Three Tire Myths To Overlook

Although tires are one of the most important aspects of a vehicle, a lot of drivers are misinformed when it comes to everything from caring for and purchasing tires. Don't fall for these misconceptions. Here are just some of the myths you should avoid.

My TPMS Does The Job

Many newer cars come equipped with a tire pressure monitoring system, known as a TPMS. These systems are designed to alert the driver when the tire pressure drops below a specified level. The problem with these systems is that the warning level threshold can be relatively low in some vehicles.

This basically means that the driver could be driving around with poorly inflated tires for some time before the TPMS actually alerts them. This doesn't just increase tire wear, it also puts your safety at risk. A TPMS should not serve as a replacement for manually checking the inflation of your tires periodically.

Size Designations Are The Only Thing That Matters

Choosing tires that are sized correctly for your vehicle is important, but it's not the only consideration. Some buyers are under the impression that as long as they get a tire that matches the size they need, they are okay. Understand that tires of the same size can still vary widely.

Tires within the same size category can have different profile designs, causing some to be wider or narrower than other options. In terms of a narrower tire profile, narrow tires often mean less material. Unfortunately, less material can sometimes translate into poor quality. Make sure you are checking size and the tire profile.

New Tires Always Go In The Front

There is a common misconception that new tires should always be placed in the front and the older tires rotated to the rear. To understand why this isn't safe, you first need to understand the role of your rear tires.

Rear tires provide you with braking control, steering control and stability. If you have worn tires with poor tread in the rear of your vehicle, you are likely to see a decrease in efficiency in each of these areas. As a general rule of thumb, whichever tires have the most tread remaining need to be placed in the rear of your vehicle.

The more knowledge you have about your tires, the better you can take care of them and most importantly, the better you can ensure the safety of your vehicle while on the road. Check out sites like http://www.evanstire.com for more info.