Which of the following is a sign of tire failure?

• A. wheels fishtailing
• B. brakes squealing
• C. engine misfire
• D. overinflated tires

Answer: (A)

Tire condition directly affects vehicle handling; when a tire begins to fail, grip is compromised and the vehicle can become unstable. A sign of tire failure is the car weaving or sliding—often described as fishtailing—because the tire is losing traction and the vehicle responds unpredictably to steering. This is exactly what the sign involving wheels fishtailing describes: one end of the car steps out of line and the path to stay straight is lost. In contrast, brakes squealing points to issues in the braking system, not the tires. An engine misfire signals engine problems rather than tire condition. Overinflated tires can cause a harsh ride and uneven wear and may raise blowout risk, but they aren’t an immediate sign of tire failure. So the wheel-fishtailing sign best indicates tire failure.