Tire Tips

Tire Pressure - Why is tire pressure so important?

The "right" amount of air in your tires can:

reduce fuel consumption
prevent accidents
help ensure that you get the 80,000 km out of your radial tires instead of 40,000 km
prevent tire blowouts
prevent uneven tire wear
better vehicle handling

So what is the "right" amount of air for my tires?

Well, all tires are different so you must check the allowable air pressure for your vehicle on the tire placard. You can look for a tire placard in several places:

driver's doorjamb
door itself
glove compartment door
owner's manual
fuel door
consult vehicle manufacturer
call Jimmy's Tire Service 1.800.339.5467, or your local tire dealer

A tire placard will give you the maximum vehicle load, the cold tire pressure and the recommended tire size. There is a relationship between the tire pressure and the vehicle's load, which will be discussed shortly.

What else do you need before checking your tires?

reliable North American Manufactured tire gauge (the air pumps at stations are often not reliable because of the abuse that they can take)

It is important to remember that tire pressure must be checked when the tires are cold. So it is best to check the pressure before driving your vehicle.

We are now ready to check the tire pressure:

Remove the valve cap on the tire.
Cover the valve with the circular part of the tire gauge and press down until you no longer hear a hiss of air. At this point, the ruler part of the tire gauge will stick out indicating the number.
This number should match the recommended tire pressure on your tire placard. If it does not match, then you either have to add air or remove air from your tires.
If there is too much pressure, remove some air by pressing the top of the valve. Only let out a little air at a time so that you don't end up with under inflated tires. Keep checking with your tire gauge to ensure that you have reached the "right" pressure.
If there is too little pressure, which is more common because tires naturally lose pressure through permeation, add some air. (Always be conscious of your safety when inflating tires). Set the pump to one or two pounds above the desired pressure. Start adding the air. Many tire pumps will ding a few times quickly, after the dinging, remove the air hose. Check pressure with your tire gauge.
Place a wet finger over the valve stem. You are looking for air bubbles, which would indicate that air is leaking from the tire. If air is leaking, press the inner part of the valve stem in really quickly and release quickly. By doing this, you are allowing the tire pressure to put the valve stem in the right spot to avoid air from leaking out. Replace valve cap when the pressure is set to the psi recommended by the tire placard and the valve stem is not leaking a small amount of air. The valve cap keeps the tire valves dry and dirt free.
Also, it is recommended to check the spare tire as well.
After checking tire pressure, visually inspect for tire wear. A cut in the tire casing could be an accident a few miles down the road.

Although we mentioned that tires naturally lose air pressure, if any one tire continually needs air, it probably has a leak. Get this tire inspected; it may have to be replaced or repaired. The types of repairs available are discussed in the services section.

Now you know how to check tire pressure. Make sure to check the pressure about once a month and always check tire pressure before every long trip. Be conscious of the differences in tire pressure needed when hauling heavy loads. Tire pressure should be higher when carrying heavy loads - but NEVER exceed maximum allowable tire pressure.

Snow Tires - Do you need them?

The bottom line is that if you live in an area that gets a fair amount of snow, you should definitely consider snow tires. You might be thinking that you don't need snow tires because you have All Season tires. All Season tires give us the impression that they will work for all seasons - summer, fall, winter and spring; however, there are many climates where snow tires are much more effective, like In the northeast. All Season tires, although they seem to offer you pretty good traction most of the time, are not as safe as snow tires. Snow tires give you better traction than All Season tires in the snow by allowing you to stop faster and to move through snow easier. In the event of an emergency, you may wish you considered snow tires. When purchasing winter tires, it is always recommended to install 4 winter tires. The cost of winter tires is minimal when you consider that they can save your life.

Fall Tire Duties

wet roads are more difficult to stop on. Often it takes four times the normal distance to stop on a wet road than on a dry road
tree leaves on the road can reduce your traction because they create a slippery surface
check for uneven tire wear. Tire wear can indicate many different types of car trouble
look for tread wear indicators call "wear bars". Wear bars were designed to help you spot when you tires should be replaced. Wear bars are narrow strips of smooth rubber across the tread of your tire. If these wear bars appear, it is time to change the tires

How to read the Tire Sidewall

The sidewalls of tires contain very useful information to you so it is important to learn how to read a tire sidewall. The sidewall informs you of the following:

the tire manufacturer
the speed rating
the load capacity
the recommended tire pressure
the maximum inflation
compliance

Tire Inspections

Visually inspecting your tires on a regular schedule can reduce tire damage. Many people find it helpful to visually inspect their tires on the same schedule as they check tire pressure. Some tire damage can be repaired easily if noticed in enough time. So look out for the following areas of concern:

loss of tire pressure
punctures
uneven tire wear
rapid tear wear
scrapes

What should you do if you notice areas of concern? Contact Jimmy's Tire Service @ 617-472-2027. Tire repairs must be done properly and the type of repair performed on the tire is critical. Some people try to repair a tire by placing a tube in a tubeless tire. Repairing a tire by placing a tube in a tubeless tire is very dangerous and it is ill advised; it is NOT an alternative to a proper repair. Please do NOT try to repair a tubeless tire by placing a tube inside the tire. To avoid injury to yourself and/or your family, make sure your tire has been properly repaired. Improper repairs can cause sudden tire failure. Contact your tire manufacturer if you are unsure of the repair recommended by your tire dealer.

One of the more common reasons that tires will lose air pressure is the oxidation of the rims. In Northeast Climates, such as New England, rims need ongoing inspection and cleaning. To clean the rust and oxidation from your rims, Jimmy's Tire Service uses a Rim Buffering Machine. Most people will start to notice oxidation of their rims when their vehicle is about three to four years old.

Please note that the symptoms your tires exhibit can be caused from underlying vehicle mechanical problems, such as, misaligned wheels, improperly operating brakes and shock absorbers. Something as simple as hitting a pothole can cause the misalignment of wheels. Potholes can also bend a rim, which could cause a loss of air pressure. Damage could be done without any external indication of tire damage. Paying attention to your tires can help you notice some vehicle mechanical problems - allowing you to repair the problem in a timely fashion.

Recommended Tire Maintenance

check your tire's air pressure on a regular schedule. Some experts recommend checking air pressure once a week, other experts recommend once a month
check for wear bars
check for tire damage
have your tires rotated to help produce a more even wear between all four tires. there are many variables to rotating tires so check with your dealer about the proper rotation
check for uneven wear patterns on your tires
if you have any concerns contact Jimmy's Tire Service or another reputable tire dealership in your area!!