When Should I Change My Tires? and general tire FAQ's
SPRING - As the weather warms up and winter slowly fades to an end, it's easy to get excited for the warm weather ahead. While you might be eager to get your car ready for summer road trips and beach cruises, changing your tires over too early can be disastrous. A great rule of thumb for when to change your tires is the 7x7 rule - 7 days of 7 degrees celsius or more. With that in mind it's still important to look at the long term forecast and plan accordingly.
WINTER - While changing your summer tires over to your winter tires will not have any major consequences to your performance or handling - it can significantly increase the wear on your expensive winter tires. Save them by following the 7x7 rule - 7 degrees celsius or LESS for 7 days straight. The soft rubber compound on your tires performs its best with the least additional wear in consistent temperatures less than 10 degrees celsius.
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FAQ's
Are mud and snow tires the same as winter tires? : Mud and snow tires are NOT considered true winter tires. They are often regarded as "all season" tires rather than true winter/snow tires. While they do have a softer compound than a dedicated summer tire, they often lack the specific specialized soft rubber and edges that define a true snow tire and allow traction on ice and wet snow. Mud and snow tires are best recommend as three season tires, perfect for mud, resistance to wear on dirt roads, and people who only drive in light snow. Mud and snow tires often will NOT qualify for insurance winter tire discounts.
How much air should I put in my tires? : The correct amount of air to put in your tires will typically be found on a placard located on the drivers door jam. Ensuring you have the right tires to accommodate the vehicles demands, payload and inflation pressure is key. Our parts experts can help you source the right tire for the right application.
How do I know if I need new tires? : Your service expert will let you know upon inspection during routine maintenance as this will be a part of the general health checkup of the vehicle. While looking for yourself you can use the wear-bars on the tires tread surface, if they are close to the level of the tread in any spot it is time to replace them. Should you spot any metal cords, foreign objects or cracking in your tires, they should NOT be driven on and replaced immediately.
My tires are wearing unevenly, is that normal? : Uneven wear CAN be normal, as it is common to see difference in wear between different tire positions. This is why it is critical to rotate your tires at the time of your seasonal swaps. This will balance out the wear evenly and give you the most life out of your set of tires. If you notice drastically different wear levels across your tires OR significant wear to one particular tire it may be result of a mechanical failure. If you suspect this, book an appointment with our certified service department and we'll diagnose the vehicle and present you with next steps to remedy.
How often should I check my tire pressure? : It is best practice to check your tire pressures at least once per month and before any long road trips. While checking your pressures, be sure to look at things such as tread depth across the tire or any signs of puncture/ damage.