All Tire Questions & Answers

Tire sling is a phenomenon that occurs when tire shine dressing applied on tires gets flung to the wheels, side, and even fenders of the vehicle due to the tire spinning during movement. Many persons have attributed tire sling to the product itself when in reality the reason has always been the application. Regardless of the product being purchased, if you don’t apply a tire shine in the best way possible, you will always experience the tire sling effect. Below is a step-by-step guide on how to avoid tire sling on your vehicle tires. Trending Searches Can A Toyota Tundra Pull A Fifth Wheel Camper? Can You Jack Up A Car By The Transmission? Can You Jack Up A Car By The Engine? How to apply tire shine? Step 1 Ensure your tire is clean and properly dried The mistake some people make is applying tire shine immediately after washing their tires without allowing them to dry properly. A tire would have to be properly dried before tire shine can do its job, therefore, use a towel to dry your tire before allowing it to air-dry for a little while. If you miss this important step, you may as well just forget about applying a tire shine altogether because it would be of no use. Now you see why it’s not the product’s fault right? Step 2 Apply water-based dressing over silicon-based dressing There are basically two types of components used in making tires shine – water and silicon. They both have their pros and cons but for the sake of slinging, it is highly recommended you use water-based dressing, the reason is simple; water-based dressing will easily absorb into your tires thereby leaving you with an excellent finish that feels dry to the touch. Silicon dressing on the other hand doesn’t guarantee this type of finish as it is likely to form a film on the surface of your tire, thereby making it prone to slinging. This can be minimized though if you apply the silicon product moderately and follow the next steps I will explain below. Step 3 Use thin coats on the surfaces Another essential key to avoiding slinging is using as little at a time. In all honesty, using lots of products might give you a sparkling wet look at first, but all that comes to naught when you start driving. The advantage of applying very little product at a time is that it allows it dry on time. When applying your tire shine (be it water or silicone-based), use a shine tire applicator sponge. Then gently work the product into your tire by rubbing it round to ensure your tire shine is evenly spread out. Do not allow any form of a pool of the product on your tire, especially around the crack areas and grooves. The product has to be evenly distributed on the surface. Step 4 Give ample time for drying After applying your tire shine product, do well to allow it to dry completely before driving your car – let’s say for about 40-minutes. To make it faster, you can use a microfiber towel to clean around the surface of your tire after application – ensure you don’t use force, and apply lightly. Using a microfiber towel will ensure you don’t have an excess product on the tire that can result in slinging. To be very sure your tire dressing is completely dried, you can use your finger and swipe across the surface. If it leaves no residue stains, then you can go ahead and drive. You definitely wouldn’t have any tire sling after following these easy steps. How to clean your tire to avoid slinging? Remember I said cleaning your tire properly is the foundation required to avoid slinging, well, below are the steps to help you build a solid foundation. Step 1 Use washing soaps made specifically for tires There are various soaps out there you can use to clean your car, but never do the mistake of using the same soap used in cleaning the body of your car to clean the tire of your car or vehicle. This is because car cleaning soaps are designed to handle stains on the paint of the car as well as clear the coat, and using such soaps on your tire could leave a film on your car tire which could result in slinging when you finally apply tire dressers.  The same thing applies to tire cleaners as well. Tire cleaners have a very poor effect on your car paint and should be avoided at all costs. However, note that there are cleaners designed for both the body and tires of cars, and only when such cleaners are available should go ahead and apply them on both surface areas. Step 2 Allow your tire cleaner to soak in for a couple of minutes Patience is the keyword here – don’t be in haste. Ensure you allow your tire cleaner to sit on the surface of the tire after application for a couple of minutes – let’s say three – or follow the timing instruction stated on the cleaner. This is because the rubber used in making tires is not too porous which can make it very difficult to remove dust from tires, but allowing the tire cleaner to sit for a while will do the trick.  There are bound to be overspray when applying your tire cleaner, and when they occur, get a rag and clean such areas immediately.  Step 3 Use a tire brush to scrub the tires One thing that’s guaranteed you’ll do when cleaning your tire would be the use of force. Ensure you get the proper brush for cleaning tires which can be large enough brushes with stiff bristles and apply the right pressure needed to get a proper clean as tire dirt can be quite stubborn. The scrubbing pattern shouldn’t really be much of a concern to you – be it circular or back and forth … Read more

