New tires are the single biggest change you can make to how your car stops, steers and holds the road in bad weather. AutoTech Clinic sells and fits tires for foreign and domestic vehicles at our shop on Michigan Ave in Dearborn, usually the same day.
We will tell you honestly how much life is left in what you have. If you have a winter of tread remaining, we would rather say so and see you in the spring.
- How Long
- About 1 to 2 hours for a full set.
- Same Day
- Usually finished the same day.
- Vehicles
- Foreign and domestic, cars through trucks.
Signs You Need New Tires
- Tread at or below 4/32 of an inch going into winter
- The wear bars in the tread grooves are level with the tread surface
- Cracking in the sidewall or between the tread blocks
- A bulge or blister on the sidewall
- Tires more than six years old regardless of tread depth
- Poor traction in rain or snow compared with when they were new
What We Do
- 01
Measure and Show You
We measure tread depth at several points across each tire and show you the reading, so the decision is based on a number rather than a glance.
- 02
Match the Tire to Your Driving
We ask how you drive, how many miles and whether you park outside in winter, then recommend accordingly rather than selling the same tire to everyone.
- 03
Check the Cause of Uneven Wear
If the old tires wore unevenly, we check alignment and suspension first. New tires on a bad alignment wear out just as fast.
- 04
Mount, Balance and Torque
We mount with care for the wheel finish, road force or spin balance each wheel, and torque the lug nuts to the manufacturer specification with a torque wrench.
- 05
Reset TPMS and Road Test
We service or relearn the pressure sensors, set pressures to the door placard and road test for vibration before you leave.
What Tread Depth Really Means in Winter
A new all season tire starts around 10/32 to 11/32 of an inch. The legal minimum is 2/32. Between those two numbers, traction does not fall away evenly, it falls off a cliff. Research on wet braking and snow traction consistently shows a sharp drop once tread gets below about 5/32.
That is why we talk about 4/32 as the practical replacement point in Michigan rather than the legal minimum. A tire that is legal in November can be genuinely dangerous in a January snowstorm on Telegraph Rd.
Age Matters Even With Tread Left
Rubber hardens and cracks with age whether the tire is used or not. A tire with plenty of tread that is ten years old has lost a significant part of its grip, and the sidewall is more likely to fail.
Every tire has a date code on the sidewall showing the week and year it was made. We check it, and we will tell you if the tires on your car are old enough to be a concern even though the tread looks fine.
What Affects the Cost
We quote your vehicle specifically after inspecting it, because these are the things that move the number up or down:
- Tire size, load rating and speed rating for your vehicle
- All season, winter or performance construction
- Tire brand and tier
- TPMS service kits and any sensors that need replacing
- Alignment, which we recommend with any new set
Call (313) 277-7200 with your year, make and model and we will tell you what to expect before you come in.
Why AutoTech Clinic
AAA Approved
An inspected facility that has to meet AAA standards for equipment and training.
Photos First
You see what we found and approve the price before anything is taken apart.
Same-Day Service
Parts on hand for the vehicles we see most, so you are not waiting on a delivery.