Frequently Asked Questions
If you keep your Tyres properly inflated and rotate
them on regular basis they should provide you with mile
after mile of trouble-free service. The answers to these
FAQs will tell you just about everything you need to
know to get the most out of your Tyres. Pay special
attention to questions one through four about Inflation,
Rotation, Balance and Alignment. If you don't find the
answers you need, your Goodyear retailer is there to
help.
1. How much
air should I put in my Tyres?
2. Should I rotate my Tyres?
3. Why do my Tyres need to
be balanced?
4. What is alignment?
5. Is it safe to repair a flat
Tyre?
6. What should I do if I notice
a vibration?
7. Can my driving habits affect
the life of my Tyres?
8. How can I check my Tyres
for wear problems?
9. How do I know when I need
new Tyres?
10. Must I replace my present
Tyres with the same size Tyres?
11. Should I "mix"
Tyre types on my car?
12. When buying just two new
Tyres, should they be put on thefront or rear?
13. Isn't it easy to mount
a Tyre on a wheel? Can't I do it myself?
14. Do my new Tyres require
any special treatment?
15. How long should my original
equipment Tyres last?
16. Where should I go if I
have warranty concern on a Goodyear Tyre?
1. How much air should I put in my Tyres?
TOP
Proper inflation is the single most
important part of Tyre care. The inflation pressure
on the side of the Tyre is the MAXIMUM operating pressure.
It is not necessarily the right inflation for your vehicle.
Always use the inflation recommended by the vehicle
manufacturer. You can find it 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. Always check
inflation when Tyres are COLD: when the vehicle has
been driven less than a mile or an hour or more after
driving. Use a good quality Tyre gauge. Note: It's natural
for radial Tyres to have a slight bulge in the sidewall
at their proper inflation pressure. Check or adjust
inflation every few weeks, before any long trip or if
traveling with a heavy load. And don't forget to check
the spare.
2. Should I rotate my Tyres?
TOP
Regular and proper Tyre rotation promotes more uniform
wear for all of the Tyres on a vehicle.
All season Tyres should be rotated in a "modified
X" pattern, meaning only the Tyres being moved
to the drive axle are crossed to the opposite side of
the vehicle.
The remaining two Tyres 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 a more even and
uniform treadwear pattern for all four Tyres.
The only exception to this would be the use of "directional"
tread design Tyres such as our Aquatred II or some of
our Eagle line high performance Tyres. These Tyres would
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 Tyres to their new axle positions.
We recommend Tyre rotation at least every 6,000 miles.
Four-wheel drive vehicles may require rotation even
sooner such as every 4,000 miles.
Check your vehicle owner's manual for the manufacturer's
rotation recommendations. If no rotation period is specified,
Tyres should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles.
The first rotation is the most important. When Tyres
are rotated, inflation pressures must be adjusted to
the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations. Uneven Tyre
wear may also be due to misalignment or mechanical problems.
3. Why do
my Tyres need to be balanced?
TOP
Properly balanced Tyres are important for driving comfort
and long Tyre life. Unbalanced Tyres can cause vibration,
resulting in driver fatigue, premature Tyre wear and
unnecessary wear to your vehicle's suspension. Tyres
should be balanced when they are mounted on wheels for
the first time or when they are remounted after repair.
Tyres should be rebalanced at the first sign of vibration
or "shimmy." Vibration may also be due to
misalignment or mechanical problems. Many Goodyear Retailers
can provide expert diagnosis and repair.
4. What is
alignment?
TOP
A vehicle is said to be properly aligned when all suspension
and steering components are sound and when the Tyre
and wheel assemblies are running straight and true.
Proper alignment is necessary for even tread wear and
precise steering. Uneven front-or rear-Tyre 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 Tyre mileage, performance
and comfort. Goodyear retailers provide expert alignment
and suspension service.
5. Is it
safe to repair a flat Tyre?
