Tips And Guides
Practical tire tips and guides that explain what the codes on your sidewall mean and how to make the right call when something goes wrong. Start with how to read a tire size, the tire speed rating chart, and the load range chart, then dig into repairs like patch vs. plug and the signs you need new tires.
Shopping soon? Our tire buying and maintenance guide walks through choosing the right tire, and tire warranties explained shows what that mileage promise is really worth. For brand-by-brand verdicts, browse our tire reviews.
Why Do Semis Have Spikes on Their Tires? The Truth Behind Truck Wheel Spikes
You are cruising in the right lane when a tractor-trailer pulls alongside, and suddenly there is a ring of gleaming chrome points spinning...
Worst Tire Brands: How to Spot Tires to Avoid and What the Evidence Says
You need four tires, the quote from the local shop made you wince, and an online listing offers a set from a brand...
How Long Does It Take for Tires to Cool? Cold Pressure, Safe Handling and Track Days
You pull into a gas station after an hour on the interstate, clip a gauge onto the valve stem and see a number...
Can You Fix a Bubble in a Tire? Why Sidewall Bulges Mean Replacement
You walk past your car and notice a lump on the side of one tire, a rounded swelling that was not there last...
Cracked Tires and Dry Rot: When to Monitor, When to Replace and Why Repairs Don’t Work
The tread looks fine, the tires hold air, but up close the sidewalls are covered in fine lines, or a few cracks have...
How to Get Paint Off Tires Without Damaging the Rubber
Paint finds tires in all kinds of ways. You drive through a freshly striped road before the lines have set, a neighbor’s house...
How to Keep Trailer Tires From Dry Rotting: Storage, Pressure and Replacement Guide
A boat trailer, camper or utility trailer can spend eleven months of the year parked in a side yard and still have tires...
How to Plug a Tire Without a Plug Kit: Why Hacks Fail and What to Do Instead
You are on the shoulder with a tire going soft, a nail glinting in the tread, and no plug kit in the trunk....
