TIRE CARE & MAINTENANCE FAQs

Taking care of your tires is easier than you think. The following Frequently Asked Questions will tell you just about everything you need to know to get the most from your tires.

Balancing

Why do my tires need to be balanced?
Properly balanced tires are important for driving comfort and long tire life. Unbalanced tires can cause vibration, resulting in driver fatigue, premature tire wear and unnecessary wear to your vehicle’s suspension. Tires should always be balanced when they are mounted on wheels for the first time, or when they are remounted after repair. Tire vibration may also be caused by poor tire alignment or other mechanical problems. Contact Just Tires for expert diagnosis and repair.

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Care

Do my new tires require any special attention?
Your new tires will probably feel different from the tires that were replaced. Drive carefully as you become familiar with their performance and handling characteristics. You will see the most noticeable differences while braking, accelerating, cornering, and driving in the rain.

How will I know when I need new tires?
Many tires have treadwear indicator bars molded into the tread. When the tread is worn down to where you can see a solid bar of rubber across the width of the tread, it is time to replace the tire. Another simple test to measure tread depth is to place a penny into a tread groove with Lincoln’s head upside down and facing you. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, it’s time to contact Just Tires for new tires.

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Driving

Can my driving habits affect the life of my tires?
Absolutely! To increase the life of your tires, avoid speeding. Excessive heat is generated while driving at high speeds, increasing the rate of wear, and reducing the tire’s durability. Avoid fast turns on curves, fast starts and panic stops. Also, try not to ride on the edge of the pavement, or drive over curbs, chuck-holes and other road hazards.

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Inflation

How much air should I put in my tires?
Always use the air pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. You can find the proper tire inflation level in your owner’s manual, posted on the edge of the driver’s door, on a door post or on the inside of the glove box door. Remember to check your air pressure when the tires are COLD, and use a good quality tire gauge to ensure accuracy. It’s natural for radial tires to have a slight bulge in the sidewall at their proper inflation level. Make sure to adjust inflation every few weeks, before a long road trip or when traveling with a heavy load. Also, remember to check your spare tire.

Is it safe to repair a flat tire?
A trained tire professional will have to determine if your flat tire is safe to repair. When a tire loses its air pressure, it must be removed from the wheel for a complete internal inspection. Tires driven a short distance while flat can be damaged beyond repair. Most punctures smaller than ¼" and confined to the tread area can be repaired by trained personnel using industry-approved methods. Tires with punctures on the sidewall or tires worn below 1/16" can not be repaired.

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Mounting

My directional tires were mounted incorrectly and are rotating in the wrong direction. What should I do?
Tires with a "directional" tread design are intended to roll and perform in a specific direction. The sidewall has arrows indicating the rolling direction of the tire. If installed in the wrong direction, the tire will not provide optimum performance. However, no damage or premature wear to the tire will result. The tire should be dismounted and remounted to roll in the proper direction.

My unidirectional tires were mounted incorrectly and are rotating in the wrong direction. What should I do?
"Unidirectional" tires are designed to operate on a specific side of the vehicle. If installed in the wrong position, the tire will not provide optimum performance. However, no damage or premature wear to the tire will result. The tire should be dismounted and remounted to roll in the proper direction on the proper side of the vehicle.

My asymmetrical tires were mounted incorrectly. What should I do?
Asymmetrical tires are designed to improve handling and reduce noise. These tires can rotate in either direction with the correct side facing out as indicated on the sidewall. If installed with the wrong side facing out, the tire will not provide optimum performance. However, no damage or premature wear to the tire will result. Simply have it dismounted and reinstalled correctly.

Isn’t it easy to mount a tire on a wheel?
Never try to mount your own tires. Tire mounting is a job for trained professionals with the proper equipment and experience.

