The time has come that you need tires for your vehicle. Whether you want to believe it or not, tires are eventually going to need to be replaced. They are one of the most important areas for a well maintained vehicle, but often the most ignored. So you have just looked at your tires and noticed that they are bald, or someone pointed out to you that they need to be replaced, so now you are wondering, what do I even look for when buying?
You begin researching, and realize you are overwhelmed with the amount of information that you will find. Well, I will make it easier for you and less chaotic. Here is what you should look for when buying tires.
1) Tire size
2) brand
3) Tire Type
4) durability
5) price
Tire Size
This one may seem obvious, but no need to overthink it, we need to start at the basics. What is your tire size for your vehicle? Now you may know this, or know where to find it, for others it may have sounded like I just asked you a trigonometry question. However, it’s easy to solve. Your tire size will be a series of 7 numbers, such as “225/65/17”, and you can find this information when you open your driver front door, on the inside of the door panel. So in this example, the tire size would be “245/50/20”, with the 245 meaning the tire width, the 50 being the ratio/percentage of height to width, and 20 being the rim size.
Your vehicle manufacturer assigned this size for a reason, so it is best to stick to it for the best ride and comfortable fit.
Brand
Just like when you are purchasing other items for your life, like a TV, car, or hiking boots, there are several brands to choose from. Each brand has their own reputation, history, and specific lines of products. These companies also invest a great deal of resources into testing these products. My recommendation is to focus on a brand that you recognize, or have purchased in the past. For example, you will have better results and durability going with a brand like Continental or Firestone, over a tire brand you probably have never heard of like Advanta or Pegasus. Going with a name brand normally comes with a higher price, but certainly comes with a lot more reliability.
Tire Type
The type of tire you are purchasing, really stems from the kind of driver you are, as well as your current lifestyle. Are you using your tires for racing? Or off-road activities? Or are you simply using it for everyday driving like going to work, and running errands? Believe it or not, answering this simple question is half the battle, as you eliminate the tires you need vs ones you don’t need. Most people are shopping for everyday use, so they can focus on an all season, high way tire, and really do not need an all terrain or performance tire. If you drive a vehicle that sees tougher road conditions, than you may want to look at an all terrain tire that has a more aggressive tread pattern.
Durability
Maximize your investment! If durability isn’t important, than it sounds like you are going to be purchasing tires quite often, and I hope you have the money to do so. Look for tires known for their longevity and resistance to wear. Tire manufacturers often provide mileage warranties, indicating the expected lifespan of the tires. Then when you factor in regularly rotating your tires, and keeping up with all of your vehicle maintenance, you will get the max life from those tires. This also comes back to the brand, as mentioned previously, as you are more likely to get a durable tire from a well known brand, compared to an entry level tire.
Price
Now comes the last factor, the price. Now your budget will be the deciding piece for all of this, but DO NOT BUY THE CHEAPEST TIRE YOU CAN FIND. More often than not, this will be from a brand you have never heard of and you will be replacing again very soon, as they provide little reliability. Consider the other 4 things that have been mentioned above. Replacing tires are not cheap. Focus on the tire you need, with a brand you recognize as well as the mileage warranty. You definitely do not need to purchase the most expensive tire on the market neither. Overall, consider the other 4 factors with your budget to find the best value.
No need to overthink it, following this guide and answering these questions will ease that overwhelming feeling you have when shopping for tires. Remember, it is all about finding value that fits your life, not just the cheapest option you can find as investing in high-quality tires that meet your requirements will enhance your driving experience, safety, and overall satisfaction with your vehicle.
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