Ten Tire Myths Debunked

As one of the most commonly replaced parts on an Isuzu, Hino, Mitsubishi Fuso or Nissan UD medium-duty box truck, everyone seems to have some kind of advice about proper tire care and replacement. Some suggestions can wreck otherwise good tires, some suggestions are dangerous, and it can be hard to separate the facts from fiction. Check out these ten tire myths:

Myth: Valve caps are unnecessary; the valve core provides the seal.
Truth: Valve cores prevent air from escaping out through the valve stem, but they aren't always airtight. They are also susceptible to dirt and ice blockage that can keep the valve core open. A tight, metal valve cap with a gasket provides a sure seal, and protects the valve core, too. Flow-through caps are recommended, since these make pressure checks easier.

Myth: Balance problems? Try golf balls.
Truth: Many believe that using balancing material inside a tire can reduce tire/wheel vibration, but golf balls? Golf balls tend to compress into a cube pattern, which can damage the tire inner liner. Use lead weights or a compound that will not damage or react with the inside of the tire. Save your old golf balls for your day off.

Myth: Vehicle alignment has little effect on vehicle fuel economy.
Truth: Tires that aren't running true to the direction of travel are literally being dragged sideways along the road surface the equivalent of a few feet for every mile of travel. This not only increases the rolling resistance of the tires, it also wears the tires down faster.

Related: 5 Ways to Save Fuel With Your Tires

Myth: Only big companies make good tires.
Truth: Based on sales, Bridgestone is the world's leading tire manufacturer. But that doesn't mean its tires are superior to other brands. Smaller manufacturers penetrate the market with niche tires designed for fuel economy, traction and longer life. Most brand-name tires cost more just because of brand recognition.

Myth: High load-range tires are more durable than lower load-range tires.
Truth: Higher load range tires can hold more inflation pressure than lower range tires and can carry more load at these higher pressures, but they are no more durable or less susceptible to road hazards, punctures, cuts, or abrasion than any other tire.

Myth: All-season tires offer more traction on wet roads.
Truth: A summer tire has more grip, both wet and dry, than an otherwise equivalent all-season tire. "All season" means the tire trades wet and dry grip to gain mobility in snow and below-freezing temperatures. If you live where it never or rarely snows, there's no reason to have an all-season tire.

Myth: Lower tire pressure equals better grip.
Truth: While a reduced tire pressure used to provide better grip in older tires, it won't today. Lowering tire pressure will reduce your mileage and impact your handling. Manufacturers actually recommend you increase the tire pressure when driving in the winter, because tire pressure drops about one pound for every 10-degree drop in temperature. You may even want to go up another 5 pounds per square inch.

Myth: It's OK to limp home empty on a flat tire.
Truth: Running any tire flat, regardless of the weight on board, is a bad idea. Soft or underinflated tires will suffer sidewall damage, and if the tire has broken away from the rim, the bead could be damaged. Both will render a tire unusable and unrepairable in a short time.

Myth: Over-inflating tires allows heavier loads without reducing speed.
Truth: Tires are designed to run at specific inflation pressures. Over-inflation changes the tire's footprint, placing more weight on the centerline of the tire. This not only reduces tread life, it also compromises traction, stability, and safety.

Myth: Tires are not affected by speed.
Truth: As speeds increase, the load-carrying capacity of many tires actually decreases. Tires that were able to carry a given load at or below 65 mph may require more pressure at higher speed and/or a reduction in load. Spec your tires for the speeds you plan to travel.

If you or a co-worker is in an accident and you need replacement parts for your medium or heavy duty commercial truck, call us at (803) 564-3228 or (877) 564-6307. If you have any difficulties getting through our phone system, please use our Contact Form or Parts Request Form, or email sales@busbeetruckparts.com.

We have hundreds of Salvaged Medium Duty Trucks and Commercial Box Trucks for Parts including: Isuzu, Mitsubishi Fuso, UD, and GMC. With thousands of parts, including our most popular Isuzu NPR Truck Parts, we should have any part that you need in stock. Our sales professionals will be glad to assist you.  We are located at 4107 Festival Trail Rd, Wagener, SC 29164.


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