Being a Michelin product, many users expected that the defender should be without any problems. Well, to some, the Michelin defender does not have any problem and they have positive testimonials about it. However, one of the top complaints that many have about the tire is that it vibrates. Do you want to buy a new Michelin defender? You must learn about its vibration problem. Read on for more information about the problem and other things you should know about the Michelin defender. TRENDING SEARCHES 5 Hidden Michelin LTX AT2 Problems & Possible Solutions   6 Hidden Michelin Tire Noise Problems & Possible Solutions 4 Hidden Michelin XPS Rib Tire Problems & Possible Solutions Michelin defender vibration problems From reviews online and users’ comments about the Michelin defender, the tire has many pros but top on the list of its critics is that the tire vibrates when the car is in motion. The vibration of the tires could make you lose concentration while on the road, depending on the way you manage the situation. What could be responsible for this? The following are some of the reasons why your Michelin defender will vibrate. 1. Balancing The tire as a part of the wheel carries all the weights of the vehicle. That is why the weight must be balanced on all the tires. In a situation where the weight is not balanced, the affected tire would vibrate when the car is in motion. Not only that, but it will also wear the tire easily. This problem could arise when you mount new tires, replace damaged tires, or after some period of using them. 2. Specifications In the same way, there are different models of cars, they also do not have similar specifications. Though the Michelin defender is a good tire, it would vibrate if you have mounted the wrong one on your vehicle. That is why you need to read about the specifications of your car before you mount any wheel on your vehicle. 3. Loose lug nuts Exposure to different weather and road conditions does not only wear the tire, it could also loosen the lug nuts. In a situation where the lug nuts are loosened, there is a high chance that the tires will vibrate when you are in motion. At times, it will feel as if the tire and the wheel would detach from the vehicle. 4. Out of round Due to different factors, the Michelin defender would likely go out of round. For instance, it could be due to a lack of the recommended pressure level or the way you care for the tires. In such instances, there is a high chance that the tires will go out of round. The implication of this is that the tire will vibrate when the car is in motion. 5. Damaged wheel The tire, rim, and other parts of the vehicle form the wheel. Damage to any of the parts of the wheel would affect the effectiveness of the other parts. This implies that if the wheel is damaged, there is a high chance that the Michelin defender would vibrate when the car is in motion. The vibration would become disturbing when you accelerate higher. Different factors such as the way you handle the wheel or care for it could damage the wheel. For instance, running the tire recklessly over speed bumps, potholes, and other barriers could damage the wheel, thereby leading to vibration. Solutions to a Michelin defender that vibrates From the factors stated above, the Michelin defender may vibrate when you are in motion. In such a situation, many car owners will be disturbed and confused. Do not panic if you are experiencing the same issue. You should, however, fix it immediately. The following are some of the things you can do to resolve a Michelin defender that vibrates. Park the vehicle Once you notice that the Michelin defender is vibrating, you should immediately look for a safe location where you can park the car. This is because continuous driving in such a condition could be disastrous. You can then physically inspect the tires for any potential damage. If there is any, you can replace the damaged wheel with the spare. If there is none, you can retighten the lug nuts. However, make sure you do it within the recommended torque level by the manufacturer. Move at a slower speed In a situation where you are on an interstate journey and you must continue your journey, you should move only at a slower speed to minimize vibration and reduce the risk of an accident. You should, however, seek the service of a wheel specialist, provided you are fortunate to meet one on your way. Go for assessment Once you are at your destination, you should go to a professional for an assessment of the problem. In most cases, the wheel expert would test drive the car for a few minutes before proffering a solution. You should not hesitate to do what the wheel expert recommends. Alignment and balancing Recall that it has been stated earlier that the Michelin defender would vibrate if the wheel is not properly balanced and aligned. The wheel specialist would likely suggest this when you go for an assessment of the problem. It is recommended that you also check the alignment and balancing of the car at least once in 6 months or anytime you replace the wheel. Effects of driving with a tire that vibrates All parts of the vehicle must be functioning optimally for your safety on the road. Not only that, but it also ensures a comfortable driving experience. On the other hand, there are consequences for continuously driving a vehicle with parts that are not functioning optimally. Here are some of the likely effects of driving with a Michelin defender that vibrates. Uneven wear Michelin tires are regarded by many as durable. The truth is that they are durable but they could get ruined quickly under some conditions. For instance, … Read more

