Comprehensive Fresno Tire Shop Guide

Your vehicle’s tires are essential in getting you from point A to point B. And including your tires in your vehicle’s preventative maintenance routine will help maximize their lifespan. Although unfortunately, tires don’t last forever. Even with a proper maintenance schedule, eventually, you’ll need to have new tires installed.

For both routine tire maintenance and high-quality replacement tires, you’ll need to visit a professional tire shop in Fresno. Understandably, for many people, this can be an overwhelming task. Especially with so many tire-related terms being used and a huge variety of new tire options.

To help make things easier, we’ve put together this tire shop guide. We’ve covered the tire services commonly offered at tire shops, how to know when it’s time for new tires, and information to help you understand your options when you shop for tires. Having this information will help make your trip to your local tire shop much easier.

Routine Maintenance Services Offered at a Professional Fresno Tire Shop

The expert mechanics at your local professional tire shop know exactly how to care for your vehicle’s tires and help the tread last its full life expectancy. Routine tire maintenance services are critical to the optimal performance and life of your tires.

The following tire services are what you’ll usually find on offer at a professional tire shop and should be included in your vehicle’s maintenance schedule:

Tire Rotation

Tires don’t all wear evenly at the same rate. So, their location on your vehicle needs to be regularly rotated to help even out the treadwear as much as possible and extend their lifespan.

During a tire rotation service, the tires will be moved from front to back and vice versa, from one side to the other, or a combination of these movements, depending on the vehicle and the specific type of tire. A good routine to follow is to have a tire rotation done each time your vehicle is in for an oil change service.

For a tire rotation service, the mechanic will do the following:

• Rotate the tires in the proper alternating pattern(s)
• Examine the treadwear
• Inspect the tires for any damage
• Check each tire’s air pressure and adjust as needed
• Tighten any loose wheel lug nuts

Tire/Wheel Balancing

Tire balancing, sometimes referred to as wheel balancing, ensures that the weight is evenly distributed around the entire diameter of the tire. Doing so will help prevent uneven tread wear and excessive vibration, which can both cause a need for tire repair or even replacement much sooner. The balance of your tires should be checked if you are experiencing vibration in the steering wheel or floorboard when driving.

Even though it is a relatively quick service, tire balancing does require precision and expertise.

During the tire balancing service, each tire/wheel assembly will be removed and mounted one by one onto special balancing equipment. This enables the mechanic to pinpoint any weight imbalances. Then, small lead weights, often weighing just fractions of an ounce, are attached to the wheel rim in precise locations to correct the imbalances. Finally, the tires/wheels are remounted back onto the vehicle.

Your tires’ balancing should be checked, at minimum, every two years. However, it should be checked yearly if you frequently drive on bumpy roads.

Wheel Alignment

A wheel alignment service keeps your wheel/tire assemblies in the proper position relative to the road and each other and ensures optimal spinning. Maintaining proper alignment will significantly minimize uneven and excessive tread wear. Ideally, you should visit your local tire shop for an alignment check at least once a year or after you’ve hit a curb, pothole, etc.

One of the best ways to protect the life of new tires is to make sure that they are in proper alignment from the start. When you have an alignment done after replacement tires are installed, you can be confident that they will be in the optimal position and spinning properly. This will allow your tires and suspension to perform optimally and helps maximize your tires’ lifespan.

Visual Tire Inspections

During many routine services, the shop mechanic will also visually inspect your vehicle’s tires. They will be checking for foreign objects stuck in the tread or sidewall or any other damage, as well as excessive or uneven tread wear.

Tire Repair

In many cases, when you’ve got a flat tire caused by a foreign object stuck in the tire or a puncture, it can be repaired at your local tire shop. This is as long as the tire damage isn’t large or on the sidewall. A high-quality tire shop will follow the guidelines provided by the Rubber Manufacturers Association to ensure the safety and quality of the tire repair.

For proper repair, the tire will be removed from the rim temporarily so that the inside of the tire can also be thoroughly inspected. Sometimes, even though it may seem like a simple repair due to an object in the tread, there may be more serious damage hidden inside the tire.

In many cases, the tire repair service starts with using a rubber plug to fill the hole. Then a patch is applied over the plug to thoroughly seal the inner liner of the tire. The repaired tire will then be mounted back onto the wheel.

Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Service

The Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) is the automatic alert system that monitors your tires’ air pressure and alerts you with a light on your dashboard when the pressure is low. Most vehicles manufactured after 2006 have a TPMS.

Occasionally, there may be a problem with the system or one of the sensors. In those cases, the mechanics at a professional tire shop can perform the necessary repairs or replacements to restore the system to proper working order.

Warning Signs That It May Be Time for New Tires

To determine if it is time to shop for tires, there are a couple of red flags to be aware of that indicate that the safety and structural integrity of your current tires are jeopardized. These include:

• Tread depth is less than 1/16 of an inch. (The top of Lincoln’s head is visible when you stick a penny in the tread groove.)
• Visible tread wear indicator bar.
• Visible punctures, cuts, or cracks in the sidewall.
• Bulge or blister in the tire.
• Excessive scalloping/cupping pattern on the tread. (Usually caused by excessively worn shocks and struts.)
• Feathering on the tread. (When one side of the tread is sharp while the other is smooth.)

If you notice any of the above indicators, bring your vehicle to your nearest Goodguys Tires & Auto Repair location to look into high-quality replacement tires.

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Things To Consider When Shopping for Tires in Fresno

There is a wide variety of tire types available (see more on this below) that are all designed for different driving conditions and uses. So, selecting new tires that fit your vehicle and your specific driving needs is important.

