Putting a Stop to Tire-Label Confusion
Question: I recently started shopping for some tires. The tire salesman at one store claimed that one tire on sale would get 20% more wear than a more expensive tire. But it doesn’t seem logical. How can they say this?--A.R.
Answer: Among all the parts and services that motorists buy for their cars from time to time, tires are the single product that consumers can learn the most about, thanks to disclosure requirements under federal law.
No motorist should ever buy a tire without physically inspecting the tire before purchase. The sidewall of every tire provides crucial information about the design, construction and quality of the tire.
Every tire is rated for tread wear, and the rating is embossed on the sidewall of the tire. The ratings are expressed in percentages that give you a relative comparison to other tires, but not an absolute estimate of miles of wear.
For example, a tire rated at tread wear of 150 will give you 50% more wear than one rated at 100. The important thing to remember about these ratings is that they are put on by the manufacturer and not checked by the government. They are only estimates and only as good as the integrity of the manufacturer that put them there.
You should not confuse this rating with tread-wear warranties provided by the manufacturer or the retailer. The warranties are for a specific number of miles, such as 40,000 or 50,000 miles. These may be of dubious importance, because refunds are usually pro-rated and thus may be of minimal value if the tire fails to reach the warranted mileage.
Another critical item you should look for on the sidewall of the tire is the Department of Transportation designation, DOT, just before the serial number of the tire. This signifies that the tire was designed and produced in compliance with government safety standards.
The serial number itself also provides important information. The first letters of the number make up a code that identifies the manufacturer of the tire, even when it is sold under a retail name that is different from that of the manufacturer. For example, the designation VD means a tire was produced by Firestone at its Decatur, Ill., factory.
The rest of the serial number also provides important information. The last three digits of the number indicate the date the tire was produced. The first two of these indicate the week and the last number the year. For example, 338 indicates a tire was produced in the 33rd week of 1988.
Generally, motorists should look for fresh tires, perhaps no more than two to three months old at the time of purchase. While tires do not degenerate rapidly, an especially old tire offered for sale raises questions. Avoid tires that have been sitting around for a long time.
Vartabedian cannot answer mail personally but will respond in this column to automotive questions of general interest. Do not telephone. Write to Your Wheels, You section, The Times, Times Mirror Square, Los Angeles 90053.
