Ask The Professionals (FAQ)

Experts say that you must check your tire pressure at least once a month and before going on a long trip. Also, make it a habit to check your tires every time you fill up your gas tank. Ideally, tire pressure should be measured when tires are cold — that is, when you have driven less than a mile. Otherwise, your tires may have heated up, increasing the inflation pressure inside them by several pounds. This is normal. Never "bleed" or reduce the inflation pressure in a hot tire. Also, don't forget to check the pressure of your spare tire at the same time.

There is no universal "right" pressure for all tires. The proper inflation level will depend on your vehicle, and it may even be different for your front and back tires. To find the correct pressure for your tires, look at the tire information placard that’s mounted inside the frame of the driver’s door, in the glove box, or inside the fuel door. You can also get that information in your vehicle’s owner’s manual and from your tire service professional. It's important to be accurate in filling your tires. Don't try to "eyeball" the pressure — a tire can lose half its pressure without looking flat. Instead, use a reliable tire pressure gauge. It's also a good idea to have your own gauge, because you can’t always count on the gauge on the inflation hose at a gas station. According to a study, less than half the service stations with inflation pumps provide a tire pressure gauge for customer use. Even if there is one, it may not be accurate — about 20 percent of the gauges on station pumps are damaged or off by 4 psi (28 kPa) or more.

Wheel alignment and balancing are important for safety and maximum tread wear from your tires. Inspect your tires regularly: at least once a month, inspect your tires closely for signs of uneven wear. Uneven wear patterns may be caused by improper inflation pressure, misalignment, improper balance, or suspension neglect. If not corrected, further tire damage will occur. These conditions shorten the life of your tires and may result in loss of vehicle control and serious personal injury. If any of these conditions exist, the cause may often be corrected at your tire dealer or other service facility. Your tires will then last longer.

Rotation is important because each tire on a car carries a different amount of weight, making them wear at different rates. By rotating them, you basically even out those differences. Your owner’s manual will tell you how often to rotate your tires, but as a rule of thumb, it should be done every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. You might want to rotate them sooner if you see signs of uneven wear. Misalignment and other mechanical problems can also cause such wear, so check with your mechanic to determine the cause.

There are various patterns for rotating tires. A common one for front-wheel-drive vehicles involves moving the tires in a criss-cross fashion, with the left front tire trading places with the right rear, and the right front trading with the left rear. If you have a full-size spare, you can include it in your rotation pattern — but don’t do so with a small “temporary-use” spare, because those are meant only for low-speed, short-distance emergency use. The proper rotation pattern depends on the type of vehicle and tires, so be sure to look at your owner’s manual. After rotation, adjust the inflation pressure of each tire for its new location, using the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations.

Tire mounting can be dangerous and should only be done by trained tire service professionals using the proper tools and procedures. Serious injury or death may result from explosion of tire/rim assembly due to improper mounting. Always have your tire service professional mount your tires on rims. If you are not a trained tire service professional, never attempt to mount tires.

Please refer to the sidewall information in the Tire Replacement Guide section of the Mastercraft® website.

The date of manufacture is part of the serial number (DOT), which is located on only one side of each tire (the other side may have only a partial number or no number). The DOT is an 11-character number and looks like this: UP0RCNT1209. The date of manufacture for this DOT is the 12th week of 2009 (1209). If the DOT ends in only three (3) digits (and contains only 10 characters), the tire was manufactured before January 2000 and should be removed from service and scrapped because it is over 10 years old.

Mastercraft® does not offer a road hazard warranty. Mastercraft® products are backed by a limited warranty that excludes road hazard – type damage. Any tire that is deemed to have an eligible adjustable condition as determined by one of our independent tire dealers shall be processed according to the terms of the Mastercraft® Warranty Program. If road hazard coverage is important to you, we would suggest you check with an independent Mastercraft® tire dealer in your area or contact your vehicle insurer for information on this type of coverage.