Tires play a large role in the way your car rides and handles on the road. It is important that you get the right tires to work with the suspension system on your car. Cars that have tires that do not fit right can fail, so if you are not sure where to start, talk to the guys at your local tire shop for some help.
Tire Size
One of the most important things to check is that the tire size on the new tires is correct for the car. Don't go by the tires on the car—check the owner's manual or the sticker on the inside of the driver's door for the proper tire size and the proper amount of inflation in the tires. If the tires that are on the car were replaced at some point with under- or oversized tires, using the same size tire does not remedy the situation. This is the reason for using the rating on the door or from the owner's manual.
Type of Tire
The type of tire is also important. If the car has a specific type of tire on it, you should use the same type to replace it. For sports cars, that may be a speed-rated tire or a low-profile tire with a short sidewall. For passenger cars, that may not be the case, and on trucks and vans, you may need a 6-ply tire or one rated for an extreme amount of weight. The important thing is to get a tire that is going to work properly and handle properly.
Tread Type
Another option that is often not well understood is the tread on the tires you are buying. All-season radials are often less aggressive but handle water and dry roads pretty well. For trucks that are going to travel off-road, a more aggressive tire with deep lugs and an open tread may be better suited to your needs.
Within the specific types of tires, there are many different sub-types of tread patterns and uses. The best way to understand them is to have someone at the tire shop explain them for you. They will be able to tell you the differences, and if you tell them what you are using the vehicle for and how your drive it, they can recommend tires that are well suited to your needs.
Reach out to a tire shop near you to learn more.
After thinking long and hard about what it would mean to have a better car, I realized that one of the biggest challenges I was facing was wheel costs. I was nervous about the price of replacing the tires and moving through and updating the rims, so I started to talk with people about how to save money. A friend of mine mentioned that there was a great place that offered tires at a low price, so I chatted with them about moving forward with replacement. I had everything sorted out right away, and it was incredible to see just how much better my car looked and felt after the tires were updated. Read more about tires on this blog.