Linda Cate

Book the alignment at tire installation or within a few days if the car drives straight and the old tires wore evenly. New tires do not create bad alignment, but they do stop hiding it. A worn set can mask pull, drift, and edge wear. Fresh tread makes those issues easier to feel, so tire […]

Yes. Tire Rack became part of the Discount Tire family after Discount Tire agreed to buy the company in 2021. If you’re asking, “Is Tire Rack owned by Discount Tire?” the plain answer is yes. Discount Tire announced the deal in December 2021, and Tire Rack now says it is part of the Discount Tire

Yes, many flat repairs at Discount Tire are free, while full tire replacement is free only when a certificate or warranty benefit applies. If you’re trying to figure out whether Discount Tire replaces tires for free, the answer turns on three things: the type of damage, the condition of the tire, and whether you bought

Most temporary spares are smaller to save trunk room and cut vehicle weight, yet still carry enough load for a short trip to a tire shop. That little donut in your trunk can look like a cheap shortcut. It’s not. A small spare is a deliberate piece of vehicle design. Carmakers need an emergency tire

Yes, winter-specific rubber and tread stay grippy in the cold, helping you stop sooner and hold the road better on snow and ice. Winter tires change the way a car feels when the temperature drops. The gains show up when the road is cold, slick, slushy, or packed with snow. You get better bite when

Yes, they’re a solid budget pick for daily driving and light truck duty, though wet-road polish and cabin hush vary by line. Patriot tires make the most sense for drivers who want decent real-world performance without paying premium-brand money. If your miles are made up of commuting, errands, highway runs, gravel roads, and the odd

Tire sealant coats the inner liner, flows into a small tread puncture, and plugs the leak long enough to restore usable air pressure. A tire sealant is a liquid fixer, not a magic cure. When it gets inside a tire, it spreads across the inner surface. If air starts escaping through a small hole, that

Most cars need a tire rebalance about every 5,000 to 7,000 miles, or sooner after vibration, a hard pothole hit, or new tire work. If your car feels smooth in town but starts shaking once speed climbs, tire balance is one of the first things to check. A wheel and tire assembly never weighs the

Usually, no—clean tires and a decent water-based dressing are fine, while dirty sidewalls, bad formulas, and sloppy use cause the trouble. Does Tire Shine Damage Tires? Most of the time, no. A tire shine product does not eat through a healthy tire just because it adds gloss. The bigger issue is how the product is

A small puncture in the tread can often be plugged and patched if the sidewall is clean and the damage is no wider than 1/4 inch. A tire hole can wreck an ordinary day. Many small tread punctures can be repaired, though not every hole should be. The right call comes down to location, size,