To help you decide the best fit for your vehicle, you should consider the following:

• The required tire diameter for your vehicle: Before looking at different tire types, you need to ensure that you are looking at tires that fit the diameter of your current wheels. This number can be found either within the numbers on the sidewall of your current tires or the sticker inside your driver’s side door.
• Weather conditions: Think about the weather conditions you frequently drive in and the worst conditions you may face. You need tires that can safely handle those conditions.
• Road conditions: Long highways, city streets, dirt roads, and muddy trails all require different types of tires for optimal performance.
• Your preferred driving style: Do you want a relaxed and cushioned ride or enjoy hugging corners in fast, high-performance driving? Different driving styles require different types of tires.

Understanding the Letters and Numbers on the Tire’s Sidewall

As mentioned above, the chain of letters and numbers on the sidewall of your tires contains important information, including the size and type of the tire.

The first letter indicates the type of tire. A “P” indicates a passenger tire, while an “LT” indicates a light truck tire.

After the first letter(s), there will be three numbers before the slash. These numbers indicate the tread width (section width) in millimeters. The two numbers after the slash and before the “R” indicate the height of the sidewall (aspect ratio). This is the percentage of the tire tread that is the sidewall. The larger the sidewall, the larger this number. Finally, after the “R,” the last two numbers indicate the diameter of the rim in inches.

For example, let’s say that the letters/numbers on the tire are P245/60R18. This would mean:

• It is a passenger tire.
• The section width is 245 mm.
• The aspect ratio is 60% of 245 mm, meaning the sidewall height would be 147 mm.
• There is an 18-inch rim diameter.

The experts at a professional tire shop, like you’ll find here at Goodguys Tires & Auto Repair, can help you decipher this info on your vehicle’s tires and pinpoint the perfect replacement tires.

The Different Types of Tires That Are Available

The manufacturer’s engineering specifications of many of today’s tires are based on road conditions, weather types, and/or driving habits. So, once you have a good idea of the handling needs and specific environmental characteristics you want for your tires, you can figure out the type(s) that matches those.

Here is a brief rundown of each tire type that is available to help you determine which one may best suit your performance and location needs:

If you are considering changing to a different type of tire or wheel/tire size, it is highly recommended that you consult with the experts in a professional tire shop first (like you’ll find here at Goodguys Tire & Auto Repair). Our manufacturer-trained professionals can help ensure that your new tires properly fit your wheels and driving needs while not jeopardizing your vehicle’s handling, steering, and ground clearance.

How to Extend the Life of Your New Tires

New, high-quality tires can be a significant investment. But having reliable tires on your vehicle is necessary for its performance and safety on the road. By including your tires in your vehicle’s preventative maintenance routine and being mindful of a few things, you can help significantly extend the lifespan of your new tires.

Some of the ways you can protect your tires include:

1. Check the Tire Air Pressure Regularly

One of the easiest ways to extend the life of the tread is to maintain the proper air pressure. Improper air pressure can increase the wear and tear put on your tires and the chance of a blowout. Plus, it can also cause sluggish handling, increase stopping distance, and reduce fuel mileage. So, ensuring that your tires stay at the proper pressure helps extend the tread life, ensures your vehicle’s safety, and saves you money at the pump.

2. Have a Tire Rotation Done Every 5,000 Miles

With many vehicles, only two wheels “drive” the vehicle at a time, which naturally causes the tires to wear unevenly. On front-wheel-drive vehicles, the front tires will wear faster, while on rear-wheel-drive vehicles, the back tires will wear faster. Vehicles with all-wheel drive can also see uneven tire wear when they routinely shift the main drive from one wheel to another. So, routinely having your tires rotated roughly every 5,000 miles will help even out treadwear and extend the life of the tires.

3. Keep the Wheels/Tires Balanced

Even when brand new, no tire is perfect. Every wheel/tire assembly will have a heavy spot in it. Just a tiny difference in weight can cause vibrating and uneven wearing when driving. Having the tires’ balance regularly checked will help prevent this from happening. And as the tires wear, the tiny weights used to balance them may need to be moved or changed. So, when you are having a tire rotation done, it is also a great time to have your wheels balanced.

4. Check the Car Alignment Twice a Year

Even the smallest misalignment can increase uneven tread wear and impact fuel efficiency. So, it is important to have your alignment checked every six months. Hitting a curb or pothole can also knock out the alignment, so bring your vehicle in to be checked ASAP if that happens. An alignment problem can cause vibrating or pulling, leading to uneven and/or excessive tire treadwear.

5. Be Mindful of Your Driving Habits

That squealing sound when you take off fast is the rubber of the tread being left on the road. And driving aggressively around curves will do just as much damage. So, if you want to extend the life of your tires, take it easy while driving on the road. This is especially true on broken pavement and rough roads.

6. Avoid Carrying Excessive Weight

It is important that when you are hauling heavy loads or towing, you make sure to stay below the max load capacity of your tires.

Your Trusted Tire Shop in Fresno, CA, and Surrounding Areas

With the information we’ve covered above, you should be able to confidently walk into your local tire shop and know exactly what to expect, what to look for, and how to narrow down the options in new tires when that time comes.

When you are searching for a high-quality local tire shop, look no further than Goodguys Tires & Auto Repair! For all your tire needs, including tire repair, rotation, wheel balancing, and alignment, you can count on our ASE-certified expert mechanics. We can help determine the best tire maintenance schedule for your vehicle based on tire types and your driving habits. Our team uses professional tools and state-of-the-art equipment to help ensure that you get the best performance and longevity from your tires.

And when it’s time to shop for tires, you’ll find experts at each of our locations. They can answer any questions you may have, help you narrow down the variety of options, and help you pinpoint the best replacement tires that meet your needs.

Plus, we truly are your trusted one-stop auto care shop. Our mechanics have the experience and expertise to properly handle all your vehicle’s service and repair needs while also providing unmatched customer service and reasonable prices.