Frequently Asked Questions

Frequently Asked Questions

Why buy a Used Tire
ADVANTAGES TO BUYING USED TIRES
With new tires offering the utmost most in quality, condition, and longevity, Why should you buy used tires?  Of course! Quality used tires, like LOS BROTHERS TIRES stocks, serve a purpose for thousands of our customers. There’s a long list of reasons to consider buying used tires.

COST OF USED TIRES
When you get down to it, cost is a factor for many families on a budget. Quality used tires with plenty of tread left are a good option for those who can’t afford new tires at this time.

ONLY NEED ONE TIRE
Sometimes you don’t need to replace all your tires. Maybe you just purchased a set of new tires, but had a blow out on one tires. Los Brothers Tires can help you match your existing tires with a used tire so you don’t have to replace all four.

VEHICLE IS READY TO EXPIRE
If you’re driving an old beater, then chances are you’re doing so to get the most out of your initial investment. You aren’t interested in sinking money into a new set of tires, and you doing have to. Used tires are a great option for a high mileage vehicle.

A LEASE SITUATION
If you don’t own your vehicle, but rather are leasing one, used tires can be great solution. If your leased vehicle is due in the next couple months and the tires are worn, we can help you find tires that will pass lease inspection.

Allignment and FRONT-END ISSUES
Front end issues can be costly, and maybe you can’t afford the repairs right now. Putting the extra wear and tear on used tires is better than on a new set that you’ll need to replace too soon.

HARD ON TIRES
Maybe you have teen drivers that are hard on your tires, or you work in an industry where driving over a nails is common. If you’re hard on tires and end up blowing them out before the tread wears out, used tires are a viable option.

SAVE MONEY
Many times we have “like new” take off sets, and people just want to save money.

​HOW TO BUY USED TIRES

Drivers in most areas have the choice between buying new or used tires when the existing set is worn down to a dangerous level or when the vehicle won’t pass inspection because of insufficient tire tread. Used car or truck tires can be a great deal, but only if they are in good condition. Here are some very essential tips for looking at the real value of a set of used tires.

Look for any possible prior patching – Buyers of used tires should inspect them very thoroughly for bubbles, ‘scalloping’, and  uneven wear. Uneven wear patterns can reduce the life of a tire, and having tires with different patterns will make your ride less smooth. Look for possible excessive wear conditions around the edges of a tire, and  the inner sides.

Inspect the side wall – You’ll also want used tires with sidewalls in good condition. Some drivers routinely scrape the curb or hit other objects with tires. As a result, some used tires are pretty banged up.

Examine used tires for sufficient tread – The standard for tread in tires that pass inspection is 2/32. You can test the tread depth of tires using a penny. If Lincoln’s head is partially obscured by the tread when you fit the coin head down into the groove, there is still enough wear on the tire. Many drivers who buy used tires like to buy with at least 6/32 so that they can get some time on the road out of their purchase.

Figure extras like balancing and alignment into the cost – It’s not enough to just pick up a set of tires and drive away. If the tires that you buy are not aligned and balanced properly, they will just wear away quickly, and you’ll be back at the counter for another set. Make sure you get the extra calibration and learn about the necessary tire rotation for getting the maximum life out of your purchases.

Compare the price for a set of used tires to the price for a set of new ones with a warranty – Some buyers like to purchase tires with warranties or lifetime guarantees, but a good set of used tires can be priced a whole lot lower. Evaluate the difference between new and used tire offers to see if it’s worth taking the risk on a used set.

Look at your overall situation with a vehicle – In cases where a driver is simply trying to keep a vehicle on the road for one or two more years, it doesn’t often make sense to purchase new tires. However, in other situations, for example, when a family invests in a vehicle for the long-term, it may not make sense to take a chance with used ones.

Why we collect tire disposal fees ?
Nobody likes fees, but at least these fees go towards finding new uses for recycled tires. Tire Rubber is petroleum byproduct and can be harmful to environment. Tire needs to be disposed properly and recycled.

How old are your tires?
Your tires have manufacture date – you just need to look  for the Marking of DOT. Older tires can crack and can blow causing accidents and / or vehicle damage

What is the meaning of Mounting the tire ?
Mounting involves removal of the old tires from the rims, Cleaning the rims, applying bead sealer and mounting the new tires on the rims.

