999 Fleetwood with 225 75 16 tires on it. That is what the door label calls for. I was ... A: Don, If you look carefully, the door label says the tire size should be LT225/75R16. The tire size ...
Proper Tire Inflation	4/7/2008
Q: My 93 Honda Civic came with 175/70 R13 82S @32 PSI according to the placard. The new wheels and ... A: Eric, Your reasoning is correct - with the provision that you are not dealing with Extra Load tires ...
Tire Wear on Altima	4/7/2008
Q: I have a 2000 Nissan Altima that seems to cause uneven tire wear quickly. I try to get good quality ... A: Jeff, It's obvious there is something wrong with the car. 4 sets of tires are telling you that. ...
goodyear tires ST235/80r16 D load	4/6/2008
Q: I have checked my Titanium 2002 RV in storage and find I have small side wall cracks appearing on ... A: Alan, Cracking is the natural result of the degradation of the rubber. It is a combination of ...
P-metrics on Ram 2500 diesel long-bed... Help!	4/5/2008
Q: I bought this truck used and noticed a week later that it had P-metric tires on it (P265/75/16). ... A: Dave, The pressure specified by Dodge on the placard is not only for vehicle handling, but also ...
81 Blazer 4x4 with wide wheels	4/4/2008
Q: Sorry did not think it was conflicting. I basically have some really wide but low profile tires on ... A: Tomas, OK, so you don't know the rim size, but you're sure they are replacement rims. I really ...
dually tires	4/3/2008
Q: i am lookin at taking off my factory rims an tires off my 06 duramax dually . an replacing them with ... A: Nicholas, As a basic rule, these low profile tires don't have enough load carrying capacity. ...
Repeated tread separation on right rear	4/3/2008
Q: I have had 3 successive tread separations on the right rear of my 1999 Chevy Express Van 3500. I ... A: Paul, OK, it looks like you've got the failure description right, so let's move to the next item. ...
Repeated tread separation on right rear	4/3/2008
Q: I have had 3 successive tread separations on the right rear of my 1999 Chevy Express Van 3500. I ... A: Raul, What do you use this vehicle for? Have you ever weighed this van when you are carrying a ...
dually tires	4/3/2008
Q: i am lookin at taking off my factory rims an tires off my 06 duramax dually . an replacing them with ... A: Nicholas, If I understand you correctly. you want to put on 22.5 rims and use a 305/45r22. I'm ...
dry rot in tires	4/2/2008
Q: I have been told that my tires on a 2001 Ford have dry rot. These are the originals as far as I ... A: Dell, When it comes to dry rot, there is no way to be sure how much time you have left before ...
Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 VSB	4/2/2008
Q: I have 1994 Mitsubishi 3000GTSL with 128,000 miles on it. Less than a year ago (4/27/07) I purchased ... A: Teresa, There are 3 things going on: 1) The fact that you are driving so little means you are ...
bigger tire size change for a class C MH - Ford E450 chassis	3/31/2008
Q: I have 6 inch wide, 16 in wheels, that accomodate the OEM standard LT225/75R16/E tire. For many ... A: Steve, Aside from the issue of dual spacing, there is the issue of clearance in the fenderwells. ...
LT tires on a 1500	3/31/2008
Q: I have an 04 Silverado and pull a 22' trailer. I am well within my spec'd weights for the truck in ... A: Jeff, If you are operating the vehicle within the towing limits as established by the vehicle ...
LT tires on a 1500	3/31/2008
Q: I have an 04 Silverado and pull a 22' trailer. I am well within my spec'd weights for the truck in ... A: Jeff, A P245/75R16 has a load carrying capacity of 1914 # at 30 psi and 2065 at 35 psi. An ...
Substituting Tires	3/31/2008
Q: I have a 1992 Lincoln Mark V11 with tires size 225/60-16. Can I put these tires on my 1998 Buick ... A: Pamela, If you are asking if the wheels from the Lincoln fit the Buick - No, they have different ...
Tire size spec 215/65R16 vs 215/60R16	3/30/2008
Q: Are the 215 width and 65 profile measured in millimeters? How much smaller tread diameter is a ... A: Alan, If I am reading your question correctly, you are thinking about replacing a P215/65R16 with a ...
