No, no, no... unless they're directional tires. Most, if not all, major mfrs have dropped that "requirement," starting, I believe, with Michelin in the '70s. Check their websites for current recommendations.
Possible. More likely a defective tire to start, or even MORE likely run underinflated at some time in its life. Some tires won't take much of that and could become more susceptible to failure lature. Think Explorer-Firestone.
Rick
Dude, calm down. I live in Staten Island, SOUTH of the expressway.
Do the "penny test." Take a penny, and insert it in one of the grooves in the tread, with the head towards the tire. If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, then you need new tires. Good rule of thumb to remember...also, look at the tread itself. If you see cracks, or it looks very worn, then it's time for new tires.
I put some Continental ContiExtremeContacts on my Mazda MX-6 (I read here for my girlfriends WRX, which is fun ;) ), and I'm very satisfied with them. We just had snow today, and every move I made was in complete control, even when I was sliding around. They're very nice in the dry too, and a lot quieter than my older tires. The Tire Rack has good service...go with them if you can't find the tires locally (my only local choice was Walmart...no way in hell!).
Reed
Bwa-ha-ha-ha-ha. That's the funniest thing I've read in a long time. Tread wear ratings are only useful in comparing tires made by the same manufacturer. They mean nothing when you cross brands. Thanks for the laugh. :)
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