By Gerry Malloy
Contributing Writer

TIRES are black for
sound technical reasons.

But that color is also. svm-
bolic, for ro) most consumers
tire design ts something Gr a
b The prospect ot
selecting che right dres for vour
needs seems more like pulling a
lottery ticker than making an
informed purchase de

t situation is particularly
unfortunate because, of all the
components in a vehicle, tres
may be the most important.
Your fife literally depends on
them.

to help, an overview
ne trends
ence to spec
may prove helpfu
caught in the tire choice dilem-
ma.

Do you need new tires?

The first decision to be made is

whether you need new tires. If

you have been running snow

tires all winter, then certainly a

change i is in order. Using snow
s on dry roads not or

and handiing

But there are other reasons
you may need new rubber, as
well, and a spring check-up is a
good opportunity to look for
them:

| ae
a
ve
a

]

¢

)

M
g

SEER :

WHEEL
/AUIGNMENT

$

oy - aitd $10 tor
‘Rear Relerence

A tire should b

al bars molded
inte the tire grooves at about
20 per cont of dheir new tread
depth:
BM Tread-wear is severely
uneven one side of the tread
worn much more than the
other, for example (in that case
have wheel abgnment checked,
took
@ Vhe tire sidewalls are severe:
ly ed, or there are bulges
anywhere in the sidewall or on
she tread:

B There is any indication of

tread separation from the tire
carcass.

Replace tires in pairs
More than ever before, tire
characteristics arc considered as
an integral part of a vehicle's
design.
Ups
tics by i ft
on the left and right si
significantly upset the f
balance of a vehicle ~ nor te
mention its ABS operation.
For that reason, it is imper-
ative that tires be installed in

should be the same construc-
tion (radial in almost all ca:

size, brand, and wpe, with
approximately the same tread-

DARTH SH I

Speiece ROG

our rubber on the re

In fact, white it as essential
that side-to-side pairs be the
same. Hos highly desirable that
front and rear pairs alser be the
same. sor af passibfe Gary new
Hires os a complete set.

Under no circtimstances
should vou have tires of di
ent: construction crad
bias piv) or different classitics-
tion tall-seasan
mud Anew) on appasti:
or sides, as handling ca
adversely attested.

The same goes tor tires with
different: tread-wear, In partic-
war, do not put your nearly

at tires on the rear

I. of a front-wheel-drive

car. That is ait invitation for
instaitiliry,

\ should you fook for?
The first step in knowing what
tire to choose is understanding
what choices are available.
Tire design over the past
decade has progressed dramati-
at directions at

ments in ah “season res have
substantially advanced 1
cept of one tire for ally
On the other, mor
ized, narrow-purpose Cres are
now available than ever before:
high performance tires, rain
tires, snow tires, ice tires, of F
road tires, touring tires, uni-

See All page 33

RE TIRE

Celebrating. our.

2Sth Anniversary

asa North Shore family owned and operated business.

. —
Power is nothing without contral.

We are your best choice 08 the

We do more than
just sell tires!

We also do brakes,
shocks, alignments and
suspensions!

Tae Hovowatys

gett TIRE

TIRE & BRAKE
SPECIALISTS ——

\ FOR 25 YEARS

e

Mt NORTH SHORE TIRE CENTRE
4 1830 Marine Drive

‘Bill

985-8294

Dave

” NEWS photo Mike \ fieie

UNDERSTANDING your tire needs doesn't have to be a “black science.” The first
step in knowing what to.choose is learning about the available choices: from
high-performance to off-road to “green,” there’s a tire for every driver.

Why don’t you make it -
longer, lower, wider. ..
oh, and. nd give it some ins.

The Classic Car Show
Coming to Capilano Mall

June 18-21

Presented by
‘north shore’

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