Not all tires are made the same; they vary greatly in purpose and quality. If there’s one area of your car that you should focus on, it’s your tires.
The right tires for your vehicle help you get the best performance out of your drive. Automakers have spent countless hours in research and development to ensure the vehicles they produce and sell have the right tires for regular driving duties. High-performance vehicles are sold with performance tires, and off-road vehicles have all-terrain or mud-terrain tires.
If the automakers pay this much attention to all of their vehicles, shouldn’t you pay close attention to the tires on your one or two vehicles? Here are some rules you should follow when it comes to your tires.
1. Buy the right tires for your climate
You don’t need summer tires in the winter and won’t do well on winter tires in the summer. If you live in the south, you might not need winter tires but might want to invest in summer tires for the hotter months of the year. Buying the right tires means you have the tires that work for your climate.
2. Don’t cheap out on tires
Because tires are the only part of your vehicle that touches the road, you should probably invest in good, high-quality tires that will give you the best performance. You’ll want good tires with excellent grip, responsiveness to the road, and longevity. Tires are often rated for the expected mileage you’ll get out of them. Good tires will save you money in the long run and can make a huge difference when you’re driving.
3. Use your tires the right way
If you own an off-road vehicle, check the tires and make sure they are rated for your on-road driving needs. Most all-terrain tires can be used on the road and on many trails, but not all of them. You might need to have a set of road tires for your regular driving needs and a set of off-road tires for your time in the wilderness. The same applies to your track-day fun. You don’t want to use your regular tires at the track and vice versa.
4. Know what makes your tires special
The right tires could be a set that can handle a puncture without slowing you down. These tires are called run-flats and allow you to drive for a few miles after a puncture, ensuring you get to a service station safely. Some ties, such as Nokian, have Aramid, which is the same fiber used in bulletproof vests. This fiber protects the tires against road hazards and the potential of a puncture. What are your tires made of that makes them special?
5. Pay attention to the fit and features
You need tires that fit your vehicle properly. The wrong tire size and type won’t work for your vehicle and could cause you to be in an accident. Put stock in the features that matter, such as the rolling resistance and whether or not the tires match your typical road conditions. These are important factors, especially if the tires you’re buying are meant to give you trustworthy daily driving performance; if you’re not sure what features and fit are best for your car, ask the experts.
6. Properly maintain your tires
Even if you have the right tires on your vehicle, your job with these items isn’t done. You must ensure your tires are properly maintained. Because these are the only part of your car that actually touches the road, you should pay close attention to them and how they look, feel, and perform. It’s also important to make sure they are being rotated regularly and checked for damage often. If your vehicle doesn’t have a tire pressure monitoring system, check the air pressure at least once a month.
7. Road trips are different
If you’re getting ready to take a road trip, you need to think about vehicle maintenance, but especially your tires. If your tires are getting close to their replacement time, it might be a good idea to replace the tires before going on your road trip. This will help you avoid them losing tread and requiring replacement while out on the road. Check your tires for visible damage, have them rotated, check the air pressure, and inspect the tread depth before going on your road trip.
Your tires are very important to your safety, fuel efficiency, and experience on and off the roads. Make sure you have he right tires for your driving conditions and climate by using these tips.
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