Introduction

Guide to buying new tires, Getting new tires installed is often a stressful ordeal. There is a dizzying variety of tire brands, sizes, and styles from which to select, and it’s easy to get lost in the maze. Don’t worry, though; this guide has all the information you need to select the best tires for your car within your budget.

A Few Pointers On Tire Purchasing

Get Down To Tire Basics

A tire can be thought of as a bendable container for pressurized air. This air chamber does double duty as a cushion for the vehicle’s cargo and as a support for the vehicle’s motion as well as for the vehicle’s stopping power and stopping distance.

Modern tires consist of 19–25 individual parts. Tires are constructed in reverse of how they will be used. Tires’ inner liners are their beating hearts. 

Its function is to help the tire retain its shape and air pressure. The liner is wrapped in fabric belts. The tire and wheel are held in place by the bead, which is attached to the bottom of the fabric belts.

Steel belts are layered on top of the fabric ones. Belts like these serve a dual purpose: they keep the tire’s tread pattern flat and they add stability to the tire. It’s the belts that sit atop the tire tread. 

Tire tread patterns vary depending on the tire’s intended use. Both the tire’s stiffness and its ride are contributed to by the sidewall. 

To reduce the impact of bumps, a taller, softer sidewall is preferable, while a shorter, stiffer sidewall improves cornering and steering response.

Any tire designed for use on a car or light truck will have a code printed on its sidewall that gives specifics about the tire’s size. Typically, this number will begin with a “P” for a tire. 

For light trucks, the “LT” prefix is sometimes used. Tires may have a “Max. Load” symbol on them. You should always choose tires with a load rating that is at least as high as the tires they are replacing.

Warranty

Tire manufacturers will typically offer you two different types of warranties: defect protection and tread warranty. In most cases, both are included, with a guarantee of tread life of several years from the most well-known global brands.

But you should give it some serious thought before buying a warranty. Even though they are guaranteed for a certain number of miles, tires often wear out earlier than expected. 

It’s possible that you’d be given a replacement if that happened. The majority of tire companies, however, will double-check that you’ve been maintaining your tires properly. 

They will look at the tread depth, air pressure, and whether or not you rotated them every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. In other words, you shouldn’t assume that you’ll get the promised service right away.

Noise

Pick tires with lower noise levels. This is not a significant issue at the low speeds typical of city driving. However, if you’re driving an SUV on the highway, you might want to minimize the noise your vehicle makes.

All tires make a little bit of noise from the air passing through the tread, but you can pick one that’s quieter than the rest. The noise produced by treads of the same type varies, so it’s best to check with a salesperson before making a purchase.

 

 

Think Of The Wheels

To modernize a car, a set of rims is one of the most sought-after upgrades. It’s a good idea to replace the wheels at the same time as the tires if they’re beyond repair.

However, there is more than just aesthetics to think about when purchasing wheels. To the best of your ability, replicate the manufacturer’s original sizing. The math behind making sure your tires and wheels fit your vehicle is complicated, but it’s worth it if you want to show off some sweet rims.

You can use a lower aspect ratio tire with larger wheels. For the car’s handling and turning to remain unchanged as the wheel size increases, the tire’s sidewalls must be made narrower without changing the tire’s overall outside diameter.

The sidewall plays a crucial role in handling and is also crucial for comfort and noise reduction. The shorter the sidewall, the less it flexes when the car turns, which is great for sporty handling but not so great for soaking up bumps and irregularities in the road. 

Consequently, a more severe ride and increased nimbleness could result from installing larger wheels. Furthermore, since aftermarket wheels are typically heavier than factory ones, they can have an adverse effect on the vehicle’s suspension or gas mileage.

However, you might want to upgrade to larger wheels regardless. It’s important to do your homework before making this choice; you don’t want to skimp too much on handling or safety features to achieve a certain look. 

What To Look For When Purchasing Tires

Tire recommendations for your specific vehicle’s size, speed, load, steering, on-road/off-road capabilities, etc., are detailed on the placards provided. Changing the size or aspect ratio of your tires can affect:

How Bad The Car Is In Condition

Mounting a smaller tire than what is recommended increases the strain on the rubber and, consequently, the likelihood of a crash. Replacement wheels may be necessary for both larger and smaller tires to function properly.

The Numbers On The Speedometer

A complete tire rotation is typically required for an accurate speedometer reading. Changing the diameter of a tire is equivalent to altering the diameter of a circle.

In addition, since these speedometers are designed for a specific rotation length, altering it will result in inaccurate readings.

When The Time Comes, The Automatic Transmission Will Shift

If you change the size of your tires, the wheels will spin and move differently. If you need more speed, for example, the smaller tires will have to spin faster. 

Because your transmission makes gear changes in response to your vehicle’s speed, the shifting time may vary. However, it may affect your uphill and downhill gear changes and fuel economy.

Tire size can be changed while avoiding these issues, but you should still check with your manufacturer’s representative before making the switch. 

In addition, you’ll have to make some adjustments to your transmission and speedometer to make sure your car stays within the allowed weight limits.

The same data that would normally be found in the car’s owner’s manual is actually displayed on the car itself. It’s on the edge of the door, the door to the glove box, the trunk lid, or the door port.

 

 

Conclusion

With our Best Price Program, we can save customers thousands of dollars on a brand-new vehicle. The mechanics at Revive work with area car lots to offer customers discounts on both purchases and leases. 

As a rule of thumb, the program saves purchasers around $3,000. Invigorate the Car Service Industry Here at Best Cars, we never let our opinions influence the recommendations we make.

FAQ

What Should I Look For When Buying New Tires?

Insert a penny into the tire’s tread. To make Lincoln’s head face down in the tread, you must rotate the penny. Try to “disappear” the top of Lincoln’s head. If it does, then you have tread deeper than 2/32 inches and can safely drive.

At What Mileage Should Tires Be Replaced?

On average, your tires should last between 50,000 and 60,000 miles. However, that is ultimately up to the maker. Tires can be made to last anywhere from 30,000 to 80,000 miles, depending on the brand and quality of construction.

How Do You Tell If Your Tires Are Good Quality?

Check the depth of your tire treads to see if they provide enough traction for safe driving. In this case, a penny will do. Simple: invert a penny and place it upside down in the tread. If you can make out Lincoln’s top hat, it’s probably time to get new tires.

What Is The Lifespan Of Car Tires?

Based on annual mileage driven (typically between 12,000 and 15,000 miles), we can estimate that a set of high-quality all-season tires will last between three and five years.

Which Tires Matter The Most?

If the rear tires are worn out, the vehicle will lose its stability. Tire Review notes that while new front tires will disperse water and keep traction, older rear tires will hydroplane and potentially cause a spinout.