Tires

When you’re staring at the side of a tire, the alphanumeric code is your roadmap to a perfect replacement. The first section, like 265/70R17, gives you the core dimensions: width in millimeters and the height-to-width ratio. For folks in the Ozarks hauling trailers or driving heavy-duty farm equipment, you’ll want to pay close attention to the numbers following the rim size, known as the Load Index and Speed Rating. These tell you exactly how much weight that tire can safely carry and the maximum speed it can handle without overheating. Whether you’re browsing for your daily driver or a high-clearance truck, matching these specs exactly is the only way to maintain your vehicle’s safety and performance. We keep a full range of these sizes on hand to get you back on the road or out into the field without the guesswork.

Before you start, remember that a patch is only for the “crown” or the main tread area of the tire; if you have a puncture in the sidewall, the tire is unfortunately toast. To fix a standard leak, you’ll first need to find the culprit by spraying the tire with soapy water and looking for the bubbles. Once found, use a reaming tool from one of our repair kits to clean and roughen the hole. Thread a sticky “bacon strip” plug through the needle tool, coat it in rubber cement, and shove it firmly into the puncture. Pull the tool out quickly, trim the excess plug, and you’re back in business. It’s a rugged, “trail-side” fix that has saved many a trip down a Missouri gravel road.

In our neck of the woods, the changing Missouri seasons can play havoc with your tire pressure; for every 10-degree drop in temperature, you can lose about one pound of pressure. This is why that “low tire” light often greets you on the first chilly morning in Nixa. To check it, simply unscrew the valve cap and press your gauge onto the stem to get a reading. If you’re low, add air in short bursts, checking frequently to make sure you don’t over-inflate. Don’t forget to check the spare tire while you’re at it. There’s nothing worse than having a flat only to find your backup is just as low. Keeping your tires at the proper PSI is the easiest way to improve your gas mileage and prevent uneven tread wear.