As a driver, you know you have a nightmare to wake up from when you discover you don’t have a bottle jack a bottle jack is as important to a driver as water is important to someone on a camping trip. However, the importance of a bottle jack is not in question here; many drivers have always asked the question, can a bottle jack be used on its side? Yes, a bottle jack can be used on its side. Most, if not all hydraulic jacks come with a port usually located at the bottom of the reservoir leading to the pump. However, when the jack is laid to the side of the jack containing the intake for the pump, it will work for a while until the hole is exposed to the atmosphere. In most cases, that port, in particular, is placed on the same side as the pump because it reduces the amount of work needed. So, depending on the design of the bottle jack and the amount of oil in the reservoir, you shouldn’t have a problem using a bottle jack on its side. Trending Searches How to use a bottle jack The following steps listed below will show you how to use a bottle jack. Materials needed Step 1 Park your vehicle safely Parking your vehicle safely involves two things; parking on the right side of the road and parking on a level surface. While using your garage will always be the best option, the last place a flat can occur would be a garage, and since they are likely to happen in the course of driving try moving away from incoming traffic to the shoulder of the road. Once you are safely away from traffic, try parking on a level spot and ensure the surface is hard. If the surface happens to be muddy, your planks would come in handy to provide a solid base for your bottle jack, and if the road isn’t as level as it should be, you might want to apply your parking brake and use the tire wedge to prevent your car from rolling backward or forward depending on the topography of the landscape. Step 2 Get a jack stand and inspect your jack before usage Depending on what you want to do under the vehicle, you may need to use jack stands if you’ll be staying under the vehicle for a prolonged time. Jack stands are a lot safer than bottle jacks as they provide you with the assurance that your car wouldn’t come toppling on you while working. In the case of a flat, a single jack would suffice. Inspect your bottle jack for any sort of leakage involving hydraulic oil as they could reduce the performance of your bottle jack. Also, ensure the plug behind is tightly fixed and the release valve is properly closed. Clean off any form of dirt on the saddle as it might hamper a clear contact with your vehicle. Lastly, check your jack stands for any sort of defect since any slight defect could put the integrity of the jack stand in check. Step 3 Locate the lift point on your vehicle To be sure of where your jack should be placed, ensure you read the user manual of your vehicle as such points can differ according to the vehicle manufacturer. Using any other points can cause a crack, injury, or even damage to your vehicle. Run a few test pumps on the bottle jack to be sure of its working condition; slowly pump up the handle upwards and downwards. You can also let down the cylinder by carefully turning the release valve in an anticlockwise direction to ensure it’s in good working condition. You can also use the handle located at one end of the bottle jack to release the valve which is located near the barrel bottom usually on the front of the jack. Ensure you tighten the release valve before use. Step 4 Lift your vehicle After locating the lift point on your vehicle, ensure your workspace is clear enough to work safely, and if you’re working at home don’t allow children to come around. If the area is swampy or muddy or has soft earth, get your planks to manage the situation by placing them underneath your bottle jack and your jack stand. Place your bottle jack underneath the designated point for lifting on the vehicle, insert the handle of your bottle jack and start pumping until the saddle of your bottle jack is close to touching your vehicle – don’t forget to ensure the saddle is directly in line with the vehicle lifting point. Pump your bottle jack until your vehicle is high enough from the ground to safely work under. Most bottle jack jacks will come with safety measures to prevent over-extension, however, it is never advised to lift your vehicle higher than required. Step 5 Position your jack stands and remove your bottle jack After achieving the desired height, place your jack stands and ensure they are properly supported if the ground is soft. Once placed, remove the handle from your jack, and with the use of your notch located at the end of your bottle jack, twist the release valve gently in the anticlockwise direction the same way you did while test running your bottle jack.  Gently release the jack until your vehicle rests comfortably on your jack stand(s). Before removing the jacks completely, double-check the location of your jack stand(s) and ensure they are properly placed before allowing your vehicle to rest on them. Once your vehicle is properly resting on the jack stand(s) you can go ahead and carry out your repair or maintenance activity under your vehicle.  Step 6 Bringing down your vehicle After completing your repair and maintenance on your vehicle, place your bottle jack directly facing the required points used in jacking your vehicle up while ensuring you follow the safety measures depending on the state of the ground, … Read more

