- TREADEPOT Procedures, Policies, and Customer Service
- What methods of ordering are available from TREADEPOT.COM? [Back to top]
By phone, mail in order, or via our web site. Some orders do require specific information that we like to discuss with you, especially wheels & tire packages.
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- Can customers call TREADEPOT.COM with questions? [Back to top]
We encourage customers to call us, especially where specific issues exist like when shopping for wheels or special tires. We pride ourselves on customer service so please feel free to contact us. Our operating hours are 8:00 AM to 6:00 PM Eastern STD Time Monday through Friday & Saturday from 8:00 AM to 12:00 PM Eastern STD Time.
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- What shipping methods does TREADEPOT.COM use? [Back to top]
UPS – United Parcel Service, Our goal is to provide you with the fastest and least expensive way to ship your newly purchased products.
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- What if I ordered the wrong product or item? [Back to top]
If the incorrect product has been ordered and the order has NOT been shipped, simply call and have your order changed. If the product has already been shipped, the consumer will pay shipping charges for the items to be returned as well as the shipping charges on the replacement merchandise. Credit will be issued when TREADEPOT.COM receives the returned merchandise back. Please contact us immediately if you think you may have ordered the wrong product.
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- What if I only receive part of my order? [Back to top]
When more than one package is shipped, the shipper may not deliver all of the merchandise at one time. It is usually best to wait one more day to see if the other package(s) get delivered. Our sales team at TREADEPOT.COM can track your shipment within minutes for you. We can provide quick and easy information to help you assess the status of your shipment.
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- What if I receive damaged product? [Back to top]
If damaged product is delivered to you, please call us immediately! Our TREADEPOT.COM staff can file a claim with the shipper and reship your product in a timely and hassle free manner. We want you to have a pleasant shopping experience with TREADEPOT.COM and be satisfied with your goods.
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- What methods of payment does TREADEPOT.COM accept? [Back to top]
American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa, Money Orders and Cashier's Checks.
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- What are TREADEPOT.COM's operating hours? [Back to top]
Monday through Friday 8 AM to 6 PM and Saturday 8 AM to 12 PM Eastern Time and on the Web 24 hours a day.
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- Why create a TREADEPOT.com account? [Back to top]
Creating an account with us allows you to take full advantage of the services TREADEPOT.com had to offer. You will enjoy faster checkout times and as well as UPS integrated tracking on all orders. Each time you come back, simply log into your account to continue this great shopping experience.
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- Car & Truck Tires
- What is the "P" or "LT" preceeding the tire size? [Back to top]
"P" indicates a passenger or car type tire. "LT" indicates a tire that is designed for trucks in more rugged or load bearing conditions. No “P” or “LT” indicates European sizing, but will still fit many cars & mini vans.
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- How to read and understand the tire sizes? [Back to top]
The letter(s) preceding the tire size indicates the tire type. The first number indicates the tire width in millimeters. The next number (usually after a /) is the aspect ratio – the ratio of height to width. The next letter(s) indicate some information about the construction or performance of the tire. The last numbers indicate the diameter of wheel (in inches) the tire fits. Example: P205/60R15-----(P) indicates a passenger tire, (205) indicates width of tire in millimeters, (60) indicates ratio of height to width. (R) Indicates that the tire is a radial tire. (15) Indicates diameter of wheel in inches.
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- What is UTQG and what does it mean? [Back to top]
"UTQG" stands for “Uniform Tire Quality Grading”. A system developed by the Department of Transportation, which helps consumers compare and rate tires on tread wear, traction, and temperature. Example: a tire with a UTQG of 400 AB. The 400 is tread wear which represents the tire's comparative wear when measured against the governments mandated tire, which is rated at 100. So the tire rated at 400 would wear four times longer than the government's mandated tire. Traction and Temperature ratings are rated (A) superior, (B) good and (C) average. Traction represents the level of grip the tire possesses. Temperature rating shows the tires' ability to disperse heat build-up. Heat is what causes a tire to deteriorate over time. Therefore, a tire that has a high temperature rating will disperse heat better than one with a low temperature rating.
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- What is the difference between Performance ratings and Speed Ratings? [Back to top]
Many of the tires sold in America are speed rated. The speed-rating system was developed in Europe, where roads frequently had very high speed limits or no limits at all. While nearly all the states in the U.S. do have limits, which are generally lower than those in Europe, the speed-rating system still has considerable importance here. The most significant factor in the U.S. is in assuring that vehicles are equipped with tires whose top-speed capability at least matches the vehicles. The rationale for this is that there is no guarantee that a vehicle's owner won't exceed posted limits—or by how much. So you need to have tires that are equal to whatever the vehicle can deliver.
More and more, though, speed ratings are being referred to as "performance ratings" While this isn't their purpose—and isn't always completely accurate either—it's really not too far from the mark in most cases. The elements of a tire's construction that allow it to deliver higher-speed capability generally improve handling and maneuverability compared to lower speed rated tires.
