Get a better grip of 2014 with new tires

FITTING the tires

ATTACHING a new tire to the rim

The world is round, and what goes around comes around. It’s the first day of a new year, and many of us mark this with a fresh start, and new beginnings.

For motorists, it’s also a good time to get new tires for their cars, to give them a surer grip of the road ahead. And that is a sound decision, because these four (or 6, 8, 10 and even more) tires are the only contact the vehicle has on the ground.

The year that was had been marred by grim road accidents that took the lives of scores of people. Many of these accidents were caused by worn-out tires that lost their grip on the road, which in turn caused the driver to lose control of the vehicle.

Toward the end of 2013, this author decided to have the tires of her Honda Civic checked at the Goodyear Hi-Performance Center along Alabang-Zapote Road in Las Piñas. Upon inspection, the service specialist said that the 2-year-old tires themselves were already nearly worn out, and all four needed replacing.

It turned out that this Goodyear center had some weeks back conducted a series of “Women With Drive” workshops that aimed to educate the fairer sex (ahem!) on the theoretical and practical aspects of safe driving and car and tire maintenance. The workshops originated in Goodyear centers in the United States and have since been conducted in various centers in the Philippines (check www.goodyear.com.ph).

OUT with the old

So, with new tires come a renewed feeling of security and stability on the road. And since we’re talking about women drivers, let Inquirer Motoring add some more no-nonsense advice for not just a good year for women motorists in 2014, but even a better, safer 365 days on the road.

Here are five tire tips from auto repair experts Deanna Sclar of “Auto Repair for Dummies,” Jamie Little (ESPN Nascar reporter) and Danielle McCormick (Discovery Channel’s “Turbo”), authors of “Essential Car Care for Women,” Judy Ramsey and Dan Ramsey of “Car Care and Maintenance,” and Mark Eskeldson of “What Auto Mechanics Don’t Want You to Know.”

1. Braking and good-condition tires are correlated.

“Your brakes and your tires have a two-way relationship: Poor braking action results in increased tire wear, but properly balanced and aligned wheels and properly inflated tires in good condition can help stop your car up to 25 percent faster,” said Sclar.

Sclar added that worn tires can cause your vehicle to skid or hydroplane in wet weather even if the treads aren’t down to the legal tolerances.

STOP-GAP measure for the rim crack

Sclar explained that tire wear is affected by a number of factors: the condition of the vehicle’s brake and suspension systems, inflation and alignment, driving and braking techniques, driving at high speeds (which raises tire temperatures and causes them to wear prematurely), how great a load you carry, road conditions and climates.

2. Check car manufacturer’s tire recommendation.

Consider the recommended specs when buying replacement tires. Ramsey says check the placard on one of the doorjambs. It indicates the size and design of the tire, as well as recommended or maximum tire pressure. “You don’t have to buy replacement tires of the same specifications, but you should stay close to them for safety and efficiency. The tire sidewall also includes useful information.”

For those who prioritize fuel economy, Sclar suggests that the narrower the tread width and the higher the inflation pressure, the less rolling resistance and thus the most fuel economy from the tire.

3. Check for signs your wheels are out of alignment.

CRACK on the rim

Little and McCormick say that if you have uneven or rapid tire wear, pulling or drifting when you are driving in a straight line, or the spokes of your steering wheel are off to one side when you are driving straight, then you need to visit your trusted tire center. Wheel alignment means adjusting the angles of the wheels so they are perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. Aligning your wheels maximizes the life of the tires and maximizes the gas mileage.

If you experience vibrations from your steering wheel, seat  or floorboard when you are driving at high speeds, it is likely that you need to get your tires balanced.

Tire rotation is another way of extending the life of your tires. Ask your trusted tire expert on how to properly rotate your tires.

4. Take heed of your tire’s speed ratings, codes.

RIM crack solved temporarily

Sometimes an additional letter appears between the load index and tire type, such as P215/65R15 89H. Sclar says that the letter H refers to the speed rating, which represents the safest maximum speed for the tire.

Here are what the most common speed rating letters mean: Q=99 miles per hour (to get kilometer per hour, just multiply the number by 1.6); R=106 mph; S=112 mph; T=118 mph; U=124 mph; H=130 mph; V=149 mph; W=168 mph; Y=186 mph; ZR=for tires that can go over 149 mph.

“Tires with the common speed ratings T and H can go well over the speed limit. They’re usually good buys because tires with higher speed ratings are more durable. However, if you usually drive at low speeds on local streets and rarely drive on the highway, the extra expense may not be worth it,” says Sclar.

In the example P215/65R15 89H, the P stands for the type of vehicle. In this case, P means passenger; 215 is for tire section width (measured from one sidewall to the other, in millimeters); 65 for aspect ratio or tire series (ratio of the tire’s sidewall height to its width). This means the tire’s sidewall height is 65 percent of its width;

R is for tire type (R for radial and LT means light truck); 15 is the diameter of the wheel (in inches); 89 is load index. The number refers to how much weight the tire can carry. There’s also the tire quality grade codes. Consult a trusted tire dealer/expert for more details.

5. Beware of deceptive tire advertising and scare tactics.

There are car owners who fall for tire ads by shops with the intention of selling expensive additional repairs. “Sometimes, sloppy repairs are done on vehicles when the owner refuses to buy expensive additional parts and/or services. In the case of alignments, workers might only do a ‘set-the-toe-and-let-it-go,’ which is basically only a third of a proper alignment,” says Eskeldson, who is also a veteran auto mechanic.

“Worse yet, customers may be charged for alignments that aren’t even done.”

He adds that unscrupulous mechanics and salesmen sometimes use scare tactics to sell additional parts and repairs, especially with female customers.