QUESTIONS ABOUT TIRES

Use the search tires tool by entering your vehicle information; this will allow you to search for tires that fit your vehicle. From the search results page, you can view a quote for any of the tire options. This will include all associated costs including wheel balancing, installation, and taxes.

We always recommend checking your current tire size.

Proper inflation means great savings:

Regular tire maintenance can lower your fuel costs and help protect the environment. Make sure to keep an eye on your air pressure (or PSI) to be sure your tires are inflated to the right amount.

Under-Inflated Tires:

"Soft" tires make your vehicle work harder. Under-inflation causes excessive sidewall flexing, which reduces not only your vehicle’s carrying capacity but your fuel economy too. If you notice excessive shoulder wear, where the sidewall meets the tread of the tire, it could be a sign of under-inflation.

Over-Inflated Tires:

Over-inflation causes the centre of the tire tread to bear most of your vehicle's weight. This leads to faster and more irregular tread wear and loss of traction, causing you to have to repair or replace your tires sooner than expected. This can be avoided by inspecting your tires regularly for signs of wear at the centre of the tread to make sure they're not over-inflated.

Checking your Tire Pressure:

In one month, a tire can lose quite a bit of air pressure. Check your tire pressure at least twice a month. Air pressure increases with heat, so be sure to measure it before driving, while the tires are still cold. When the weather gets cold, check your tires outside to get the most accurate reading. If you store your vehicle in a heated garage and check the pressure inside, your air pressure reading could be up to 25% higher than the actual pressure. Refer to your owner’s manual to determine how much pressure (or PSI) your tires need, and use a tire gauge to get an accurate reading.

The Benefits of Nitrogen:

At Fountain Tire, we offer nitrogen to inflate your tires. Here's why:

Nitrogen makes up 78% of air. In its purest form, this non-flammable gas can be used for tire inflation without negative environmental impacts.

Air-filled tires lose 1 to 2 pounds per square inch (PSI) of pressure every month. Since a nitrogen molecule is larger than oxygen, it will not seep out as quickly.

Air-filled tires also have more moisture, which contributes to a loss of up to 2 PSI for every 5 degree Celsius drop. Using nitrogen helps prevent this loss because it reduces the amount of water vapour in the tire.

Please contact your local Fountain Tire store to help you inflate your tires.

Tires wear out over time. Differences in speed, road conditions, inflation, vehicle maintenance, your driving habits, and temperature make it hard to predict exactly how long your tires will last. We recommend inspecting your tires regularly and replace them when they are worn down.

Here are three ways to measure your tread:

1. Tread Depth Gauge
   You can check this yourself with an inexpensive tread depth gauge, available at most auto supply stores. You’ll know to replace your all-season and all-weather tires when there is just 1.6-mm (2/32-inch) tread depth remaining. Winter Tires need a deeper tread to keep traction in the snow. We recommend replacing them when there is just 3.2 mm (4/32 inch) remaining.

2. The Tire Wear Bars
   Tires are manufactured with wear bars that indicate when there is less than 1.6 mm (2/32 inch) of tread depth remaining. When the tread is worn down to the point where you can see a solid bar of rubber across the width of the tread, it’s time to replace your tires.

3. The Dime Test
   The Rubber Association of Canada suggests this simple test to measure the tread depth on your tires. Place a dime upside down, with the tail of the dime facing you. If you can see the top of the sails of the famous East Coast racing schooner, it is time to replace the tire.

Please contact your local Fountain Tire store to help you maintain your tires.

Did you know that each tire on your vehicle has to support a different weight? This unequal weight distribution causes your tires to wear down at different rates. By rotating your tires, you can extend the life of your tires. Check your vehicle owner’s manual for rotation recommendations. If no rotation period is specified, a good rule of thumb is to rotate your tires every 10,000 kilometres.

If you're in need of a tire rotation, contact your local Fountain Tire store for a helping hand.

Tread Region: The ""flat"" area of the tire that you drive on. The construction of the tread will determine the grip of the tire in different weather conditions. It will affect your speed, acceleration, braking, and cornering.

Shoulder and Sidewall Region: The vertical side of the tire that extends from the road surface to the rim. The construction of the sidewall affects the ride and handling of the tire. A stiff sidewall provides quick steering response, while a softer sidewall flexes to provide a smoother ride.

Please contact your local Fountain Tire store to help you find the right tires.

If you notice any of these signs on your tires, it means your tires may not be wearing properly:

• Sawtooth appearance on the edges
• Faster wear on the outer edges than in the middle
• Quicker wear of front or rear tires on front-wheel drive vehicles
• Tire wears excessively on one side
• Cups or dips in the tread

There are a number of causes for tire-wear problems, including:

• Your tires are not properly inflated or balanced
• Your vehicle is misaligned
• The shocks on your vehicle are weak
• Your vehicle has loose front-end parts

Our professionally trained Fountain Tire associates can diagnose and address any tire issues you may have.

If you have any concerns about your tires, suspension, or alignment, give your local Fountain Tire store a shout.

Tires with different size designations, constructions, and amounts of wear may affect vehicle handling and stability. For best all-around performance, we don't recommend mixing sizes and types of tires on a vehicle. It would negatively affect the handling characteristics of the vehicle. With winter tires in particular, Transport Canada recommends that tires get changed in sets of four only. Why? Simple: it’s safer. That’s why we’ve made it our policy. For more information, view our Winter Tire Policy.

Need help finding the right tires? We've got you covered. Just contact your local Fountain Tire store and we'll help you out.

A wheel alignment service is not necessarily needed when new tires are installed. We recommend getting a wheel alignment on an annual basis or whenever the vehicle shows signs of tire damage or steering pull. Regular wheel alignments are critical when it comes to looking after your tires.

For our complete guide on how to buy winter tires, visit our Winter Tires page. For more information on all-weather tires vs. all-season tires, click here.