Heinold & Feller FAQ

Today’s cars have rotors that are much lighter and thinner than previous generations of automobiles. The rotor and the pads are designed to absorb the massive amount of heat generated during braking. If the rotors are not replaced, in most instances the car will develop vibration due to the rotors warping from the heat. New pads and rotors installed at the same time will wear more uniformly and usually have quieter braking performance.

If you’re ready to start shopping for new tires, you can get a tire quote anytime by filling out our simple form – click here.

Yes! Our Valpo store is open 8 a.m.–4 p.m. and our LaCrosse store is open 7:30 a.m.–12:00 p.m. on Saturdays.

It’s time to replace your tires when you’re seeing low tread, tire damage, or a scalloped or irregular wear pattern. You can measure your tire’s tread by doing the penny test. Put a penny into your tire’s tread with Lincoln’s head upside down, facing you. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, it’s time to replace your tires. Please keep in mind, with our Northwest Indiana driving conditions we recommend a deeper tread for safer winter driving.

Finding your tire size is simple. Look for numbers on your tire’s sidewall. An example might look like this: 215/50R17. The first three numbers measure the millimeters from sidewall to sidewall. The two numbers after the slash are the tire’s aspect ratio, and the R indicates this tire has radial construction (you may also see a B, indicating bias construction). The final number is the tire’s rim diameter.

Most manufacturers recommend your tires be rotated every 5-6K miles, because this is the only way to ensure uniform tire wear. It also allows the manufacturer to then guarantee that tire wear. If the rotations are not done, the manufacturer will not honor the mileage warranty.

Most AWD vehicles have a very limited tolerance on tire size variation because that can cause damage to the 4-wheel-drive system, usually in the transfer case. The total circumference variation between tires should not exceed a quarter inch for most AWD vehicles. There’s a lot of variation between different brands, and that is why we recommend getting all four replaced at one time. It is also very important to rotate tires consistently to keep even wear on AWD vehicles. We recommend having this done every time—or at least every other time—you get your oil changed.

Snow tires are designed to maximize their wear in cold weather. They also have a softer compound that allows for better traction, but when the weather warms up that compound will wear quickly.

We carry tires for many vehicles. In addition to tires for light trucks and cars, we also carry tires for lawn mowers, tractors, scooters, and go karts.