What is the meaning of Balancing the tire ?
A wheel is said to be in balance when the center of gravity is identical to the axis of rotation – in other words, when the mass of the wheel and the tire is evenly distributed around the axle, so there’s no vibration when the tire spin while you drive. If your wheels and tires are out of balance, your vehicle’s ride can be affected. If you’re experiencing vibration that starts at around 40-45 mph, and worsens as your speed increases, chances are you have an out of balance tire. Tire should be balanced every 4,000 to 6,000 miles or any time a tire is replaced or patched

Can I use mismatched tires sizes and mismatched tread?
It is always best to use identical tires with the same tread pattern, size, and construction. This helps you maintain optimum control and stability for your vehicle. Normally you should not use a mixed or mismatched set of tires on your vehicle, unless the tire and/or vehicle manufacturer specifies that this is acceptable. Some vehicles have what is known as a “staggered fitment” — different-sized tires on the front and rear axles. Matched tires means more even wear

Nitrogen or Cold compressed  air: Which is best?
Nitrogen does have some scientific advantages over air, but it is debatable if the average driver will reap any benefits from using nitrogen.  Air is universally available at minimal cost and nitrogen may be hard to find and cost about 5 to 7 dollars per tire. All tires have microscopic pores through which any inflating gas, air and nitrogen included, will seep out over an extended period of time, gradually lowering the inflation pressure. Nitrogen has larger molecules than air and will move through the tire more slowly than air, thus maintaining the inflation pressure longer.

Why do I have to rotate my tires?
Rotating tires keeps them from wearing unevenly. It extends tire life, which saves money. Helps maintain your vehicle’s handling and safety Many tire warranties require tire rotation to keep the warranty valid

What is TPMS?
TPMS stands for Tire Pressure Monitoring System. It’s a safety system built into your vehicle (or retrofitted) that monitors your tire pressure, and alerts you when the pressure in one or more tires falls to an unacceptable level.

What are the dangers of worn tires?
Complete tire failure, More prone to hydroplaning, More easily punctured, More air leakage Tires can lose their footing long before they’re worn out. Our tests show that tread can give up a significant amount of grip when it’s still at the halfway point. Worn tires—especially bald ones—can be deadly on wet roads, where the grooves aren’t deep enough to channel water out from beneath the tread. The result is hydroplaning, where the tread skims the water’s surface and the vehicle no longer responds to the steering wheel. Wet-weather braking and snow traction also decrease as tires wear.

What happens if my tire pressure isn’t right?
Low air pressure makes tires run hot, which affects handling and can cause your car or truck to use more gas. Keeping your tires properly inflated by checking tire pressure at least once a month and following guidelines in your vehicle’s owner’s manual will extend their life and reduce fuel consumption. Once a month is also the recommended time to check tire wear

Why are my tires wearing unevenly?
If there is More wear in the middle of the tire tread The tire is overinflated More wear on both edges of the tire tread The tire is underinflated Wear on one edge but not the other The wheel alignment is out of specification Uneven wear (alternating high and low) on the outer edge, known as “feathering” The wheel alignment is out of specification or the tires have not been properly rotated Indentation on the tire surface, known as “cupping” The shocks, struts, or other suspension components are damaged or worn, causing erratic vertical forces on the tires

Just what is proper inflation, anyway?
It’s simply making sure your vehicle’s are at the pressure specified by the vehicle’s manufacturer. The right tire pressure varies by vehicle and by model. The information can usually be found on a sticker inside the driver’s door jam, in the glove compartment, or in the vehicle owner’s manual. Do not use the tire pressure listed on the tire itself—that’s the maximum pressure to which a tire can be inflated, not the pressure for optimum driving and efficiency.

When is the best time to check tire pressure?
The rule of thumb is to check tire pressure when your vehicle has been driven less than a mile or has not been driven for at least three hours, preferably overnight. If you don’t want to account for temperature, check when the temperature is about 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Tires can lose a pound per square inch of pressure each month, so be sure to check monthly.

Can’t I tell if a tire is underinflated just by looking at it?
Not any more. Today’s high-tech tires have to be “low” by at least 50 percent before you can tell just by looking. The good news is that checking tire pressure is easy. Just use a tire gauge at least once a month.

What is a tire Plug?
A tire plug is an object that is sticky and expandable and gets stuffed in a hole in the tire from the outside and is wedged in until the air stops leaking out. The plug will stay intact for long enough for you to re-inflate the tire and get safely off the road at a slow speed. I have been told in some cases the plug will last for years.

What is a tire Patch?

A tire patch is a different product – patching a tire means taking it off the rim, applying a patch to the inside, sealing the patch in some way, and remounting the tire. If I had to fix a tire, I’d rather have that. If you can picture it, the hole is small, the patch is bigger than the hole. The patch is on the inside of the tire, where the air pressure is, and the air pressure is pushing the patch OUT; again, the patch is bigger than the hole, so the patch becomes a part of the inside of the tire.

 

 

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