Practice question

A sign of tire failure is

  1. wheels fishtailing
  2. brake squeal
  3. steering wheel shimmy
  4. engine knock

Answer: A — wheels fishtailing

A sign of tire failure is when the rear of the vehicle begins to swing from side to side, or the car feels unstable and wanders—often described as fishtailing. This happens because the tire has lost traction or pressure, or has a blowout, causing the vehicle to lose grip with the road. Tires are what keep the car connected to the surface, so when they’re compromised, handling deteriorates and stability is compromised. Brake squeal comes from braking components, indicating wear or glazing. Steering wheel shimmy usually points to wheel balance, alignment, or brake rotor issues. Engine knock is an engine problem, not related to tires. If you notice fishtailing, ease off the gas, avoid abrupt braking or sharp steering, and pull over safely to check the tires for damage, wear, or low pressure and address as needed.

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