Linda Cate

Most cars need chains on two drive wheels, while trailers and heavy rigs may need chains on extra axles when signs require them. There isn’t one fixed number that fits every driver. The count changes with your drive axle, vehicle weight, road signs, weather, and whether you’re towing. That’s why one driver can get through […]

A 285/70R17 tire is 285 mm wide, or about 11.2 inches, though brand, rim width, and casing shape can shift the measured width a bit. If you want the straight number, a 285/70R17 tire has a section width of 285 millimeters. That works out to 11.22 inches. On a spec sheet, that is the width

A tire’s full outer height, measured from tread to tread, is usually stated in inches. Tire diameter sounds like shop talk, yet it affects far more than a spec sheet. It shapes how tall the car sits, how the speedometer reads, how much room you have in the wheel well, and whether a new set

No, AutoZone doesn’t list free tire inflation as a standard store service, so you’ll usually need your own inflator or a nearby air pump. A low-pressure light can send you into AutoZone in a hurry. That makes sense. The chain is known for free in-store help on a few car issues, and many drivers hope

Tire cupping happens when the tread skips and slaps the road instead of rolling flat, most often from worn suspension parts, bad balance, or poor inflation. If your tires hum, thump, or feel jagged when you run a hand across the tread, you’re likely dealing with cupping. Some shops call it scalloping. Either way, the

The finished wheel face and valve stem usually point outward, while the flat mounting surface sits against the hub. A flat tire can turn a normal drive into a shoulder-of-the-road puzzle. One of the most common hang-ups is orientation. The spare looks close to symmetrical, the light is bad, and all four sides start to

A winter tire set stores best when it’s clean, dry, cool, shaded, and positioned by whether the tires are mounted on wheels. A winter tire set can spend half the year doing nothing. Store the tires well, and they’ll come back next season ready for cold roads. Store them badly, and you can end up

A tire that won’t take air usually has a stuck valve, a bead leak, a puncture, or wheel damage that lets air out as fast as it goes in. A flat tire can turn into a head-scratcher in seconds. You hook up the inflator, hear the compressor running, and still the tire stays limp. Or

Most riding mower tires work best at 10 to 14 PSI, with the sidewall and owner’s manual deciding the final number. When you’re trying to figure out how much air a mower tire needs, the cut often gives away the answer. A lawn mower can have a sharp blade, yet still leave a slanted cut.

Snow tires last longest in a cool, dry, dark indoor spot away from sun, heat, moisture, oil, and ozone. Snow tires cost real money, so where you store them matters. A bad storage spot can dry the rubber, flatten the tread blocks, stain the sidewalls, or leave you with tires that feel stiff when winter