How much price are you willing to pay for beauty?  Sure when a car on the street with incredibly large tires which look disproportionate to the size and height of the car cruises by, lots of people cannot help staring at the car until it disappears out of the horizon. Must persons however do not realize what the car has to sacrifice for such looks in terms of its acceleration, braking distance, and other aspects of the car driving and handling? So, does tire weight matter? Tire weight undoubtedly should matter. This is not something that can be ignored. Irrespective of how controversial this topic is and the number of arguments in the various car chat forums on the internet, every car owner looking to install heavier and larger tires must understand the effect this has on the performance of their car and make an informed decision. The subject of the effect of tire weight on car performance and whether this should be something that matters or not is often an interesting one that generates hot arguments all over the Internet forums. As a daily driver or someone who runs a taxi business, this is an attunement you may also weigh in on. The car enthusiasts and the physics nerds will also find this fascinating. We have chosen in this article to present both sides of the argument, that is, the perspective of those who claim the tire weight should not matter as it has no impact on the car’s performance and those who believe the tire weight has a significant impact on the car’s performance and should therefore matter. There are helps those who take the middle ground, that is, agrees with the second group which believes the tire weight impacts car performance, they, however, believe that the weight’s impact on the car performance is highly negligible compared to other factors and therefore should not be given a center stage. Trending Searches Will A Bad Tires Affect Alignment? Can You Jack Up A Truck By The Leaf Springs? How does tire weight impact car performance? No matter how desperately you want your car to look elegant there is a limit to the price you will be willing to pay for this. Most women are willing to sacrifice hours, funds, and other resources to get their hair and nails done and look breathtaking afterward. There is however a limit to how much pain you are willing to endure to get to such a level.  When it comes to the car, there are car owners who aspire to treat their cars like a wife, and some more than they treat their wives. Let’s move straight to what can happen to your car’s performance as a result of installing large and heavy tires on the car to improve its looks.  There are mathematical values done by experts, calculations that show exactly the magnitude of impact the larger heavier tire has on the car’s performance. values show that heavier tires cause an increase in the rolling resistance of the tires which consequently translates to a decreased gas mileage. Aside from this, the handling of the car is equally put in jeopardy. So, saying it does not matter whether or not the tire is light or heavy is erroneous and not completely true. Some of the impacts of the large heavier tire may not be noticed, especially by drivers who before this time barely paid attention to the working of the car. A more objective evaluation of the impact is what the physicist put to us. These calculations show the weight of the tire does matter, no matter how insignificant it may seem, the impact is real. Which is better a light tire or the heavyweight tire? Some get a kick out of a back and forth argument. A lot has been said about this subject but never objectively. Most persons seem to state their personal experiences without any values or statistics to support their claim. Most persons that go for larger tires do not consider the impact of the weight of the tire on the car rather, their eyes are fixed on how gorgeous the large tires will make the car look at the end of the day.  To objectively evaluate which is better in terms of their impact on the car’s performance, light and heavyweight tires will be put to the test here by the physicist in the house. In case you are wondering who the physics expert is, it is no other than myself. Of course, I am by no chance an expert in the subject, and that is why you will be able to understand what is to follow as they are all explained in the simplest words possible with no sophisticated technical terms. So, let us brush over a little physics. Let’s start by considering the meaning of the following physics terms as it relates to the car.  Unstrung weight: not the entire weight of the car is saddled on the car’s suspension. The weight which the suspension is not responsible for is called the up strung weight. They, therefore, do not contribute to the rebound of the suspension. An example of such weight is the tires and tires. These two car parts are anchored below the suspension and are not bored by the suspension. The opposite of unsprung weight is the strung weight. So, if you were able to understand the unsprung weight as the weight not carried by the suspension, then, the sprung weight is simply that which is bored by the suspensions such as the weight of the engine.  Rotational mass: this is another important concept you must understand to explain coherently how the large tire impacts car performance. It takes energy to bring the car to move or get it to stop, the ease with which this is done or the difficulty as the car may be is considered the rotational mass. This mass must be overcome to accelerate the car or to bring … Read more

