Mistakes to Avoid When Shopping for New Tires

If you drive like most people, you don’t need new tires very often. When you do, you’ll want to make sure you get the right ones for your car.

When it comes to the tires on your car, you should be cautious and buy the right ones. These four rubber circles are the only thing that truly touches the road when you drive. That means they are extremely important to your driving experience. Many people dismiss this fact and go cheap, used, and easy when it comes to tires, but that’s not what you should do.

You Get What You Pay For

You’ve heard this saying many times, and it’s a warning to remind you not to be afraid of spending a little more money for quality. This is certainly true when shopping for items for your car. There are a few consumable items in your vehicle, and the tires are one of those items. Skip the used tire shop, and don’t go for the cheapest set you can find. When you’re replacing all of the tires on your car, you should make sure you have a good set that will last a long time.

The Numbers Matter When Buying Tires

How do you know which numbers make sense and which tires you should buy? When you’re shopping for new tires, you want to have the right ones. This is probably when you’ll spend the most on these items. If you’re the original owners of your car, all you should have to do is look at your current tires to find out the right size. If not, check the owner’s manual and sticker inside the driver’s side door. Both of these will give you the proper tire size for your vehicle.

Make Sure Your Tires Fit on the Wheels Properly

The way your tires fit on the wheels in relation to the bolt pattern, hub bore, and offsets are called fitment. You need the right fitment. If you’re not well-versed in tire and wheel lingo, ask a professional to assist you. This is extremely important when you’re changing the wheels on your car as well. If you’re sticking with the stock wheels, the right tires could be pretty easy to fit. If you want to upgrade your wheels, you might need to look at some low-profile tires or specially-made models that are right for your new wheels.

Do You Want the Warranty? Yes, I Do

The only right answer to a warranty for new tires is “yes.” Many times, these warranties will cover any incidents that might occur while driving. You don’t want to replace a relatively new tire simply because you’ve run over a nail or screw. Often, a warranty will cover a replacement when it’s needed. These warranties are worth a small extra cost to have the peace of mind you need to know that you’ll be protected when you have a flat. These warranties also cover the service work of your new wheels.

What Kind of Tires Should be On Your Car?

There are several types of tires for different driving conditions and seasons. If you’re driving an SUV and you want to take it on the trails, you’ll want to make sure you have some all-terrain or mud-terrain tires. When you drive a sports car, a set of summer tires could make driving during the warmer months more enjoyable. Most vehicles have all-season tires on them. This is a general term for tires that are rated to work well on the road in all types of weather.

What are All-Season Tires Designed For?

As the name suggests, when your new tires are all-season models, you won’t need to change to summer or winter rubber when the weather changes. These tires are made for all seasons on any road. They are made to offer the capability you need, whether you’re facing a rain storm or riding around on a sunny day. These are the most common tires, and they offer a good ride, respectable handling, quiet running, and good grip in wet weather. These might not be the right tires when you live in an area that faces snow every winter, but they will work for the other three seasons of the year.

Are Summer Tires Only Good in the Summer?

No, the summer tire name is a misnomer. These tires should be called three-season tires because they are good for driving on roads when the temperatures are above 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Summer tires aren’t only for dry conditions; they are made to handle wet weather as well. If you put these tires on your car in the spring, you’ll have the ride and grip you want for handling corners. Summer tires are made for sharp steering responses to make driving more fun.

Should you Save Winter Tires for the Colder Months?

Yes, winter tires are designed to work well during the cold-weather months, but not nearly as well once the temperature rises. These tires are often called snow tires and provide maximum traction in the snow and during slippery winter conditions. These are the ideal tires for winter months in climates that face accumulated snow every year. You don’t need winter tires when you live in areas that only see snow for a few days of the year. In these climates, your new tires should be all-season tires.

Which Tires Will You Put On Your Car?

Now that you know a little more about tires and what you should have at different times of the year, which ones are you putting on your car? If you’re the original owner of your car and you simply want a new set of all-season tires, that’s a pretty easy pick with the tire size that simply replaces what you’ve already got on your vehicle. On the other hand, if you’ve got a complicated fit, you might have to shop around a little bit to find the right tires for the vehicle that you drive.