Know your tires. Drive with confidence.
Clear answers for choosing tires, understanding the estimate and caring for the set you drive on.
Written by Family Tire & Auto CareSources cited in every guide
All guides
Pick a topic, or start with the one that matches what you are seeing.
- How to read your tire sizeDecode the numbers on a tire sidewall, check your vehicle's recommended size and know what to confirm before choosing replacements.Read the guide
- Installed tire prices and California fees, explainedUnderstand the installed price, the separate California tire fee and the estimated out-the-door total before comparing tires.Read the guide
- Tire care and rotation: a practical routineBuild a simple pressure, tread and rotation routine, with your vehicle's maintenance schedule as the starting point.Read the guide
- When should you have wheel alignment checked?Understand pulling, uneven wear and the difference between alignment and balancing before asking for an inspection.Read the guide
- Can this tire be repaired, or does it need replacement?Learn the limits of puncture repair and why a tire must be inspected inside before a repair decision is made.Read the guide
- What to do when the TPMS light comes onKnow the difference between a low-pressure warning and a TPMS fault, and why a gauge check still matters.Read the guide
Signs it is time for a visit
Each one has a guide, and each one is worth a look at your store.
A tire-pressure warning light
Check with a gauge first, and know when a flashing light means a system fault.Pulling or an off-center wheel
Changes in how the car steers are a reason to have the alignment checked.A nail or a slow leak
Whether a tire can be repaired depends on where the damage is and what is inside.Uneven tread wear
Wear on one edge can point to alignment or pressure; a routine keeps it even.
A five-minute monthly tire check
What the guides recommend, in the order you would do it.
Step 1: Check pressure cold
Use a gauge and the pressure on your driver’s door label, not the number on the sidewall.
Step 2: Look at the whole tread
Check the depth across the tread and look at the sidewalls for cuts or bulges.
Step 3: Write it down
A short record of pressure, rotations and repairs makes changes easy to spot.
Step 4: Have it checked
If something is off, book an inspection and the store will tell you what they find.
Not sure what you are seeing? Have it checked
A inspection is the right first step when something feels different but you do not know which service to ask for.
- Tell the advisor what you noticed
- They look it over and explain what they find and what can wait
- Any work is quoted first, and only done with your approval
Prices and times shown for
1191 e main st, El Cajon
Open today 8 am–6 pm
Quick answers
Every answer comes from one of the guides above, with its sources.
Is the number after R the tire height?
No. It is the wheel diameter in inches. In 225/60R17, the tire fits a 17-inch wheel.
Is the California tire fee the same as disposal?
No. The California tire fee is a government charge on applicable new tires. Disposal is a separate service charge and is included in this site's mandatory installed-price package.
Should every car rotate tires at 5,000 miles?
No. Follow the vehicle's recommended interval and pattern first. USTMA's 5,000–8,000-mile guidance applies when no interval is specified.
Is wheel balancing the same as alignment?
No. Balancing addresses the rotating wheel-and-tire assembly; alignment concerns wheel angles relative to the vehicle manufacturer's specifications.
Can a sidewall puncture be patched?
Not under USTMA passenger/light-truck puncture-repair procedures. The repairable area is limited to the tread, and shoulder/belt-edge injuries are excluded.
The light went out after driving. Can I ignore it?
No. Check pressure with a gauge when the tires are cold and use the vehicle's recommended pressure. Warming can raise pressure above the warning threshold without correcting the underlying issue.
Questions a guide cannot answer?
Book a visit at your store’s earliest open time, or call and ask.
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