Frequently Asked Questions:
Cars, Trucks & SUVs

The typical consumer drives 12,000 to 15,000 miles a year on average, which means that high-quality all-season tires should last between three and five years, depending on the usage of the vehicle, driving conditions, and appropriate tire pressure.

You can do something called the “Penny Test”. Take a penny and place it headfirst into your tire tread. If you can see the top of Lincon’s head at all times, that means that your tire tread is worn down and your tires need to be replaced. If at least part of Lincon’s head is not visible, you should have sufficient tread depth remaining.

The short answer is, “It depends.” Vehicles that have all-wheel drive should have all tires replaced at the same time to prevent burning out the drivetrain. Front- or rear-wheel drive vehicles can often have two tires replaced at a time instead but always consult with one of our experts to be sure.

The speed rating of a tire indicates the typical speed that which the tire can safely be driven over time. In other words, it’s the fastest you can drive with that tire before it no longer performs in an optimal way. The higher the speed rating of the tire, the better your vehicle will handle at high speed.

Your car has a recommended pressure for its tires that will give you the safest driving experience and the best gas mileage. You can typically find this information on a sticker inside the driver’s door of your vehicle. If you don’t see a sticker there, you should be able to find the recommended air pressure in your owner’s manual.

1. Tire Type: Designates the type of vehicle the tire is designed to fit: passenger (P), light truck (LT), temporary spare (T), and special trailers (ST). No letter indicates that the tire is euro-metric.

2. Tire Width: Indicates the width or thickness of the tire in millimeters. Measured from the widest point of a tire’s sidewall to the widest point of its inner sidewall. Also known as Section Width.

3. Aspect Ratio: Identifies the relationship between the tire’s sidewall height and the tire’s width. Here, the sidewall height is 55% of the width. A lower ratio means a smaller sidewall height, better cornering, and a rougher ride.

4. Construction: Refers to the tire’s internal construction. Nearly every tire on the road has radial construction, which means the cords of the carcass plies inside the tire radiate directly across one side of the tire to the other. Other letters are D (diagonal) and B (belted).

5. Wheel Diameter: Indicates the diameter of the wheel the tire is designed to fit. In this case, the tire will fit a wheel with an 18-inch diameter.

6. Load Index: Refers to the weight a tire can carry at its maximum rate of inflation. The number corresponds to a load capacity found on a load index chart.

7. Speed Rating: Designates the maximum safe speed at which the tire is designed to carry a load under certain conditions. The range of speed ratings is from A (lowest) to Y (highest), with the only exception being that H falls between U and V. Surpassing the lawful speed limit is not recommended.

Every 5,000 to 7,500 miles, depending on your driving habits.

You should never use only two winter tires. If you only install winter tires on your front axle, you run the risk of losing rear tire traction on wintery roads.

Load range a tire’s maximum allowable PSI (air pressure). The higher the load range of a tire, the more weight it can handle.

See the table below

Some common tire types and their uses are listed below:

All-season:

All-season touring tires are used for typical highway driving, and general all-season traction. They are typically used for almost any type of vehicle. 

Competition:

Competition tires are specifically designed to deliver high performance. They ensure road contact in typical dry conditions, and are generally reinforced with materials like kevlar. You would generally see these tires on a racing or sports car, and they are not meant for typical daily driving. 

Passenger:

Passenger tires are designed for vehicles carrying larger numbers of people, and are designed to ensure a smooth and quiet ride. Vehicles such as hatchbacks, sedans, SUVs, coups, etc., will utilize this type of tire. 

Performance: 

Performance tires have larger grooves for wet weather scenarios. They also generally feature higher speed ratings, and utilize special materials for good superior grip. 

Summer:

Summer tires are meant to perform in both wet and dry conditions, but do not do well in the winter. They are specifically optimized for good handling in warm weather conditions.

Winter:

Winter tires are meant to be used during slick winter conditions. They have very deep grooves that push back snow and slush. Winter tires come in two varieties — studded and non-studded. Studded winter tires have small metal studs that allow even better traction in extreme conditions, but they can be very noisy. Non-studded winter tires still offer good traction, but won’t perform quite as well on ice as studded winter tires. 

Touring: 

Touring tires are built to deliver a smooth ride with superior handling. They normally will have a higher speed rating than a typical all-season tire. You will generally find touring tires utilized with performance, sport, and sedan-type vehicles. 

All-terrain:

All-terrain (AT) tires have deep treads to ensure strong traction in off-road scenarios. You’ll generally find these types of tires on Jeeps and trucks that are being driven in rugged terrain.