Finally, when buying tires, before leaving the tire store, there are a few things
to consider:
- Road hazard protection: This is a policy that protects you against road
hazards that would destroy the tire and not normally be covered under the tire
warranty. Items such as twisted metal, nails in sidewalls, and impact breaks
from slamming into a curb or a nasty pothole—essentially anything that
brings about the demise of the tire will be covered under this plan. The way
the price of the replacement tire is determined is by pro-rating based on the
amount of tread remaining at the time of the tire failure. If 50 percent of the
tire tread has been used, then the replacement will cost 50 percent of the
original price. - Mileage warranty: Some tire makers warranty their tires to last a certain
amount of mileage providing proper tire maintenance can be proven if the tire
fails prior to its stated mileage. The important thing to keep meticulous
maintenance records in the event you need to make a claim to replace a failed
tire before its time. Once again, replacement price is based on the percentage
of tread used. - Nitrogen filling: A lot of tire dealers offer nitrogen filling of tires. What are
the benefits of this? Nitrogen drastically reduces oxidation on the rim and
inner-liner of the tire because oxygen is almost totally eliminated from the
mix. Air is made up of about 78 percent nitrogen, 21 percent oxygen, and 1
percent argon as well as other inert gases. The more oxygen you replace with
nitrogen, the less oxidation takes place inside of the tire. Nitrogen-filled tires
hold their air longer than oxygen-filled tires because nitrogen is comprised of
fatter molecules than oxygen; therefore, it diffuses through tire walls more
slowly because it has larger molecules. The temperature of nitrogen gas
doesn’t fluctuate, which helps the tire pressure stay more consistent. As a
result, the tire runs cooler because it remains properly inflated. This is one of
the reasons that aircraft and racing tires use nitrogen. In short, nitrogen keeps
the tire properly inflated longer than air, which leads to less rolling resistance,
which leads to greater fuel economy and extends tire life. - Lifetime balance and rotation: Some tire dealers offer lifetime rotation and
rebalance of tires once you initially pay for the tire balance. Ask about this
because it is a huge savings and ensures tire longevity.