Grand American Tire

In Germany, some highways do not have speed limits and high-speed driving is permitted. Speed ratings were established to match the speed capability of tires with the top speed capability of the vehicles to which they are applied. For example, an R-speed rated tire is designed for maximum speeds of 106 mph. You can select the rating(s) based on your vehicle and intended use. When you choose "recommended" you will see the speed rating(s) appropriate for your vehicle. Numbers in parentheses indicate the number of tires available and do not include winter or competition tire counts that are below your vehicle's recommended speed rating.

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.

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.

Proper tire air pressure is determined by the vehicle manufacturers and is set to best fine-tune a tire's capabilities to their specific vehicle make and model. The vehicle manufacturer's pressure recommendation can be found on the vehicle's tire information placard label, as well as in the vehicle owner's manual.

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).

The tell-tale sign of your tires being out of balance is a shake or vibration between 60 and 70 miles per hour. Generally shaking in the steering wheel and/or seat of the vehicle are the top complaints among drivers.

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.

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.

Whenever they are considered unsafe. The tire tread depth is measured in 32nds of an inch. The new tires have from 9/32" to 11/32" of the tread material. The tire is considered unsafe when the tread is worn down to 2/32" (1.5 mm). In our experience, you will start noticing slipping on wet or slick roads when your tires are worn down to about 4/32" (3.2 mm). For winter tires, replace them even earlier. With 4/32" of the tread remaining, winter tires are pretty much useless in snowy or icy conditions.

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.

Wheel alignment and balancing are important for safety and maximum tread wear from your tires. Inspect your tires regularly: at least once a month inspect your tires closely for signs of uneven wear. Uneven wear patterns may be caused by improper inflation pressure, misalignment, improper balance or suspension neglect. If not corrected, further tire damage will occur. These conditions shorten the life of your tires and may result in loss of vehicle control and serious personal injury. If any of these conditions exist, the cause may often be corrected at your tire retailer or another service facility. Your tires will then last longer.

Removing and replacing tires on wheels can be dangerous. Attempting to mount tires with improper tools or procedures may result in a tire explosion causing serious personal injury or death. This is only a job for a qualified tire service professional. Never perform tire service procedures without proper training, tools, and equipment.

Check the air pressure in your tires (including spares) monthly and before long trips or carrying extra weight. Make sure to use an accurate pressure gauge. Check inflation pressure when the tires are “cold.” Tires are considered “cold” when the vehicle has been parked for three hours or more, or if the vehicle has been driven less than a mile (1.6 km) at moderate speed.

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.

When replacing speed-rated tires, you must use replacement tires with ratings equal to or greater than those of the original equipment tires, if the speed capability of the vehicle is to be maintained. The handling of a performance vehicle may be different when the replacement tires are not the same speed rating. Refer to the vehicle owner’s manual to identify any tire speed rating restriction that could affect the operation of the vehicle.

Never choose a tire that is smaller in size or has less load-carrying capacity than the tire that came with the vehicle. Tires should always be replaced with the same size designation – or approved options – as recommended by the vehicle or tire manufacturer. The correct tire size can be found on the door placard of the vehicle. Your current tires’ size can be found by reading the markings on the sidewall.

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.

When you select a pair of replacement tires in the same size and construction as those on the car, you must put them on the rear axle. A single new tire must be paired on the rear axle with the tire having the most tread depth of the other three.

A combination of factors determine if a tire is better than other. The factors are: Durability, handling, tread, breaking distance, drag, comfort, noise, brand.

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