Cooper Tires

Motorsports

How do I go about requesting sponsorship for a motorsports event?
To request sponsorship, submit a complete proposal for consideration to Cooper Tire at cooperinfo@coopertire.com.

Employment

How can I apply for a position at Cooper Tire?
If you are interested in working at Cooper Tire, visit the employment section of our web site. You may apply to any of our facilities using the online application.

Dealers

How can I find a Cooper Tire dealer in my area?
To find a dealer in your area use the dealer locator on the Cooper web site. This will allow you to search by city, state or zip code. The dealer locator is the compass icon at the bottom right of all pages on the Cooper Tire site.

Products

How often should I check my tire pressure?
Experts say that you must check your tire pressure at least once a month and before going on a long trip. Also, make it a habit to check your tires every time you fill up your gas tank. Ideally, tire pressure should be measured when tires are cold—that is, when you have driven less than a mile. Otherwise, your tires may have heated up, increasing the air pressure inside them by several pounds. This is normal. Never "bleed" or reduce the air pressure in a hot tire.

What is the correct air pressure for my tires?
There is no universal "right" pressure for all tires. The proper inflation level will depend on what tires you have, and it may even be different for your front and back tires. To find the correct pressure for your tires, look at the tire information placard that’s mounted inside the frame of the driver’s door, in the glove box or inside the fuel door. You can also get that information in your vehicle owner’s manual and from your tire dealer.
It's important to be accurate in filling your tires. Don't try to "eyeball" the pressure—a tire can lose half its pressure without looking flat. Instead, use a reliable tire pressure gauge. It's also a good idea to have your own gauge, because you can’t always count on the gauge on the air hose at the gas station. According to the NHTSA, less than half the gas stations with air pumps provide a tire pressure gauge for customer use. Even if there is one, it may not be accurate—about 20 percent of the gauges on station pumps are damaged or off by four pounds or more.

How often should I check my wheel alignment?
Wheel alignment and balancing are important for safety and maximum mileage from your tires.
Inspect your tires regularly: at least once a month inspect your tires closely for signs of uneven wear.
Uneven wear patterns may be caused by improper inflation pressure, misalignment, improper balance or suspension neglect. If not corrected, further tire damage will occur. These conditions shorten the life of your tires and may result in loss of vehicle control and serious personal injury.
If any of these conditions exist, the cause may often be corrected at your tire dealer or other service facility. Your tires will then last longer.

How important is it that I rotate my tires?
Rotation is important because each tire on a car carries a different amount of weight, making them wear at different rates. By rotating them, you basically even out those differences. Your owner’s manual will tell you how often to rotate your tires, but as a rule of thumb, it should be done every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. You might want to rotate them sooner if you see signs of uneven wear. Misalignment and other mechanical problems can also cause such wear, so check with your mechanic to determine the cause.

In what pattern should my tires be rotated?
There are various patterns for rotating tires. A common one for front-wheel drive vehicles involves moving the tires in a criss-cross fashion, with the left front tire trading places with the right rear, and right front trading with the left rear.
If you have a full-size spare, you can include it in your rotation pattern—but don’t do so with a small “temporary use” spare, because those are meant only for low-speed, short-distance emergency use. The proper rotation pattern depends on the type of vehicle and tires, so be sure to look at your owner’s manual. After rotation, adjust the air pressure of each tire for its new location, using the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations.

What should I look for when inspecting my tires?
In addition to performing regular maintenance, you must also keep an eye out for potential problems that might affect your tires. Regular inspections can help you prevent tire trouble, and keep you rolling safely down the road.
When inspecting your tires, look for:
Uneven tread wear. This can include more wear on one tread edge than the other, a rippled pattern of high and low wear, or exposed steel wire. Uneven wear can be caused by problems such as underinflation, misalignment and improper balancing.
Shallow tread. Bald tires tend to skid and slide on the pavement, and are more likely to be damaged by potholes and other road hazards. The tread on your tire should be at least 1/16 of an inch deep. If it isn’t, the tire must be replaced. To help you see tread problems, tires have built-in “tread wear indicators.” These are narrow bars of smooth rubber that run across the tread: When the tread is even with the bars, it is worn down to the minimum level and must be replaced immediately.
You can also perform a simple test using a US penny. Put the edge of the coin into the tread, with Lincoln going in head first. If the top of Lincoln’s head is covered by tread, that’s good. If the top of his head is entirely visible, it’s time to replace the tire.
Troublemakers. Check for small stones, pieces of glass, bits of metal and other foreign objects that might be wedged into the tread, and carefully pick them out. They can cause serious problems if they are pushed farther into your tire as you drive.
Damaged areas. Cracks, cuts, splits, punctures, holes and bulges in the tread or on the sides of the tire can indicate serious problems, and the tire may need to be replaced.
Slow leaks. Tires lose some air pressure (about 2 psi) over the course of a month or so, but if you find that you have to add air every few days, have the tire, wheel and valve checked—and if necessary, repair or replace the tire.
Valve caps. Those little caps on your tire’s valve stem keep moisture and dirt out, so make sure they are on all your tires. Also, when you have a tire replaced, have a new valve stem assembly installed at the same time.
Driving on a damaged tire can be dangerous. If you see something you’re not sure about during your inspection, have it examined by your tire dealer. Any time you see damage to a tire, don’t drive on it—use a spare if you need to go somewhere. And finally, pay attention to the “feel” of your tires as you drive. A rough ride may indicate tire damage or excessive wear. If you notice vibrations or other disturbances while driving, and/or you suspect possible damage to your tire or vehicle, immediately reduce speed, drive with caution until you can safely pull off the road and stop, and inspect your tires. If a tire is damaged, deflate it and replace it with your spare. If you do not see any tire damage and cannot identify the source of the vibration, have the vehicle towed to a mechanic or tire dealer for a thorough inspection.

Can I mount my own tires?
Tire mounting can be dangerous and should be done only by trained persons using proper tools and procedures. Serious injury or death may result from explosion of tire/rim assembly due to improper mounting. Always have your dealer mount your tires on rims. If you are not thoroughly familiar with Rubber Manufacturers Association mounting procedures, never attempt to mount tires.

What do all of the numbers and letters on my tire sidewall mean?
Please refer to the Sidewall Story in the Tire Basics section of the Cooper web site.

Motorsports

Where is Cooper racing?
Cooper motorsports racing events including Cooper Tire, Mickey Thompson and Avon can be found in the event calendar on our web site. To get to this area select the calendar icon at the bottom right of the any page on the Cooper Tire site.

Frequently Asked Questions

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Motorsports

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Dealers

Products

Motorsports