| 1. Can my driving affect
the life of my tires?
Yes it can. These three thing can result
in long tire life:
- Don't drive too fast!: excessive heat
is generated when driving at high speeds. This heat increases the rate of tire
wear and reduces the tire's life.
- Avoid making fast turns, fast
cornering, panic stops and quick starts.
- Avoid riding on the edge of the
pavement, drive over curbs, potholes.
Back to
top
2. Do new tires require
any special treatment?
You will need to drive carefully as you
become familiar with your new tires. Take it easy when accelerating, braking,
cornering, or when driving in the rain, because this is when the differences
will be most noticeable.
Back to
top
3. How will
I know when I need new tires?
Many tires have tread wear indicator bars
molded into the tread. It is time to replace the tire when, the tread is worn
down to where you can see a solid bar of rubber across the width of the tread.
Here's another test you can perform to measure tread depth on your tires. 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 get a new tire.
Back to
top
4. How long
should my tires last on my new vehicle?
It is difficult to provide specific mileage
expectancy, due to the variety of styles, construction
features, trend compounds, vehicle applications,
geographical conditions and driving habits .
Back to
top
5. How much
air should I put in my tires?
Proper inflation is the single most important
part of tire care. Check or adjust inflation every
few weeks and always use the inflation recommended
by the vehicle manufacturer. You can find this
information in your owner's manual, posted on
the edge of the driver's door, on a door post,
in the center console, or on the inside of the
glovebox door. Be sure to check inflation when
tires are COLD: when the vehicle has been driven
less than a mile or one hour or more after driving.
Use a good quality tire gauge. And don't forget
to check the spare!
Back to
top
6. Is it safe
to repair a flat tire?
If a tire loses all or most of its air
pressure, it must be removed from the wheel for a complete internal inspection
to be sure it's not damaged. Tires that are run even short distances while flat
are often damaged beyond repair. Most punctures, nail holes, or cuts up to 1/4
inch -- confined to the tread -- may be satisfactorily repaired by trained
personnel using industry-approved methods. Don't repair tires with tread
punctures larger than 1/4 inch, or with any sidewall puncture. Also, never
repair tires that are worn below 1/16 inch tread depth.
Back to
top
7. Is it easy
to mount a tire on a wheel? Can I do it myself?
Never mount your own tires, if you try to do
it yourself, you run the risk of serious injury
to yourself as well as possible damage to the
tire and rim. Tire mounting should be done by
people who have the proper equipment experience
and training.
Back to
top
8. Do I have
to replace my present tires with the same size
tires?
Tires should always be replaced with the
same size designation or approved options. Never choose a smaller size than
those that came with the car.
Back to
top
9. What could
cause my tire to go flat?
Here are some common causes of slow or
sudden air loss:
- 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 the tire beads, bead seating area damage from accidental mounting or
dismounting injury, foreign material between the rim flange area and the tire
bead seating area, bent rim flange).
Back to
top
10. Can I "mix"
tire types on my car?
It is recommended that all tires be the
same size, construction (radial,non-radial) and speed rating. If tires of
different speed ratings are mounted on the vehicle, it is important to place
the same size, type and speed ratings on the same axle, . Tires of different
size designations, constructions, and stages of wear can affect the vehicles
handling and stability. Never mix radial and bias-ply tires on the same
axle.
Back to
top
11. Should
I rotate my tires?
The main purpose of regularly rotating tires
is to achieve more uniform wear for all tires
on the vehicle. It is recommended thay you rotate
your tires at least every 6,000 miles or uneven
wear may develop. When purchased from Spartan,
you receive free Nitrogen fill, free rotations,
free flat repairs (when repairable), free rebalancing,
when needed due to tire vibration.
Back to
top
12. What is
alignment?
When a vehicle is properly aligned all
suspension and steering components are sound and the tire and wheel assemblies
are running straight and true. Wheel alignment provides safe, predictable
vehicle control as well as a smooth and comfortable ride -- free of pulling or
vibration.
Back to
top
13. How important
is wheel alignment?
It is very important! Having your wheels
aligned helps in prolonging the life of your tires. Research indicates that
the average car is driven about 12,000 miles per year. A car with toe alignment
just 0.34 degrees (Just 0.17 inches) out of specification has dragged its tires
sideways for more than 68 miles by the end of the year!
Back to
top
14. What are
the "symptoms" of a car that's out of alignment?
Have your car checked if you notice:
- Excessive or uneven tire wear.
- Steering wheel pulls to the left or
right.
- Steering wheel vibration.
- Steering wheel is not centered when
car is moving straight ahead.
Back to
top
15. How often
should I have my car aligned?
It is important that you follow the
vehicle manufacturer's recommendation noted in your owner's manual. But, as a
general rule, have your vehicle's tires checked at least once a year or every
10,000 miles.
Back to
top
16. What should
I do if I notice a vibration?
Vibration is an indication that your car
has a problem.You should have your tires, steering system and suspension system
checked to help determine the cause and correction of the vibration. If the
problem is not corrected, the vibration could cause excessive tire and
suspension wear.
Back to
top
17. When buying
just two new tires, should they be put on the
front or rear?
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. Never mix radial and bias-ply tires on
the same axle.
Back to
top
18. Why do
my tires need to be balanced?
Unbalanced tires can cause vibration,
resulting in premature tire wear and unnecessary wear to your vehicle's
suspension.
Back to
top
19. Can I drive
normally on my spare tire?
