ABOUT USED TIRES AND WHEELS

WHAT ARE TIRES AND WHEELS?

Tires are the parts of a vehicle that directly interact with the road or the terrain. Tires are responsible for the vehicle’s contact with the road and are integral in the acceleration, braking, handling and performance of the vehicle.

The wheels are the parts of the vehicle that attach the tire to the rest of the vehicle.

WHAT DO THE PARTS DO?

Tires allow the vehicle to maintain consistent contact with the road. These parts help the vehicle accelerate, brake and handle. Wheels are responsible for connecting the tire to the rest of the vehicle.

WHAT DO THE PARTS LOOK LIKE?

Tires are round and can range in size from 14 inches to over 35 inches in diameter. Tires are typically made of rubber and have various types of treads depending on their intended use. Wheels are round and can range in size much like tires. Wheels come in four varieties:

• Alloy wheels
• Steel wheels
• Forged and cast wheels
• Chrome wheels

WHERE ARE THEY TYPICALLY LOCATED ON THE VEHICLE?

The tires and the wheels are located under the frame of the vehicle typically at the front and the rear. The wheels and the tires are located at the ends of the front and the rear axle.

WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A USED TIRE AND WHEEL?

When looking at a tire, you want to make sure that you are using a tire model that fits with your driving behavior. For instance, if you drive a performance vehicle, then you will want to a performance tire. If you are driving an off-road vehicle, then you will want an off-road tire. Tires come in four varieties:

• Summer
• Winter
• Performance
• Off-road

Within these four tires are subsets such as hybrid tires that allow for both on-road and off-road performance.

When looking at wheels, you should make sure that the wheels are compatible with the vehicle that they will be connected with. Also, you should consider the following wheel attributes:

• Diameter
• Width
• Offset
• Backspacing
• Bolt pattern
• Load rating
• Center bore
• Bead seat

WHAT ELSE SHOULD I KNOW ABOUT A TIRE AND WHEEL BEFORE I PURCHASE ONE?

You should know how to read the information on a tire. For instance, if you see a tire with the following information on its sidewall:

P225/70R/16 91S

Then you should know what these number and letters mean. Here’s how you can read this type of tire

P = vehicle types
225 = Width in millimeters
70 = Aspect ratio (This is the width divided by the size of the tire)
R = construction
16 = Rim diameter
91=Load index
S = Speed rating

WHAT OTHER PARTS ARE CONNECTED OR THAT I MAY NEED FOR THESE PARTS?

You may need the following parts when buying a wheel:

• Bolts
• Lug nuts
• Wrench

The part that connects to a tire is the wheel. The part that connect to the wheel are the axle.

WHAT SIGNS OF WEAR SHOULD I LOOK AT WHEN BUYING A USED TIRE OR WHEEL?

When purchasing a used tire, look for tread wear as well as any cracks on the side wall. Also be sure to look for punctures.

When looking at wheels, be sure to look for any cracks, other physical damage, and the cosmetic appearance.

WHAT IS THE AVERAGE LIFESPAN OF A TIRE AND A WHEEL?

The average tire can last for four or five years or 60,000 to 75,000 miles. The average wheel can last for at least 50,000 to 75,000 miles.

WHEN SHOULD THE PART BE REPLACED?

Tires should be replaced when the tread is less than one inch thick from the tire. Wheels should be replaced every five years or 50,000 to 75,000 miles. Or if the wheel shows signs of cracks.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT TIRES AND WHEELS

WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A WHEEL AND A RIM?

The rim describes a part of the wheel wheel. The rim describes the visible part of the wheel that faces towards the outside. The wheel describes the entire part that attached to the tire and the axle.

ARE A WHEEL AND A RIM THE SAME THING

The wheel is the entire part of the vehicle while the rim is the visible part of the wheel.

DO TIRES GO BAD AFTER FIVE YEARS?

Tires have a typical lifespan of five years or 50,000 miles. If your tire still has more than one inch of tread on it after five years and less than 50,000 miles, then it can still be good to go.

WHAT DOES LT MEAN ON A TIRE?

LT indicates that the tire is good for light truck use. LT will be indicated on the sidewall of the tire at the very beginning of its nomenclature. For example: LT255/90R16 104/101S

WHAT ARE THE TOP FIVE TIRE BRANDS?

The top five tire brands are as ranked by the site Auto Enthusiasts are the following:

• Michelin
• Continental
• Bridgestone
• General
• Firestone