As a car owner, although you are not required to be an expert on the physical and mechanics of the working of your car, there is however certain basic knowledge you should equip yourself with. An example of such is the knowledge or knowledge of how to find out which tire size is appropriate for your rim or which rim size is most suitable for your tire size. On that note, we are going to take a 265 tire and a 9-inch rim as our focus of discussion to find out whether these two are compatible. So, will 265 tires fit a 9-inch rim? 265 tires are one of the tire sizes recommended for a 9-inch rim. Later in this article, we shall consider others aside from 265 tires which may also be used with the 9-inch rim. Whatever reason prompted the need to upgrade to a larger tire size, there is always the concern of compatibility. Your worry when you choose to fit a 265 tire with a 9-inch includes the fear of the 9-inch rim, being a big size rim, being too large for the 265 tires, or the 265 tires being too small for the 9-inch rim. It is a must for rim sizes to fit tire sizes else, you risk a considerable number of consequences which may include compromising performance. Yes, larger tires such as 265 tires have an outstanding impact on handling as they give a better grip on the road. This is only true if they fit perfectly well with the rim they are installed upon.  Trending Searches Will Fix-A-Flat Seal A Rim Leak Will Any 20-Inch Tire Fit A 20-Inch Rim? How do 265 tires fit a 9-inch rim?  Finding out which tire size is most appropriate for your rim size cannot be achieved by mere outward inspection of the tire and rim. It takes more than this to know how to make the right choice of rim or tire size. In today’s world, seeming for any form of information has become incredibly easy. Almost anything you are confused about can be cleared in an instant without much hassle.  Today, there are equivalence tables on the internet that provide comprehensive information on the tire’s sizes and the size of the rim in inches that are compatible with them. With such a list, you will be able to discover 265 tires as one of the tire sizes compatible with 9-inch tires. Note however that slight changes may exist for different brands of 265 therefore, a more certain way of finding out if the 9-inch rim is truly a fit for your 265 tires is by checking out the manufacturer’s guide on the recommended rim size for the tires. Information from professional mechanics and tire experts can be considered reliable as well. Such information should be crossed checked with the equivalence table and the manufacturer’s recommendation.  A similar internet tool creating usefulness is the online calculator. Learn how to use this to have precise information on what tire size is best for your rim.  Relying on the general finding of 265 tires being a good fit for a 9-inch tire could in some instances cause you to install a tire size that may constitute a great nuisance later on. As long as the tire’s brand allows for such installation, then it is okay to go ahead, otherwise, desist or risk having a tire that rubs on the car when you make turns, hits the inner aspect of the tire space when you drive over bumps potholes and increase the rate at which the tire wears off. Is it safe to use a 265 tire fit for a 9-inch rim?  Are you a car owner who is about to decide to upgrade their tire size to the 265 tires? What should you be worried about this big-size tire when it is installed on a 9-inch tire. Knowing that certain disadvantages, depending on their magnitude can make whatever benefits achieved through the tire size upgrading turn into dust and become irrelevant, all owners must learn about what they are up against when they consider such changes. To the full extent, you must understand what you stand to gain or lose and what you are risking. So, in this section, the focus will be to elucidate some of the possible challenges you may face installing a 265 tire on a 9-inch tire.so, if you have 265 tires you wish to install on 9-inch rims you find lying about, read through the following discussion to decide for yourself whether to go ahead or spend some money on the approach and recommended rim size. Your first worry with such upgrading will be the combined size and height of the rim and tire being too large for the wheel space. The result of such dis-proportionality is that you may find the tires rubbing against the fender or protruding outside the body of the car which may not speak well of the figure of the car. This sort of defeats some of the common goals of upgrading tire and run size which include atheistic purposes for better performance. There is also the fear of the tire fitting the rim. While the general finding is compatibility between 265 tires and 9-inch rim, do not be quick to assume that this will be the case for every brand of 265 tires out there. In your car, the brand of the tore could sit that it does not seat well on the 9-inch rim. Continuous use of such tire rim combination may affect other parts of the car such as the suspension and wheel alignment, either of which can bring about further damages such as the uneven wearing of the tires if left uncorrected. What other size will fit on a 9-inch wide rim? For most rim sizes, there could be multiple tire sizes that are a perfect match for the rim size. This is the case for 9-inch tires. The 265 tires are … Read more