Freqently Asked
Questions
- What should I look for
in a tire?
- There are so many brands
and models to choose from. How do I know which
one is best for me?
- Aren't all tires the
same?
- I've heard tires have
speed ratings. Is this important for me to know?
- How can I tell when it
is time to replace my old tires?
- The wear on my tires
looks strange. What causes this?
- How much should I pay
for a tire?
- My brother-in-law says
he can mount my tire for me so why should I
go to a tire store?
- What's this I hear about
rotations? Do I really need it?
- Does it make any difference
where I buy my tires?
- Why are there no Tire
Prices on this Web Site?
- Can you suggest a specific
tire for my vehicle?
- At times tires are advertised
at a warehouse club, department store, etc.
Why should I buy from O.K. Tire?
- Purchasing snow tires
for my front wheel drive vehicle, the tire technician
suggested that I install them on the back if
I only BUY TWO. Why?
- May I install a less
expensive passenger tire on my pick-up or utility
vehicle?
1 What should
I look for in a tire?
You should look for a tire which best suits your
driving requirements. Tires are manufactured for
most requirements; wet or dry traction, high mileage,
high-speed control, steering response, ride comfort,
etc. A tire professional will be able to advise
you of product features and benefits.
2 There
are so many brands and models to choose from.
How do I know which one is best for me?
Discussing your needs with a tire professional
will help establish a tire product that best suits
your requirements and your budget. This professional
tire person will ask questions regarding your
expectations of the product, the type of driving
you do, how long you expect to keep your vehicle,
etc. A salesperson just asking you what size you
want is not ensuring you receive the best tire
to suit your needs and expectations.
3
Aren't all tires the same?
This is a common misconception. Like many other
products in the marketplace, science and technology
play a large part in the design and manufacture
of tires. Tires may feature, in differing configurations,
various materials such as polyester, rayon, nylon
and steel. Manufacturers use these materials along
with others in varying combinations. In addition,
different rubber compounds are used in the sidewall,
bead and tread areas of a tire.
4 I've
heard tires have speed ratings. Is this important
for me to know?
Yes, tires do have speed ratings and it is recommended
that all tires on your vehicle be of the same
speed rating. It is also important that you replace
your original (O.E.) tires with equal to or higher
speed rated tires. Replacing your O.E. tires with
tires of a lower speed rating may lead to inferior
handling performance of your vehicle.
Speed ratings were developed
to standardize the safe performance of tires at
sustained or continuous speeds. The most common
speed ratings, other than for high performance
automobiles, are:
S = 180 km/h
T = 190 km/h
H = 210 km/h
5
How
can I tell when it is time to replace my old tires?
Most automobile tires have a built-in tread wear
indicator in the tread area of the tire. This
wear indicator will show when there are 2/32"
remaining on the tread. Depending on your driving
habits or road conditions, you should replace
the tire no later than when the wear indicator
is visible. Be aware of the provincial regulations
that may govern tire wear and may vary by province
or state. Consult with your O.K. Tire professional
to ensure that not only are your tires are safe
to ride on, but that you are also within the laws
regulating where you drive.
6
The wear on my tires looks strange. What causes
this?
Wear problems could have a variety of causes.
The problem could be caused by over-or-under inflation
of the tire, mechanical problems, or the need
for an alignment (caster, camber or toe). Consult
your O.K. Tire professional to get an assessment
as to what is causing the irregular wear.
7 How
much should I pay for a tire?
Costs for a tire will vary depending on many factors.
Most professional tire stores will offer tire
products in economy, mid-range and premium categories.
In some cases, consumers may find very low priced
tires, however, these tires may have been built
using older technology or not carry warranties
the same as other available products. It is always
recommended you seek the advice of your tire professional
at O.K. Tire. This individual is a professional
tire consultant and will outline the features
and benefits of the tires available and will help
you determine what will fill your needs the best.
8
My brother-in-law says he can mount my tire for
me so why should I go to a tire store?
Unless your brother-in-law is a trained tire installer
with access to the proper equipment, it is not
advisable to have him mount your tires. Improperly
mounted tires can cause wear problems and shorten
the life of your tires. More importantly, a tire
and wheel assembly not properly mounted could
come apart with explosive force, causing bodily
injury and vehicle damage.
