Tires can be tricky – they’re easy to forget about unless something goes wrong. But just like your car, your tires need some TLC too. Most of us just go to our neighborhood ‘tire guy’ when something goes wrong, but why not arm ourselves with some neat tips & tricks so we can be our own tire guy (or gal)?
Reading and understanding your Accelera tire can be complicated and confusing since there’s a lot going on on your sidewall. But that information is important and can be extremely useful to you! It can help you identify what type of tire you need to buy next, or how high of quality they are, or how fast you can safely drive on them without burning them up, or how much weight you can put on them without blowing them out. With all these newfound uses you now know about, follow along our complete breakdown of how to read and understand your tire.
Taking your car in to get your tires rotated regularly may seem tedious and it might even be something you forget to do at times – but DON’T SLACK ON IT! It’ll cost you way more on the other end if you blow it off. Don’t worry, we’re here to teach you how, when, and why you should seriously care about rotating your tires.
Let’s start with the motivating factor – WHY? Rotating your tires helps them wear evenly and at the same time. If ignored, this can shorten the life of your tires, requiring you to replace them more often than you’d otherwise have to, or it could cause problems while driving that may eventually lead to a blowout. Either way, definitely not worth the risk. We recommend that you rotate your tires every 5000-7000 miles, which is typically around every 6 months. The best way to rotate them is in what’s called a “cross-rotation pattern.” This gives you optimally balanced tread wear and maximum tread life. A cross-rotational pattern means moving the left-front tire to the right-rear axle – then the right-front tire to the left-rear axle, etc. Below is a chart that categorizes the best rotational pattern per your vehicle type.
Your Vehicle Type | Tire Type | Rotational Pattern |
---|---|---|
Rear & four-wheel drive | Directional | Rearward cross or X |
Front-wheel drive | Non-directional | Forward cross or X |
Same-size wheels | Directional | Front to rear |
Different-size wheel | Non-directional | Side to side |
It’s a bummer, but it’s inevitable. At some point, your Accelera tires will wear down. Knowing how to check your tread depth on your own can help you know when it’s time to replace your tires and be sure your tires are wearing evenly. However, you can increase the longevity of your tires by avoiding things such as uneven tire wear. Easier than done, of course, especially when you don’t know how to prevent or even identify that. Well that’s why we’re here. We’ve got all the tips you’re looking for.
Maintaining proper tread depth will help you sustain good traction while driving on wet roads. Being vigilant of your tires’ condition is the best way to avoid excessive or uneven wear. To do so, check your tread depth regularly, then take action when needed. To check your tread depth, use a quarter inserted upside down into the tire groove. If you can see above George Washington’s head, you need to replace your tires. If you notice uneven tread wear, take your car to get your tires rotated.
Vehicle misalignment can be tricky to diagnose since it’s not quite as obvious as something like a cut or a flat tire. Nonetheless, it’s important to check because wheel alignment ensures optimal drivability. This just means it helps your tires last longer, your vehicle driving smoother, and your wheels pointed in the right direction. To make it an even sweeter deal, this also means it uses less energy to do all of these things and therefore saves you gas as well.
On the flip side, misalignment can have a drastically negative effect on the steering and stability of your car. Plus, it can also cause rapid and uneven tire wear. The best way to avoid all of this is by checking your vehicle’s alignment about every 6000 miles or so. You should also be sure to check it after a collision, if it is used continuously on rough roads (particularly those with large potholes), and/or if you notice uneven tread wear. Squealing tires may also be a sign of misalignment. Finally, if you feel the steering “pulling” in one direction when driving straight on a flat road with no crosswind, you should have the alignment checked and adjusted at your local auto shop.
Tire damage can be terrifying, as is the bill to get it fixed. The easiest way to deal with it is just to avoid it altogether. Of course, some have better luck with this than others, and sometimes stuff just happens, but we’ll armor you with some information and tips on how to prevent tire damage as best as you can. To kick this off, we’ll explain four of the most common types of damage: irregular wear, impact damage, cuts, and punctures.
This is when one part of the tire wears more quickly than others. This can be one sided wear, center wear, or braking flat tops. Another common example is called head to toe wear; this is when there’s higher wear on the block run-out edge. Not sure what that means? Don’t worry, you’re not alone. This happens when tire air pressure is incorrect. To avoid irregular wear on your Accelera beauties, make sure your air pressure is accurate and you’re rotating your tires regularly.
