Mobile Mechanic and Auto Detailing in Arlington, TX

What the A, B or C on a tire sidewall says about heat

NHTSA says tire ratings for treadwear, traction and temperature resistance are on the sidewall of passenger vehicle tires sold in the United States, under its Uniform Tire Quality Grading System. The temperature grade runs from A, the most resistant to heat, down to C. NHTSA says sustained high temperature, for example driving long distances in hot weather, can cause a tire to deteriorate, leading to blowouts and tread separation.

NHTSA says that of current tires, 62 percent are rated A, 34 percent B and 4 percent C. It also runs an online ratings lookup for most tires used on passenger cars, minivans, SUVs and light pickup trucks.

Cold pressure: the number on the door, not on the tire

NHTSA's pressure steps say the correct figure is the one the vehicle manufacturer lists, not the one printed on the tire. Look for the Tire and Loading Information Label on the driver's side door edge or post, or in the owner's manual. That figure is a cold pressure, meaning the car has not been driven for at least three hours, so a gauge reading taken right after driving includes extra pressure from heat.

If you think a tire is low after driving, NHTSA says to fill it to the recommended cold pressure and recheck when you can get a cold reading, because slightly under the cold number is safer than significantly underinflated. It advises checking every tire, spare included, at least monthly, and notes that a tire can lose pressure suddenly after a pothole or a bump against a curb. NHTSA says tires should be replaced when the tread is worn down to 2/32 of an inch. For its penny test, place a penny in the tread groove with Lincoln's head upside down and facing you; if you can see the top of his head, replace the tires.

Tire age, DOT numbers and the spare

NHTSA describes tire aging as the rubber and other components changing over time through service, storage and environmental conditions. It lists exposure to sunlight and warmer climate among the contributors and calls aging a greater concern in the more southern parts of the Sun Belt states.

The agency says some vehicle and tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires that are six to 10 years old, regardless of tread. The last four digits of the DOT Tire Identification Number give the week and year of manufacture, so 0308 means the third week of 2008; check both sidewalls, because the number may appear on only one. NHTSA adds that spares seldom get replaced, and it recommends a full-size spare not stand in for worn tires except in emergencies such as a flat.

I-30, I-20 and SH 360: an interchange, a freight route and a widening plan

TxDOT says the direct-connect I-30/SH 360 interchange reached substantial completion in December 2023, and that the project also widened the Six Flags Drive bridge over I-30 from two lanes to five. TxDOT's I-20 Arlington/Grand Prairie corridor study says I-20 was built in the 1970s in the Dallas/Fort Worth area and serves as a freight and hazardous cargo route. Separately, NTTA lists its 360 Tollway as running through Arlington, Grand Prairie and Mansfield between Camp Wisdom/Sublett Roads and US 287.

TxDOT's 2027 Unified Transportation Program, its 10-year plan approved in August 2026, lists widening I-30 in Arlington from west of Cooper Street to the Dallas County line, with an estimated letting range of fiscal years 2031 to 2036. Check TxDOT's Project Tracker for current information.

Jack stands, the 14-day tire rule and the carport clause in the Nuisance chapter

This summarizes the City of Arlington's Nuisance chapter (amended by Ordinance 24-067, December 17, 2024); the city's text controls, so confirm with Code Compliance. It defines a nuisance vehicle as a self-propelled vehicle that meets any one of a list of conditions. One is being wrecked, dismantled or partially dismantled, or discarded, or unattended on jack stands or blocks or other means. Among other conditions, the chapter lists two or more flat tires, or two or more missing wheels, for 14 days or more, and a vehicle used primarily for storage that remains unmoved for 14 days or more. The jack-stand wording gives no number of days, and the chapter does not define 'unattended'.

Section 6.03 declares a nuisance vehicle a public nuisance when it is visible at any time of the year from a public place, a public right-of-way or private property, and Section 6.04 makes maintaining one an offense. Section 6.05 excepts a vehicle or part completely enclosed within a building in a lawful manner, where it is not visible from the street or other public or private property. Section 2.02 separately lists used, discarded or broken automotive parts, including batteries, tires and wheels, as nuisance outside storage when they present health or safety hazards, and it counts storage under a carport or covered patio as outside. That section also lists exceptions and a defense, so read the full text.

If a job might run past one visit, ask Code Compliance before work starts how the chapter would treat a car left on stands.

Viridian, a master-planned community in north Arlington

In north Arlington, Viridian is a 2,300-acre master-planned community that the Fort Worth Report said in April 2025 had grown to about 10,000 residents and was moving from developer control to homeowner control. It has both a homeowners association and the Viridian Municipal Management District, a political subdivision of the state. If you live in an HOA, check its governing documents before planning vehicle work outdoors. Tim serves Arlington.