Yes, believe it or not proper tire inflation can help you save money on gas.  But who has time to check the air in their tires?  I work at a tire store and it is a challenge for me to find the time to check the air in MY tires.  But checking the air in your tires at least once a month is a good idea.  It’s all about what the guys in tire world call “Low Rolling Resistance.”  Think about it, have you ever ridden a bicycle with a flat tire?  It’s not easy to make that tire spin, and get you where you are going.  Fill the tire up with air, it rotates much easier.  The same holds true for the tires on your vehicle.  Read More…

An under-inflated tire makes your vehicle’s engine work harder to make the wheels spin.  A harder working engine burns more fuel.  Having your tires properly inflated, allows your tires to rotate more freely, your engine works less, you save fuel.  Some will suggest that slightly over-inflating will help your tires roll more smoothly down the road.  This is true, but it will also cause your tires to wear more quickly in the center of the tread, causing you to buy replacement tires sooner – a trade off.  Over-inflated tires also make the ride more harsh when you hit a bump, you will feel it.

With the cost of fuel high, there has been an increase in fuel efficient, “low rolling resistance” tires being manufactured by the major tire brands.  Bridgestone has the Ecopia, Goodyear the Assurance Fuel Max, and Michelin the Energy Saver.  These tires are designed to roll more smoothly on the road, causing less resistance, saving the vehicle fuel.  But in our opinion the increased cost of these tires offsets the amount of money you would save at the gas pump.

How to keep your tires properly inflated:

1. Buy an inexpensive air pressure gauge, and keep it in your car.

2.  Know what the proper tire pressure is for your vehicle.  This can often be found inside the door jamb of your vehicle.  My car has the vehicle info sticker inside the gas tank lid (See the picture below).

3. Check your tire pressure once a month.  Look for tire dealers and gas stations in your area that offer Free Air.  If you are in Beautiful Old North Dayton, Ohio stop by our shop Neace Tire at 1605 Valley Street.  We offer free air, ask us and we’ll do it for you.

If you are buying two new tires or two used tires with better tread, Neace Tire will mount them on the rear of your vehicle for your safety, here’s why: Read More

According to most states’ laws, tires are legally worn out when they have worn down to 2/32″ of remaining tread depth. To help warn drivers that they tires have reached that point, tires sold in North America are required to have indicators molded into their tread design called “wear bars” which run across their tread pattern from their outside shoulder to inside shoulder. Wear bars are designed to visually connect the elements of the tire’s tread pattern and warn drivers when their tires no longer meet minimum tread depth requirements. Read More

However, as a tire wears, it’s important to realize that the tire’s ability to perform in rain and snow will be reduced. With 2/32″ of remaining tread depth, resistance to hydroplaning in the rain at highway speeds has been significantly reduced, and traction in snow has been virtually eliminated.

If rain and wet roads are a concern, you should consider replacing your tires when they reach approximately 4/32″ of remaining tread depth. Since water can’t be compressed, you need enough tread depth to allow rain to escape through the tire’s grooves. If the water can’t escape fast enough, your vehicle’s tires will be forced to hydroplane (float) on top of the water, losing traction.

If snow-covered roads are a concern, you should consider replacing your tires when they reach approximately 6/32″ of remaining tread depth to maintain good mobility. You need more tread depth in snow because your tires need to compress the snow in their grooves and release it as they roll. If there isn’t sufficient tread depth, the “bites” of snow your tires can take on each revolution will be reduced to “nibbles” and your vehicle’s traction and mobility will be sacrificed. Because tread depth is such an important element for snow traction, winter tires usually start with noticeably deeper tread depths than typical All-Season or summer tires. Some winter tires even have a second series of “wear bars” molded in their tread pattern indicating approximately 6/32″ remaining tread depth to warn you when your tires no longer meet the desired tread depth.

Measuring Tire Tread Depth with a Coin

U.S. coins can be substituted for a tire tread depth gauge as tires wear to the critical final few 32nds of an inch of their remaining tread depth.

Place a penny into several tread grooves across the tire. If part of Lincoln’s head is always covered by the tread, you have more than 2/32″ of tread depth remaining.
Place a quarter into several tread grooves across the tire. If part of Washington’s head is always covered by the tread, you have more than 4/32″ of tread depth remaining.
Place a penny into several tread grooves across the tire. If the top of the Lincoln Memorial is always covered by the tread, you have more than 6/32″ of tread depth remaining.

It’s October in Ohio and while football, bonfires, and raking leaves are on everyone’s mind the guys at the tire shop are thinking about keeping you going through the nasty winter weather. Actually they’re thinking about their next vacation, but that’s not why you’re here. What is the best way to get through the weather safely in the rain, sleet and snow? Winter tires, a nice name for what your parents called snow tires. Read More

Back in the 70’s snow tires looked and drove like tires that would allow you to go off-roading in the deep woods and high hills. They were loud. My dad used to say, “The louder the better.” In his opinion if they weren’t loud, there was no way you could get through the snow in them.

But today, winter tire technology is superior compared to the design of the tires on dad’s 1971 Impala. Today’s tire manufacturers make tires that perform better in cold temperatures as well. They are made from a compound that grips the road better when the temperature drops below 45 degrees. In addition to better performance, they obviously cut through the snow much better than their all season counterparts. As my racecar driving friend Shane says, “all season is no season.” All major tire manufacturers make winter tires. And you can find them everywhere. We sell them, and I’ll bet your neighborhood tire shop sells them as well.

It is also a good idea to install a narrower tire than what you run on your car in the summer. Wider tires perform better around curves and corners in dry conditions. Narrower tires cut through the snow more easily. To install a narrower tire on you vehicle you typically do what is called plus sizing. For instance, if you have a P205/55R16 on your vehicle in the summer, you may have P195/65R15 in the winter. The 195 is the width of the tire in millimeters. You move to a 15″ wheel (The R15 in the size) in the winter as well, so your tire will be very close to the same diameter, as the tires you run in the summer.

Last year, the winter in Ohio was brutal, and the snow was deep. I was able to drive to work on the highway easily and at the recommended speed limit, in snow that was up to 6” deep. While our friends with the all season tires were either:

1. Off the road waiting for a tow truck
2. At home digging their car out of a snow drift
3. At the tire shop replacing their tires

Typically in Ohio winter tires should be installed in mid November, and removed in Mid April. Or whenever the temperature drops consistently below or above the 45 degree mark. So this means you have two sets of tires, a summer set, and a winter set. Does it really snow enough in Ohio to warrant changing your tires every six months? It’s hard to say if it’s right for everyone, but for my money and the safety of my family, they are worth the investment.

Whatever the reason, if you are looking for a gently used tire there are things you need to be on the lookout for. In this series of three videos we look at things to consider when buying used tires.

See Parts 2 and 3

As the Griswold Family (above) can attest, a few minutes of preventive maintenance can save you a lot of headaches this holiday season. Check out this AAA news release… Make it to Grandma’s House