TIRE FINDER

Understanding proper tire maintenance, selection and safety for your Buick vehicle starts with knowing the basics. When your tires only have 2/32 of an inch or less of tread remaining, the wear indicators in each tire’s grooves will be level with the outer tread surface. All-season tires have one set of these indicators on each tire. Winter tires will often have two sets of wear indicators: the higher set, which shows the tread level safe for winter driving, and the lower set, which shows the tread level safe for spring, summer and fall usage. Other warning signs include bulges and splits, cracked sidewalls, visible tire cord and punctures.

Air is a gas, expanding when heated and contracting when cooled. For most of North America, fall and early winter are especially important times for checking tire pressure on your Buick vehicle. As the ambient temperature falls, tire pressure goes down. A good rule of thumb: with every 10 degrees Fahrenheit of temperature change, tire pressure changes about 1 psi – higher as temperatures rise, lower as they fall.

The Tire Pressure Monitoring System^† (TPMS) helps with keeping you updated on the vehicle’s tire pressure. The TPMS works by sending a signal from the pressure sensor, located in your vehicle’s wheel, to the instrument control panel which alerts you when the tire pressure is low. It is recommended that a trained professional inspect and, if necessary, service your TPMS to help ensure it is working properly.

If the Tire Pressure Monitor light illuminates and stays solid with a Check Tire Pressure, Low Tire Pressure or Add Air to Tire message, check and adjust all tire air pressures to the recommended levels.

If the Tire Pressure Monitor light appears as a blinking yellow lamp for more than one minute and stays solid, diagnostic service is needed.

Tire speed ratings indicate the speed your tire can safely maintain over time. The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) set the ratings scale below. On the sidewall of every tire, you'll find one of these tire speed rating codes below:

There are many factors that can cause tire wear, such as your driving style and tire maintenance habits. Tire replacement is absolutely needed when the tread wear indicators are flush with the outer tread surface. A tire’s built-in tread wear indicators look like narrow strips of smooth rubber across the tread grooves and become closer to the surface as the tire wears.

Tire rotation is the practice of moving your vehicle’s wheels and tires from one position to another to help promote even tire wear. Even tire wear can help with the life of your vehicle’s tires. It is important to rotate your tires at the intervals recommended by your Owner’s Manual. 

Check your Owner’s Manual for more information.

If your vehicle is misaligned, it can cause your tires to wear unevenly, and you may experience handling problems such as pulling or abnormal vibration.

Tires and wheels are aligned and balanced at the factory to help provide the best overall performance. Consider a wheel alignment check if there is unusual tire wear or if your vehicle is significantly pulling to one side or the other.

A tire that is out of balance often affects ride quality and can shorten the life of tires, shocks and other suspension components. If the vehicle vibrates when driving on a smooth road, the tires may need to be rebalanced.

Check your Owner’s Manual for more information.