Tire Tips at Adams Tire & Battery Service, Berks County, Reading, Pa. With the emphasis on service. Offering Brand Names such as Cordovan, Dunlop, Kumho, Firestone, Goodyear, Deka Batteries, American Racing, Epic Wheels

Inflation is good:

Improper inflation is the single greatest cause of tire damage. Your tires will lose pressure over time. The result is premature and irregular tread wear, and poor gas mileage. No matter what brand of tires you have on your car, they cannot deliver their best performance without the proper air pressure.

Most service stations and tire dealers make compressed air available for your use. When you inflate your tires, refer to your car owner's manual for the proper inflation level. You will also find this information listed on a placard in your glovebox or on the doorjamb of your car.

The automaker has taken into account several important factors in order to determine the right inflation level for your car. Usually it is between 20 and 35 PSI (pounds per square inch). Never let your air pressure drop below the recommended level.

Although the sidewall of your tire indicates a "maximum pressure" figure, this number does not indicate the proper inflation level for your car. Rather, it indicates a top pressure which you should not exceed.

What you can Look for:

Looks can be deceiving, but visual checks can sometimes reveal loss of air pressure or cuts and punctures that can lead to trouble. Take a look at your tires whenever you get into your car. You'll get used to how they should look, and that will make it easier to spot problems.

Whenever you're checking inflation, look for obvious signs of wear on your tires. All tires have "wear bars" -- small raised points of rubber in the groove that let you know when tires are worn out. If your tread is the same height as the wear bars, it's time for a new tire.

Now, Listen up:

Get the Feeling:

If your car does not respond normally to the movement of the steering wheel, or if it feels "mushy," the problem may be caused by under inflation. If it feels like there is a problem, there may well be one.

Every once in a while get your hands dirty and feel the tread of your tires. If there are high and low areas or unusually smooth areas, you may have irregular treadwear. Consult your tire dealer as soon as possible.

Check it out:

Inspection

There is an old, reliable trick you can use to check the legally safe depth of your tires. Be sure to inspect your tire at various points. Irregular treadwear may not be readly visible to you.

1. Take a penny and pinch Abe's body between your thumb and forefinger
2. Put his head into one of the grooves of the tire tread.
3. If part of his head is obscured by the tread, you're driving with the legal amount of tread. If you can see all of his head, you're ready for a new tire.

And remember, . . beauty is more than skin deep. When you first buy tires they are shiny and black, but soon they look dull and scuffed This is caused by the "elements" (heat, cold; etc.) that affect your tires the way they affect the paint on your house. The color starts to dull and then it begins to chip and crack. The process is called "weathering" or "aging."

You should know that tires contain chemicals that work to counteract weathering. They secrete from the pores of the tire the same way natural oils are secreted from skin pores and for exactly the same reason. And, strangely enough, the similarity goes even further. The best way to keep your tires looking good is to keep their pores clean. Give them a good scrub whenever you wash your car.

People often use store bought vinyl and tire "protectants" to make their tires shine like new. However, many of these products contain petroleum or alcohol derivatives. You should know that both of these substances will damage your tires. Over a period of time they will cause the rubber to decompose. If you do use protectants on your tires, be sure to check the label on the can. If you're not sure whether the product is safe to use on your tires, the best advice is not to use it.

Rotation

Tire rotation is a practical version of the old fire drill you may have done when you were a kid. Everyone gets out of the car, changes positions and gets back into the car. Tire rotation does the same thing, but with some serious benefits.

Each tire on your car probably supports a different amount of weight. The engine compartment is usually heavier than the trunk. If you drive alone there is more weight on the driver's side than the passenger's side; The list goes on, but the point is that this unequal weight causes your tires to wear at different rates. By having your tires rotated, you can extend their life expectancy.

Ideally you should have your dealer rotate your tires every 5,000 to 8,000 miles, and even more frequently if you do most of your driving around town or if you own a front-wheel drive car. Check your car owner's manual for recommendations.

Alignment

You would think that your tires and wheels are moving in a straight line when you are steering. straight. Well, that may not be. If your car's suspension system is out of alignment, it may cause your tires to move in a slightly different direction than you are steering them. Potholes and rough roads are often the culprit. Greater than normal friction on the tire and irregular treadwear are often the result.

Misalignment could also result in a major repair bill if it is not corrected. In addition to damaged tires, your car's suspension system can be damaged over time. By checking your alignment periodically, your mechanic should be able to spot small problems before they become big ones.

Balancing

Take a pen and balance it on your finger. The pen will tend to fall one way or the other because it is heavier on that end. This is what happens if each wheel and tire (called a wheel/tire assembly) is not properly balanced.

Size --

Example: P215/65R15 89H

P - Passenger (P-metric/Non-P-metric) - This indicates a passenger car tire. If the first character in the size designation is a "P", the tire is a "PMetric" tire and is engineered to standards set by the T&RA (Tire and Rim Association). If there is no "P", the tire is engineered to ETRTO (European Tire and Rim Technical Organization) standards and is a metric tire. The standards set by T&RA and ETRTO have evolved together and are virtually interchangeable.

215 - Section Width - These numerals indicate the tire section width in millimeters. This is the dimension from sidewall to sidewall. A tire's section width will vary depending on the rim to which it is fitted. The section width will be larger on a wide rim and smaller a narrow rim. Therefore, each tire is measured o specific rim width. (To convert millimeters into inches, divide by 25.4.)

65 - Aspect Ratio - This two-digit number indicates the tire's aspect ratio. It compares the tire's section height, which is the distance from the bead to the center of tread, to the section width. An aspect ratio of 65 means that the tire's section height is 65% of the tire's section width. For clarity, the section width in millimeters is separated from the aspect ratio by a slash (/).

R - Construction -This letter indicates the type of ply construction in the tire's casing or carcass. "R" means radial. "D" means diagonal, referring to bias tires. "B" means belted for belted-bias tires. Never mix radial tires with any other construction on a car.

15 - Rim Diameter - The "15" indicates the rim diameter in inches. It is the diameter of the bead seat in the rim. Most tires are built to inch standards for rim diameters. However, some tires are built to millimetric rim dimensions. Always match the tire's rim diameter to the wheel rim diameter.

89 - Load Index - Refer to the load index chart of a tire guide and you will find the maximum load carrying capacity of this tire to be 1279 lbs.

H - Speed Symbol/Speed Rating - In terms of speed, this tire is designed to go a maximum of 130 mph.

Light Truck Tires --

Speed Rating --