Tire Dealers Reveal 3 Interesting Myths and Facts about Rubber on the Road

Posted: Jun 27, 2012
Author: Country Town Tire & Auto Service Center

If the words “round and black” sum up your knowledge about tires, tire dealers say you’re missing out on some important facts. Considering that your tires are arguably the most important safety feature on your vehicle, here are 3 interesting myths clarified by tire dealers.

Myth 1:You need a tread pattern to get good traction on a dry road.

Fact:It may surprise you to know that racing slicks (tires without any tread) give the best traction on dry roads because the maximum amount of rubber touches the road. A treaded tire with its grooves actually compromises grip on a dry road. The role of tire treads is to act like a squeegee on a wet road to remove water from under the tires. The water is channeled through the grooves and therefore gives better traction.

Myth 2: Tires should only be rotated front to back – not side to side.

Fact:You can cross radial tires side to side in a rotational pattern. The outdated front to back method was used for bias ply tires. Tire rotation is recommended every 6,000-8,000 miles to achieve uniform wear on all the tires.

Myth 3: To get the most traction, new tires should be put on the drive-wheel position.

Fact:This only applies to rear-drive vehicles. New tires should be installed on the rear axle in all cases. To get the most traction, most people buy new rubber for the drive-wheel position but, by doing this, they are transferring most of the traction capability from the rear – making it prone to over-steer.