Should I “mix” tire types on my car?
Tires of different size designations, constructions and wear may affect vehicle handling and stability. For best all-around performance, it is recommended that all tires are of the same size, construction (radial, non-radial) and speed rating. If tires of different speed ratings are mounted on a vehicle, the same size, type and speed ratings need to be placed on the same axle. The vehicle speed should not exceed the acceptable limits of the lowest speed rating of the tires. Never mix radial and bias-ply tires on the same axle. For more information, contact the experts at Just Tires.

When buying just two new tires, should they be put on the front or rear?
When radial tires are used with bias tires on the same car, the radials must always be placed on the rear axle. Never mix radial and bias-ply tires on the same axle. When you select a pair of replacement tires in the same size and construction as those on the car, we recommend you put them on the rear axle. A single new tire should be paired on the rear axle with the tire having the most tread depth of the other three tires.

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Rotation

How often should I rotate my tires?
Regular and proper tire rotation promotes uniform wear. All-season tires should be rotated in a "modified X" pattern, meaning only the tires being moved to the drive axle are crossed to the opposite side of the vehicle. The remaining two tires are moved from the drive axle to the free rolling axle, remaining on the same side of the vehicle. This method of rotation helps promote even and uniform treadwear pattern for all four tires.

The only exception to this would be the use of "directional" tires. These tires should remain on the same side of the vehicle and be rotated straight forward and straight back. If you have a four-wheel drive vehicle, we recommend crossing both pairs of tires to their new axle positions.

We recommend tire rotation at least every 6,000 miles. It is a good idea to rotate four-wheel drive vehicles every 4,000 miles. Check your vehicle owner's manual for the manufacturer's rotation recommendations. The first rotation is the most important. When tires are rotated, inflation pressures must be adjusted to the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations.

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Technical Information

I want to change tire sizes. How big can I go?
All of the sizes that have been approved for use on your vehicle will be listed on your vehicle door plaque. If you choose a different tire size than the manufacturer’s recommendation, visit your local Just Tires tire expert for assistance.

Must I replace my present tires with the same size tires?
Never choose a smaller size tire than those that came with the car. Tires should always be replaced with the same size designation or approved options as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

Where can I find old production or discontinued tires for my classic or restored vehicle?
Recently discontinued tires are quickly consolidated and sold in large quantities to several sources. Much older tires, such as the older bias-ply tires, can usually be found through Kelsey Tire, Inc. in Camdenton, MO. They have obtained the molds for several classic bias-ply tires. Kelsey Tire, Inc. can be reached at (314) 346-2506. For more information, call 800-325-0091. Another source may be Coker Tire in Chattanooga, TN. They can be reached at 800-251-6336.

Where can I get specific technical information or testing data about a tire?
All engineering data available to the public is provided on the respective product information brochure made available at the retail outlets or on the tire manufacturer’s web site. Most technical or test data is considered proprietary and not available to the public.

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Vibration

What should I do if I notice a vibration?
Vibration is an indication that your car has a problem that needs attention. The tires, steering system and suspension system should be checked to help determine the possible cause of the vibration. Excessive vibration could cause premature tire and suspension wear, and may be dangerous. Contact Just Tires for expert diagnosis and repair.

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• Road hazard injuries (punctures, cuts, impact damage to the liner, ply material or sidewall rubber)
• Valve stem or valve core leakage (damaged or aged rubber stem or a loose or damaged valve core)
• Leaking from the bead seating area (corrosive buildup on the wheels which prevents a proper seal between the wheel flange and tire beads, bead seating area damage from accidental mounting or dismounting injury, foreign material between rim flange area and the tire bead seating area, bent rim flange)

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Wear

How long should my original equipment tires last?
Most companies do not offer written mileage agreements on tires supplied as original equipment. Due to the variety of styles, construction features, tread compounds, vehicle applications, geographical conditions and driving habits, it is difficult to provide a specific mileage expectancy.

However, any tire wear concern should be presented to your local authorized Just Tires retailer for further evaluation.

Just Tires retailers offer specific mileage warranties on several lines of replacement tires, including some tires that are used as original equipment. These mileage warranties are administered based on the retail outlet’s verification of proper tire maintenance.

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