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- What is the Load Index (Max Load)? [Back to top]
The load-carrying capacity of a tire is described in its load index. This is a one, two, or three-digit number. Each number corresponds to an assigned maximum load limit, some examples of which can be found on the chart shown below.
| Load Index | Load in Pounds | Load Index | Load in Pounds |
| 75 | 853 | 110 | 2337 |
| 80 | 992 | 115 | 2679 |
| 85 | 1135 | 120 | 3086 |
| 90 | 1323 | 125 | 3638 |
| 95 | 1521 | 130 | 4189 |
| 100 | 1764 | 135 | 4806 |
| 105 | 2039 | 139 | 5357 |
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- What is "Plus One Sizing"? [Back to top]
The term PLUS SIZING is used to describe fitting tires that are wider and of lower aspect ratio than were original equipment on the vehicle.
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- Are there alternate size tires to replace the original size on a vehicle? [Back to top]
Yes. In most cases, more than one.
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- What is tread depth? [Back to top]
Tread depth is the distance to the bottom of the tread grooves. It is measured in 1/32-inch increments.
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- What does Tread Wear Grade mean? [Back to top]
The Tread Wear Grade is a comparative rating based on the wear of a tire when tested under controlled conditions on a specified government test course. For example, a tire graded 150 would wear 1.5 times as well on the government course as a tire graded 100. The relative performance of tires depends upon the actual conditions of their use, and may depart significantly from the norm due to variations in driving habits, vehicle conditions, road characteristics and climate. When tires are tested for tread wear they actually accumulate a total of 6400 miles, and the total tread wear is projected by calculation. In addition, the tires are rotated every 800 miles and the vehicle wheel alignment is set to optimal specifications.
Tread Wear ratings are set by the tire manufacturers, not the government. Since each company has it’s own standards for the process, ratings are not directly comparable as consumers might think. However, some additional help can come from comparing warranties.
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- Does TREADEPOT.COM offer Road Hazard? [Back to top]
No, there is no road hazard program available on any tire we sell.
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- What is the easiest way to find the correct size for a particular vehicle? [Back to top]
Use our tire size selector on the Home page of our web site or refer to the tire information placard for information on the vehicle's original equipment wheels and tires, as well as recommended inflation pressure. The placard can be found in one of seven places:
- Along the edge of the driver's side door
- On a doorpost
- In the glove box
- Inside the fuel-filler door
- In the center console lid
- Inside the trunk
- In the vehicle owner's manual
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- ATV Tires & Wheels
- What is ply rating, what is its significance, and how is it different from ply? [Back to top]
Tires are generally constructed using plies or layers of material. This constitutes the physical “Ply” construction. Typically, the more plies used in the construction makes the tire more durable and gives it more load carrying capacity. “Ply Rating” is a numerical rating given to a tire, and is based on the load carrying capacity of the tire. So a 2 Ply tire can have a 2, 4 or 6 “Ply Rating” depending on materials used, shape & other construction aspects. The higher the “Ply Rating” number the more load carrying capacity the tire has.
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- What are the classifications on ATV tires? [Back to top]
Sand/Dune, All Terrain, Mud/Snow, & Sport/Racing.
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- Is it necessary to install a tube in an ATV tire? [Back to top]
No. Most ATV tires today are tubeless, however tubes are often used in certain applications
and are totally safe.
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- Car & Truck Wheels
- What determines the proper fitment of a wheel to a particular vehicle? [Back to top]
Several factors go into the proper fitment of a vehicle: 1st Wheel Diameter, 2nd Wheel Width, 3rd Offset/Back Spacing and 4th Bolt Circle.
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- What is a "Bolt Circle"? [Back to top]
The Bolt Circle is the diameter of an imaginary circle formed by the centers of the wheel lugs. For example a Bolt Circle of 4:100 is described as 4 Lug studs on a 100mm circle.
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- What is meant by "Rim Size"? [Back to top]
Rim size is composed of 2 dimensions wheel width and wheel diameter. E.g. 16x8 has a diameter of 16”
and a width of 8”.
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- What is meant by "offset"? [Back to top]
Offset is the measured difference between the actual centerline of the wheel and the surface that bolts against the hub, also called the mounting pad. There are generally 3 types of offset:
Zero Offset: The hub-mounting surface is even with the centerline of the wheel.
Positive Offset: The hub-mounting surface is toward the face side of the wheel.
Negative Offset: The hub-mounting surface is toward the brake side of the wheel.
Offset should always be kept close to the original equipment specifications. Straying from the manufacture’s specifications can cause problems such as higher loads on wheel bearings and suspension components, as well as undesirable changes to the vehicles handling characteristics.
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- What is meant by "Backspacing"? [Back to top]
Instead of offset some wheel manufactures prefer to list Backspacing. It is simply the distance from the inside edge of the wheel to the mounting pad of the wheel.
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- What are the different finishes on wheels? [Back to top]
There 3 basic types of wheel finishes: 1. Painted generally silver in color. 2. Polished, raw aluminum highly polished. 3. Chrome, aluminum that has been chrome plated.
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- What are Hub Centric and Lug Centric? [Back to top]
There are 2 systems used to mount the wheels on the vehicle. Hub-Centric wheels are positioned on the hub by being located against a precisely formed surface on the hub itself. Lug-Centric wheels are centered on the lug nuts.
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