2002 F150 SuperCrew 4x4	3/29/2008
Q: Great info here. The placard on my Ford says original tires were a LT245/75R16D. When I purchased ... A: Al, Yes, it makes complete sense! GVWR = Gross vehicle Weight Rating - meaning the most this ...
2002 F150 SuperCrew 4x4	3/29/2008
Q: Great info here. The placard on my Ford says original tires were a LT245/75R16D. When I purchased ... A: Al, First, you should try to match the load carrying capacity of the original tires on the truck - ...
"broken" tire?	3/27/2008
Q: A couple of weeks ago I had a mostly if not completely flat tire and didn't know it, ended up ... A: Paul, The mechanic wasn't very eloquent, but he was correct. A tire that has been run low enough ...
LT tires on a 1500	3/26/2008
Q: I have an 04 Silverado and pull a 22' trailer. I am well within my spec'd weights for the truck in ... A: Jeff, Unfortunately these load tables are not allowed to be published. The book they are in is the ...
Tire leak only when it is cold, but the repair shop can't find it	3/26/2008
Q: I bought a one year old Jeep Liberty about a year ago. Right away the tires started getting flat ... A: Penn, I suspect your rims are leaking - thorough the metal. The way to tell is to submerge the ...
Tire size and Ply	3/25/2008
Q: I have a 18' trailer for hauling my tractor and such. When I bought it used, it had P215/75R15 ... A: Tony, The first step is to weigh the trailer with everything on it that you can think of that could ...
tire size	3/25/2008
Q: I changed tires on my '06 F150 Ford 4x4 with a 5.4 engine from 275.65.18 to 325.65.18, more for ... A: Mike, First, any time you change tires, the vehicle warranty may be voided. The only way to be ...
Mixing Tire Brands on Duals	3/25/2008
Q: Barry, I blew a inner dual tire on a motorhome less than 1/4 mile away from the location where I ... A: Curt, Dualed tires should be matched up as close as possible - and different brands would be a deal ...
goodyear eagle	3/22/2008
Q: last week i replaced a tire with a 94v rating with the same. this week the dealer replace other ... A: Greg, Between V and W, the tires would only be slightly different. Not enough to worry about - but ...
2 new tires on front drive car; front or rear?	3/22/2008
Q: I read you interesting response to a post on the above subject about a study you carried out on ... A: Graham, This "study" was more of a demonstration, so it wasn't a formal test with highly ...
goodyear eagle	3/21/2008
Q: last week i replaced a tire with a 94v rating with the same. this week the dealer replace other ... A: Greg, It is best to have 4 new tires that are all the same on a car. Next best are 4 tires that ...
Alignment or new strut	3/20/2008
Q: 2001 Hyundai Elantra with 98,000 miles, Car runs great except for unusual tire wear pattern on left ... A: John, Possibly. Misalignment can cause irregular wear and that would cause a noise or a vibration. ...
Alignment or new strut	3/19/2008
Q: 2001 Hyundai Elantra with 98,000 miles, Car runs great except for unusual tire wear pattern on left ... A: John, The obvious first step is to get an alignment - the LR has a problem the other positions ...
Fix a Flat use	3/18/2008
Q: I purchased 4 brand new Michelin 80M tires at my local membership warehouse (Sep 2007) and had two ... A: Mark, The stuff that seals in the inject-in sealants is very messy to deal with - especially when a ...
Trailer Tires - 6 ply vs. 8 ply	3/18/2008
Q: I have a 5x10 ft tilt-bed flat bed trailer. I changed out the rims when I purchased it 8 years ago ... A: Barry, The terms "6 ply" and "8 ply" are confusing because many folks think that means that is the ...
How long is tire life with car stored?	3/16/2008
Q: I have a collector vehicle (Dodge Challenger) stored in my garage. I drive it around the block a few ... A: Brad, The recommendation to put a a car on jack stands comes from trying to prevent the formation ...
Replace tyre size	3/15/2008
Q: I have a Toyota Matrix 2007 with tyres P205/55R16. I would like to replace them with P185/65R15 used ... A: Lancy, I hope you realize that 15" tires do not fit on 16" rims - so you would have to purchase ...
V rated tires	3/14/2008
Q: Single mom - 3 children. Just so you know where I am coming from - purchased 2004 Honda Accord EX 4 ... A: Cheryl, Th