This involves damage to the carcass – aka the casing of the tire. It most often includes breaks or bulges. If you notice an externally visible bulge on the sidewall, that means that cords have been destroyed. While some impact damage is hard to avoid, curbs and similar obstacles, such as potholes, should only be driven over at a wide angle and at a relatively slow speed.
Cuts are pretty self-explanatory and typically pretty obvious to spot. They’re usually a result of sharp objects on the road. Unfortunately, once they happen, there’s really no way around it. Go see your local tire dealer immediately.
These are also usually a result of sharp objects on the road, but could be a bit harder to spot than cuts. They can vary in size, which then varies the severity of their effects. The most common consequence would be losing tire pressure. You’ll most likely need to visit your local tire dealer for these as well.
When trying to repair any of these damages, it’s important to remember that external “plugs” are not recommended – repairs should be made from the inside. In other words, just hire a professional. And make sure they do it well.
In terms of trying to prevent tire damage, there are few things it’s best to avoid altogether. Avoid potholes, curbs, and debris in the road – however, don’t recklessly swerve into another lane to do so. Check to see if it’s a safe option first and if it’s not, continue at a safe or lower speed to minimize the impact. Also, avoid overloading your vehicle. Overloading can severely damage your tires or even cause a blowout, so check your owner’s manual to make sure you’re not overloading your tires. Finally, keep your tires properly inflated. This will lengthen the life of your tires, improve your gas mileage, and give you better handling, more dependable traction, and a better ride.
Believe it or not, under inflation is the leading cause of tire failure. The bad news is: low tire pressure can cause tires to lose their grip, especially on wet surfaces, which means you could be slipping and sliding into much worse damage. The great news is: it’s completely preventable! Here are our tips on ensuring your tire pressure is at its optimal level.
For starters, be sure to keep your tire pressure at the recommended level. You can find this number in your car owner’s manual or on your car door. Also, it’s best if you check your tire pressure regularly, which means about once a month. The most effective time to do this is in the morning when pressure is cool and stabilized. And if for some reason you experience sudden and/or abnormal pressure loss, make sure to check the valve system for leakage.
This may be one of the many evils of your life, but it’s necessary for all of us at some point – replacing your tires. We think it’s pretty obvious which tires you should use (Accelera tires, man!), but it’s not always as clear to know how you should be replacing your tires. Never fear, we’re here to help.
We’re focusing specifically on replacing less than 4 tires at a time. The biggest rule we have: install tires either in matched pairs or complete sets. Our second biggest rule: it’s absolutely essential that side-by-side pairs are the same – same construction, size, brand, type, you name it. Installing different tires on the left and right sides can significantly upset the handling balance of your car, as well as its ABS operation. It’s also highly desired that front and rear pairs match as well. Additionally, if you only replace two tires, put the new tires on the back axle/rear wheels. This will help with control on wet roads. If you lose traction in the rear, your car will spin, meaning you want the best control to be in the back.
We cover a lot of information about the outside of the tire, but what about the inside? That’s what we’ve dedicated this tire construction page to: understanding how your tire is built and everything that goes inside of it. There’s a lot that goes into an Accelera tire, so pay close attention; we’re starting from the outside and working our way in.
Note: LT tires (commercial applications) may have an extra casing ply, an extra belt, a stronger belt steel cord, and/or larger bead with more sidewall rubber, for the purpose of higher load carrying capacities.
This section is devoted to the movers and shakers of the driving world. For those of you that have a boatload to carry and a pilgrimage to carry it through, this one’s for you. But also, for those of you that only have a little to carry or just want to be knowledgeable and safe…this one’s for you too. We’re all inclusive here.
Overloading is the second leading cause of tire failure. Exceeding the maximum load range can cause excessive wear, reduce tire life due to structural damage, and include the potential for sudden failure. So, let’s avoid an unexpected blowout, deal? This index is there for a reason. Check it, memorize, do NOT exceed it. For most vehicles, the max load is printed on the same label as the recommended tire pressure (found in your car’s manual). If applicable, be sure not to overlook the tongue-weight of a trailer; this weight acts directly on the vehicle’s tires.
Keeping your Accelera tires in good condition is essential to maintaining safety while on the road. There are many potential problems you could run into in terms of tire care. To help you prevent some of those problems, we’ve compiled a list of 8 general tire safety tips.