9
What's this I hear about rotations? Do I really
need it?
Having your tires rotated at regular intervals
will help to ensure you receive the maximum mileage
from your tires. Most tire manufacturers recommend
you have your tires rotated at least every 10,000
kms.
10
Does
it make any difference where I buy my tires?
There are many qualified professional tire retailers
to choose from. You should select a supplier in
whom you have confidence, who will be there for
you in case of any problems that might arise.
Get to know the retailer and let them get to know
you and your car. O.K. Tire Stores Inc. offer
nationwide warranties and they specialize in tire
sales which make them a good choice.
11
Why
are there no Tire Prices on this Web Site?
We cannot list prices for the products we carry,
mainly due to a few reasons:
- The number and variety of products we carry
is very large.
- Pricing has certain variables across the country
such as cost of shipping to each store, cost
of doing business in the area (i.e. wages, rent,
utilities, business taxes, etc.).
- Special pricing, on occasion, is passed on
from the manufacturers.
- Although price is a major consideration, we
feel we would be doing our customer a disservice
by providing pricing, without discussing personally,
their tire requirements for their particular
needs. By doing this we can better ensure they
receive good value for their money.
12
Can
you suggest a specific tire for my vehicle?
The answer to this is "Yes, we can!".
However, the most accurate way of determining
your tire needs is by a local O.K. Tire store.
A number of factors need to be determined prior
to a tire recommendation. Some significant questions
need to be answered:
- How long are you expecting to keep this vehicle?
- How many kilometers did the last tires last?
- Are there plans to move or travel to a different
area? What is the climate there?
- Are you satisfied with your present tires'
performance in braking, wet or dry traction,
on or off the road performance?
- Are you an aggressive driver requiring a better
handling tire, or are you looking for a smooth,
comfortable ride?
When your local tire O.K. Tire
store determines the answers to these questions,
as well as others, they are better informed on
which tires would best suit your needs. For example,
if you are looking to keep the vehicle for a long
time you may wish to upgrade to a tire with a
longer expected life. The added cost may save
you money in the long run as the greater durability
extends the life of the tire.
13
At times tires are advertised at a warehouse club,
department store, etc. Why should I buy from O.K.
Tire?
O.K. Tire locations offer tires for all budgets
for all vehicle applications. At times it appears
that you are getting a good deal from a warehouse
club or department store, however, when shopping
these locations you should consider some very
important facts:
- Who will service your tire should a warranty
situation occur?
- Locations using their corporate logos or a
custom name brand which are available only at
their stores usually offer warranties that are
valid only at the location where you purchased
it.
- Read the warranty carefully. Is it a rating
or an actual warranty? Does it cost you anything
extra? Where can you go for service?
- Are there other services offered such as free
rotations, free installation, free roadside
assistance, national coverage?
- Did you get any assistance at all? If you
did receive information regarding the product
you were thinking of purchasing, were you then
confident that you made the right decision?
- O.K. Tire offers competitive pricing with
a variety of service extras, along with expert
advice. Guaranteed after-sales service means
peace of mind regardless of where you are travelling
in Canada.
14
Purchasing snow tires for my front wheel drive
vehicle, the tire technician suggested that I
install them on the back if I only BUY TWO. Why?
As a matter of fact, this is very good advice.
If you install a high traction tire on the front
drive axle, you are leaving the lighter end of
the vehicle (the rear) with no traction improvement.
Most tire manufacturers recommend that front wheel
drive vehicles have all four tires of equal traction.
15
May I install a less expensive passenger tire
on my pick-up or utility vehicle?
The answer to this is most likely NO! Unless the
vehicle originally came with a passenger tire
size, it is not recommended to switch from a light
truck tire size to a passenger tire. The reason
is mainly load ratings or carrying capacities
of the tires. If the tires you install do not
have the same or a greater load rating, they will
not only affect the handling capabilities of the
vehicle but also could lead to rapid or uneven
wear. This, in turn, could cause a dangerous ride
condition. Your O.K. Tire specialist is qualified
to tell you which tires are best suited for your
vehicle.
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