Many newer vehicles come equipped with a temporary
spare. These tires are usually much smaller than
the other tires on your car. It is important to
realize that these spares have far more limitations
than a typical tire, including speed and recommended
driving distance. No more than 50mph and no longer
than 50 miles per trip.
Back to
top
20. What is
an all-season tire?
All-Season tires are designed to provide good
traction in a variety of road conditions, including
wet, dry, mud and snow.
Back to
top
21.
What are the consequences of postponing maintenance?
Many parts on your vehicle are interrelated. Ignoring
maintenance can lead to trouble: specific parts
- or an entire system - can fail. Neglecting even
simple routine maintenance, such as changing the
oil or checking the coolant, can lead to poor
fuel economy, unreliability, or costly breakdowns.
It also may invalidate your warranty. Properly
maintaining your vehicle = less expensive repairs
from neglagence.
Back to
top
22.
I see a fluid leak under my car, what is it?
You can identify fluids by
their color and consistency:
-
Yellowish green, pastel blue or florescent
orange colors indicate an overheated engine or an antifreeze leak caused by a
bad hose, water pump or leaking radiator.
-
A dark brown or black oily fluid means the
engine is leaking oil. A bad seal or gasket could cause the leak.
-
A red oily spot indicates a transmission or
power-steering fluid leak.
A puddle of clear water usually is no
problem. It may be normal condensation from your vehicle's air
conditioner.
Back to
top
23. I smell
something in /around my car, what could it be?
-
The smell of burned toast - a light, sharp
odor - often signals an electrical short and burning insulation. To be safe,
try not to drive the vehicle until the problem is diagnosed.
-
The smell of rotten eggs - a continuous
burning-sulphur smell - usually indicates a problem in the catalytic converter
or other emission control devices. Don't delay diagnosis and repair.
-
A thick acrid odor usually means burning oil.
Look for sign of a leak.
-
The smell of gasoline vapors after a failed
start may mean you have flooded the engine. Wait a few minutes before trying
again. If the odor persists, chances are there's a leak in the fuel system - a
potentially dangerous problem that needs immediate attention.
-
Burning resin or an acrid chemical odor may
signal overheated brakes or clutch. Check the
parking brake. stop. Allow the brakes to cool
after repeated hard braking on mountain roads.
Light smoke coming from a wheel indicates a
stuck brake. The vehicle should be towed for
repair.
A sweet, steamy odor
indicates a coolant leak. If the temperature gauge or warning light does not
indicate overheating, drive carefully to the nearest service station, keeping
an eye on your gauges. If the odor is accompanied by a hot, metallic scent and
steam from under the hood, your engine has overheated. Pull over immediately.
Continued driving could cause severe engine damage. The vehicle should be towed
for repair.
Back to
top
24.
My car is making a terrible sound, what
information will help?
Squeaks, squeals, rattles,
rumbles, and other sounds provide valuable clues about problems and maintenance
needs. Here are some common noises and their definitions.
Squeal - A
shrill, sharp noise, usually related to engine speed.
Click
-
A
slight sharp noise,
related to either engine speed or vehicle speed.
Screech -
A high-pitched, piercing metallic sound; usually occurs while the vehicle is in
motion.
Rumble - a
low-pitched rhythmic sound.
Ping - A
high-pitched metallic tapping sound, related to engine speed.
Heavy
Knock - A rhythmic pounding sound..
Clunk - A
random thumping sound.
The
more details you can provide us, the better chance of locating the problem
quickly. Does the noise occur when the engine is cold or warm? Hot
or cold outside, rainy or dry? Does the noise occur while driving or only
when parked? These clues help the technician diagnose your problems
faster, saving you time and money!
Back to
top
25.
How often should I change my oil?
Most car manufacturers say to change your oil
every 7,500 miles unless you drive in
severe conditions. Severe conditions are
defined as dirty or dusty roads, extremely hot
or cold climates, a lot of stop and go driving,
taking short trips or if you tow a trailer. If
you live anywhere near Spartan Tire,
your vehicle falls into the severe conditions
category, or the 3,000 mile oil change interval.
We recommend every 3,000 miles
Back to top
26. What are the benefits
to Nitrogen filled
tires?
Better air pressure retention. The single biggest
reason for tire failure is lack of maintenance
of tire pressure. In fact, 54 percent of all vehicles
on the road have low tire pressure. Oxygen in
compressed air can permeate the tire wall reducing
tire pressure. With nitrogen, diffusion is 30
to 40 percent slower than oxygen. As a result,
nitrogen maintains tire pressure longer than ambient
air.
Enhanced fuel economy. Maintaining tire pressure
can boost fuel economy by as much as 6 percent.
Nitrogen disperses heat more quickly than ambient
air. By restraining the heat in the tire and reducing
rolling resistance, you get better fuel economy.
Longer tread life. With quicker heat dispersion,
you get a cooler running tire which helps extend
tread life and reduce tire failure. Nitrogen also
prevents oxidation which can not only lead to
tread separation and belt failure but, when combined
with moisture, corrode rims. In fact, moisture
can result in rust flakes that can fall into the
valve stem, block the valve and cause under-pressurization.
It can even cause the valve stem itself to rust.
Slow chemical aging. Filling a tire with nitrogen
also significantly slows the chemical aging process
of the tire’s rubber components. This leads
to fewer catastrophic failures like blowouts.
Slower aging lengthens tire core life, which yields
extra retreads and lower fleet costs.
Back to top
|