IF YOUR TIRE IS WORN
How worn is too worn? There are several ways to check for wear without even getting your hands dirty: You can either look for visible, excessive wear, you can perform the Penny Test to check proper tread depth, or you can check if the tread is worn down to the wear bar indicators (typically located in the circumferential grooves of the tread).
IF YOUR TIRE IS DAMAGED
If you suspect there may be any tire damage, be sure to ask an authorized tire retailer to inspect your tire. There could be some unseen damage on the inside.
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Dealer Locator
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Frequently asked questions
BFGoodrich answers your most asked questions.
FAQ
Chronic underinflation. When a tire runs with too little pressure it flexes excessively and the shoulders carry more load than the center, so they wear faster. Underinflated tires also build heat, hurt fuel economy, and in severe cases fail structurally at speed. Check pressure monthly and set it to your door placard figure.
Chronic overinflation. Too much pressure crowns the tread so only the center strip contacts the road, concentrating all wear in that narrow band. Overinflation also reduces total grip, makes the ride harsher, and leaves the tire more vulnerable to impact damage from potholes because there is less flex to absorb the hit.
An alignment problem, most commonly a camber or toe issue. A misaligned wheel scrubs sideways slightly with every rotation, and that scrubbing removes rubber from one shoulder. Get an alignment check. The wear already done cannot be reversed, but correcting the alignment stops it continuing on your next set.
An uneven wavy pattern around the circumference of the tread where high and low spots alternate. It usually indicates wheel imbalance or worn shock absorbers letting the tire bounce rather than maintaining steady road contact. Cupping generates noise and vibration, and it is not reversible once it develops.
A bulge or bubble in the sidewall means internal cords have broken and the tire can fail without warning. Any cut deep enough to expose cord material. Any separation between tread and casing. Any tire driven while flat. Tread at or below the treadwear indicators. In each of these cases, replace rather than repair.
You should fix the cause, but the wear already on the tire is permanent. Whether it stays in service depends on how much usable tread remains and whether the pattern has compromised performance. Rotating a partially worn tire to a lighter-duty position can extend its remaining life once the underlying cause is corrected.
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Common Questions to Ask Your Tire Dealer
Walking into a tire shop without preparation is how drivers end up with the wrong tire at the wrong price. Five specific questions change that dynamic completely. They cover fitment, seasonal suitability, warranty terms, what is actually included in installation, and whether the tire you want can be ordered rather than settling for whatever is in stock today.View more -
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Performance Tire Guide
If your car is high-performance, doesn’t it make sense to have tires that are just as high-performance? The main benefits of performance tires are higher speed capability, improved handling and maximum dry road grip*. (The negatives are lower tread life and higher costs.) But you need to know that all performance tires aren’t the same, which is why many high performance car owners own multiple sets of tires. (They often switch to all-season or winter tires in the fall and winter for improved winter grip.)View more -
What are All-Season Tires?
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About BFGoodrich Tires
When you choose a tire, you’re choosing how much fun you can have in the driver’s seat. And if you can appreciate higher performance, BFGoodrich® brand is the tire for you. Decades of motorsports success have helped us develop tires to give you the grip and control that your spirited driving demands — either on-road or off. Because the more control you have, the more fun you’ll have too.View more -
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