Best Tires, Tire Repair and Maintenance in Durham, NC

Since inflation pressure should be checked cold, the best time to check tires is first thing in the morning with the vehicle parked in the shade. If the vehicle has been driven more than one mile, or has been sitting in the sun on a hot day, the tires should be allowed to cool up to three hours before checking inflation pressure.

Yes. During the wheel casting process, air bubbles can become trapped in the molten metal. Once the wheel hardens, the air bubbles create tiny pockets (porous areas) that can allow air to escape. These porosity leaks may be so slight that it takes several weeks for the tire to lose a substantial amount of air.

During an alignment, two benchmarks are used to determine the relationship between the vehicle and the tires. The first is the vertical reference line: an imaginary line that runs through the center of the tire/wheel assemblies. The second is the centerline: an imaginary line that bisects the vehicle lengthwise. Ideally, the centerline and thrust angle will be the same. If the thrust angle and centerline are different, the vehicle will dog track down the road and the steering wheel will be off-center. On vehicles with non-adjustable rear suspension, the thrust angle is fixed based on the position of the rear wheels. In a thrust angle alignment, the front wheels are aligned according to the measured thrust angle. This procedure is used for rear-drive vehicles with a solid axle. For vehicles equipped with adjustable rear wheels, a four-wheel alignment can be performed. During this procedure, the thrust angle is adjusted to zero (center) prior to aligning the front wheels.