There are a lot of old wives tales, myths, and misconceptions about the tires on your car. Your car rests on your tires, so lets explore some of the most popular misconceptions.
1. A tire will burst if you exceed the maximum pressure.
A good new tire can withstand a large amount of interior pressure, even exceeding the maximum without bursting. An old or low quality tire or a damaged tire may burst. It’s important to keep your tires in good repair.
2. The maximum pressure listed on your tire is the proper inflation.
There is a maximum pressure listed on the tire and there is a maximum pressure listed on the driver side door jamb. The government recommends that car maker overrides the tire manufacturer. The higher the pressure of the tire, the less grip it has on the road. If you have an older model car, the placard with the maximum pressure could be any number of places on your car, including the glove box or trunk
3. Budget brand tires are as good as the name brands.
It’s true that many of the budget brands are produced by the same manufacturer as the premium tires. But, you get what you pay for. Manufacturers spend less time testing the bargain tires than they do the premium set. Cheaper tires are generally tested just to the bare legal standard.
4. All season tires have better wet road grip than summer tires.
You have a better chance of having true all season traction in the higher performance tires. All season tires are designed to have greater mobility in the snow. Summer tires perform better in the rain because they are designed that way. It’s difficult to design a tire that will perform well under all conditions.
5. Plenty of tread means plenty of tire life.
It’s not necessarily true that a deep treads will last longer. Lower quality tires have shorter life spans because the rubber degrades faster. The longer a tire sits, the quicker it will degrade. Tires need the heat produced by the friction on the road to stay flexible and prevents cracking.
6. Retreads aren’t safe and don’t last as long.
Retreads are just as safe as new tires. Even airlines and big rigs use retread tires. Quality tires are manufactured to be retreaded. They must pass the same standards as new tires.
7. You should maintain a lower operating tire pressure in the winter than in the summer.
Some drivers like to lower the air pressure in their tires in order to gain a little more stability in winter driving. But driving on low pressure tires isn’t as safe and can damage your car. Tire pressure naturally lowers in the winter due to temperature changes.
8. You can tell your tires are low just by looking at them.
If you can tell your tires are low, they are probably way too low. It’s best to check with a quality gauge, not the one at the gas station. Invest in your safety.
9. You should check your tire pressure when they’re warm after driving
According to the DMV, tires should be checked when they’re cold to get the best reading because hot air expands, making the reading inaccurate.
10. There is a set amount of time you should keep your tires before buying replacement.
Tire wear depends on a lot of different factors including the driver, how many miles drive, what types of road the tires are driven on. Harsh weather, speed and aggressive driving can reduce the life of your tires.