TOP
If a Tyre 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. Tyres 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 Tyres with tread punctures larger
than 1/4 inch, or any sidewall puncture. Also, never
repair Tyres which are worn below 1/16 inch tread depth.
Your best bet is to make sure your spare Tyre is always
ready to do the job. Check it regularly for proper air
pressure and be sure that it is in good shape. If your
car is equipped with one of the several types of temporary
spares, be sure to check the spare Tyre's sidewall for
the correct inflation pressure, speed, and mileage limitations.
See Goodyear retailers for expert Tyre repair.
6. What should
I do if I notice a vibration?
TOP
Vibration is an indication that your car has a problem
that needs attention. The Tyres, steering system and
suspension system should be checked to help determine
the possible cause and correction of the vibration.
If left unattended, the vibration could cause excessive
Tyre and suspension wear. It could even be dangerous.
Goodyear retailers offer expert diagnosis and repair.
7.
Can my driving habits affect the life of my Tyres?
TOP
They certainly can. Here are some tips to increase the
life of your Tyres:
1. Don't speed: excessive heat is generated
when driving at high speeds. This heat increases the
rate of Tyre wear and reduces the Tyre's durability.
2. Avoid fast turns on curves and around
corners; fast starts and panic stops.
3. Don't ride on the edge of the pavement
or drive over curbs, chuck-holes, or other obstructions.
8. How can
I check my Tyres for wear problems?
TOP
Tyres often give their owners signs of problems in plenty
of time to have them corrected. Learn to "read"
these early warning signs and you can prevent many wear
problems that shorten Tyre life by thousands of miles.
Here are some of the most common problems.
9.
How do I know when I need new Tyres?
TOP
Many Tyres have tread wear 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 Tyre. Here's another
simple test you can perform to measure tread depth on
your Tyres.
10. Must
I replace my present Tyres with the same size Tyres?
TOP
Never choose a smaller size than those that came with
the car. Tyres should always be replaced with the same
size designation -- or approved options -- as recommended
by the vehicle manufacturer or Goodyear retailer.
11. Should
I "mix" Tyre types on my car?
TOP
Tyres of different size designations, constructions,
and stages of wear may affect vehicle handling and stability.
For best all-around performance, the same type Tyre
should be used on all four wheel positions -- unless
special purpose Tyres (snow Tyres, for example) are
used to improve performance. You can mix your present
Tyres with other size designations or constructions
-- provided similar Tyres are used in pairs on the same
axle. Never mix radial and bias-ply Tyres on the same
axle. Get specific information from your Goodyear retailer.
12. When
buying just two new Tyres, should they be put on the
front or rear?
TOP
When radial Tyres are used with bias or bias belted
Tyres on the same car, the radials must always be placed
on the rear axle. Never mix radial and bias-ply Tyres
on the same axle. When you select a pair of replacement
Tyres in the same size and construction as those on
the car, we recommend you put them on the rear axle.
A single new Tyre should be paired on the rear axle
with the Tyre having the most tread depth of the other
three.
13. Isn't
it easy to mount a Tyre on a wheel? Can't I do it myself?
TOP
Never try to mount your own Tyres. Tyre mounting is
a job for the people who have the proper equipment and
experience. If you try to do it yourself, you run the
risk of serious injury to yourself as well as possible
damage to the Tyre and rim.
14. Do my
new Tyres require any special treatment?
TOP
Your new Tyres will probably feel different from the
Tyres 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.
15. How long
should my original equipment Tyres last?
TOP
Goodyear does not offer a written mileage promise on
any Tyres supplied as original equipment. Due to the
variety of styles, construction features, treat compounds,
vehicle applications, geographical conditions and driving
habits, it is difficult to provide a specific mileage
expectancy.
However, any Tyre wear concern should always be presented
to your local authorized Goodyear retailer for further
evaluation.
16. Where
should I go if I have warranty concern on a Goodyear
Tyre?
TOP
Please call the Goodyear Customer Service Department
at (01) 942100-1 for more information.
