Take time to get stones out of tread

John Mahler

SPECIAL TO THE STAR

Q: Before I put away my summer tires , I checked the treads for screws or nails. I was amazed at the number of small stones the sipes had collected – there were hundreds in each tire. Is it harmful to the tire, or to the function of the tire?

A: Tires full of stones are less than ideal. However, there is nothing you can do about it. If you get very sharp stones wedged in there they can cause a puncture, so getting them out is a good idea. Certain tread and sipe patterns tend to grab more stones than others. I would check the tire pressures: Under-inflated tires will grab more pebbles than a harder tire.

Q: Our Chevy Venture takes P215/70R15 tires. I want to install winter tires and have found a used set of four that are P215/65R15. Will this work?

A: Your OE tires are 26.85 inches in diameter. The used tires you are considering are only 26 inches in diameter, so this is outside the normal range. Your engine would be using more revs at the same speeds. That equates to more wear and tear and higher fuel consumption. Not a good idea.

Q: I'd like your opinion on winter tires for my Subaru Legacy GT. It takes size P215/45R17 tires. I'm looking at Yokohama W.Drive or Toyo Observe Garit KX.

A: The two tires are like comparing apples to oranges. Both are severe-winter-use rated but that's where the similarities end.

The Yokohama W.Drive is one of the new breed of winter tires that are designed to be run year round. This class of tires is called an "all-weather tire." You might say it is a properly designed all-season tire. The Toyo is a winter-only design.

The Yokohama will handle unplowed snow but not as deep as the Toyo. But it handles dry or wet pavement best. The Toyo is heavily siped for ice grip, more than the Yokohama, while the Yokohama has quicker reaction to steering input.

Around the GTA where roads are plowed regularly I'd go Yoko, in ski country I'd go Toyo.

Email tire questions to John Mahler at thetireguy_1@hotmail.com. Please include vehicle's make, model and year, tire brand and size, as well as your name, address and phone number. Volume of mail prevents us from answering all queries or providing personal replies.

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