A donut spare is good for about 50 miles at up to 50 mph, temporary use only. How far and fast you can safely drive, plus the AWD warning.
Browsing: Car Tires
Rotate your tires every 5,000 to 8,000 miles, or at every oil change. Here’s the interval and the right rotation pattern for your car.
Check tire tread with a penny: if you see the top of Lincoln’s head, the tread is worn out. The penny test, quarter test, and better methods.
The Short Answer: Three numbers cover most of tire care. Your correct tire pressure is on the driver’s door-jamb placard,…
The Short Answer: Your correct tire pressure is listed on the sticker inside the driver’s door jamb (and in your…
A car that sounds like a flat tire but isn’t is often a wheel bearing, uneven tire wear, or a stuck brake. Here is how to tell what is really wrong.
Wheel balancing evens weight around each tire so it spins smoothly. Skip it and you get vibration, uneven wear, and bearing strain. Here’s what it does.
Everyone loves a smooth car ride. But sometimes, flat tires can interrupt our plans. What do you do if there’s…
New car tires often wear fast because factory tires use a softer compound, or from alignment, pressure, or rotation. Here is how to tell which.
Yes, an air compressor inflates car tires fast and safely, if you set the right pressure. How to do it, avoid over-inflating, and pick the right type.
Tires lose air from a slow puncture, a bad valve, a corroded rim, cold weather, or age. Here is how to find which one and tell a leak from normal loss.
The Short Answer: Different tires on a car can be safe or unsafe depending on what differs: brand, tread pattern,…
A slow tire leak comes from a nail, a bad valve, or a corroded rim. Here is how to find it and what can be fixed at home vs what needs a shop.
You can leave the car on while airing up tires, and the pressure reads the same either way. But never in a closed garage, and check pressure cold.
Yes, tires lose about 1 PSI per 10F temperature drop. The air is not leaking, it contracts. Here is why, how much, and what to do when it gets cold.
Can you drive on a flat tire? Not a fully flat one. It wrecks the tire and wheel fast. Run-flats and slow leaks differ. When to stop and what to do.
You can replace just one tire on many cars, but not always. AWD and low tread on the others can force a pair or a full set. When one is safe.
Yes, a bike pump can inflate a car tire in a pinch, if it fits a Schrader valve. It is slow and best for a top-up, not a dead-flat tire. Here is how.
A shaking steering wheel points to a front tire; a shaking seat points to a rear one. How to tell which tire is out of balance by where you feel it.
Ever wondered, What happens if you don’t rotate your tires? You may be cruising down the road, enjoying the breeze,…
A tire rotation usually takes 15 to 45 minutes, or longer if bundled with a balance or oil change. How long it takes DIY vs a shop, and what affects it.
Tire plug vs patch: a plug is a fast external fix, a patch seals inside, and a combo plug-patch is the recommended repair. Plus when to replace instead.