Grand American Tires

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There are many different reasons tires can be out of balance. Tires, as they wear down, begin to take on a different shape than how they began. This is due to many factors, such as wear and tear on your front-end parts (ball joints, control arm bushings, tie rods, etc.), the crown of the roads, potholes, hard braking causing flat spots, throwing (losing) weights, and even poor construction of the tire (more common with "economic" tires).

Tires are black because a key ingredient that is added to the mix of natural and synthetic rubber is carbon black. Carbon black is made of tiny dust-like particles that act as a bonding agent for the other ingredients in the tire. Carbon black has the added peculiarity of catching ultraviolet rays and absorbing the heat of the sun. This helps guard the tire against ozone and UV damage. No other additive has been found to be as efficient as carbon black at protecting the rubber and lengthening the life of tires.

Direct sunlight is the biggest offender. Exposure to sunlight as well as chemicals such as gas can really accelerate tire cracking, often found on the sidewalls or on the part of your tread groove that touches the road. Today’s rubber mixtures contain anti-aging properties that help stand up to the components and increase the life of your tire. But over time, exterior cracks are just the outcome of a tire doing its job. It’s tough to say exactly when it’s normal for surface cracks to appear since the tire model, storage, use and the elements where you live will all make a difference.

Rotation is important because each tire on a car carries a different amount of weight, making them wear at different rates. By rotating them, you basically even out those differences. Your owner’s manual will tell you how often to rotate your tires, but as a rule of thumb, it should be done every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. You might want to rotate them sooner if you see signs of uneven wear. Misalignment and other mechanical problems can also cause such wear, so check with your mechanic to determine the cause.

Original Equipment tire sizes are determined based on the best information currently available to us from vehicle manufacturers and from manual inspection of new vehicles as they are released. Many vehicles have optional trim levels/packages that include different tire sizes. Since variations based on options or vehicle manufacturer changes may determine the Original Equipment tire size on your vehicle, always verify that the size you are purchasing matches the tire size for your vehicle (usually found in the door jamb, glove box lid or gas cap door) or in the Owner's Manual. If you are unsure what size is installed on your vehicle, please confirm the size as listed on the tire sidewall before placing your order. The Optional tire sizes featuring different rim diameters we list in our website for many vehicles are based on over 40 years of experience we have with plus-size wheel and tire combinations. However, it is important to note that these optional tire sizes are based on vehicle-specific wheel sizes/offsets offered by us.

The inner tire wear is most commonly caused by bad alignment, which causes the camber to knock out of proper alignment. The car’s front end might be out of alignment for reasons, which can include collision with potholes. An indication stating that your car wheel needs realignment includes steering pull in one direction while driving on a flat road. It also makes many drivers wonder as to what causes inner tire wear in the first place.

Of course, you can! For us quantity isn´t a boundary. Just make sure you replace your tires with the exact same tire that is on the vehicle right now. Even if we sold you the shiniest, most expensive, jewel-encrusted tire in the world, you wouldn´t get the full benefit from it. Tires of different brands, tread design, tread compounds, sidewall density and categories will behave differently on the road. Mixing up tires opens the window for excessive tread noise, under/oversteer, and braking issues.

A vehicle is said to be properly aligned when all suspension and steering components are sound and when the tire and wheel assemblies are running straight and true. Proper alignment is necessary for even tread wear and precise steering. Uneven front- or rear tire wear, or changes in your vehicle's handling or steering response (i.e. pulling to one side) can indicate misalignment. Many vehicles today are equipped with rear suspensions that can be adjusted for alignment. Your vehicle may need a "front-end" alignment or a "four-wheel" alignment, depending on the symptoms you are experiencing. The moderate cost of having your vehicle aligned can more than pay for itself in tire kilometrage, performance and comfort.

For most cars, there are no specific requirements. Your mechanic will commonly recommend doing the wheel alignment every two-three years. Commonly, the wheel alignment is recommended when new tires are installed. The alignment should be done more often if your car has wider tires or if it's a sporty car. From our experience, we can tell that if you re-check the wheel alignment after a year or two of driving, usually it will be slightly off. If you hit a large bump, the alignment will most likely be off.

Your new tires will probably feel different from the tires that were replaced. Drive carefully as you become familiar with their performance and handling. Take special care when braking, accelerating, cornering, or when driving in the rain, because these are the times when the differences will be most noticeable.

Currently, we do not offer installation services but we encourage you to find a qualified professional on your location to install the tires.