Do you need some new tires for your car? We can help you choose the best ones.
Buying car tires isn’t as easy as it might seem. There’s a lot you need to think about when putting new tires on your car if you want to stay safe and savvy on the road. Weather and terrain are the biggest factors, but there are other things to consider as well.
In this post, we’re going to help you out by giving you 3 tips for buying car tires so you can get the best set for your needs. Even if you know nothing about tires, keep reading and you’ll be equipped to make a good decision.
1. What Kind of Tires Do You Need?
Let’s discuss the two most important factors that determine the types of tires you’ll need: weather and terrain. You can buy all-season, summer, or winter tires, and depending on where you live, you may need to keep a set of two different types on hand for the changing seasons.
All-season car tires are good for milder climates that don’t experience wild temperature swings between the hottest and coldest months. If you’re somewhere in middle America, for instance, you may not get severe enough winters to necessitate winter tires, but if you still get a bit of snow, you’ll want all-seasons rather than summer tires.
In the midwest or most of Canada, you’ll need to get both summer and winter tires, then switch them out depending on which season is coming up. When it comes to terrain, you can purchase all-terrain tires for cars, but you should only do it if you live on a dirt road or plan on taking your car on some bumpy terrain.
2. Looking At Tire Codes
To ensure you’re getting the right tires for your wheels, you’ll have to get down low and check out the tire codes on the sidewall of your current tires. These codes tell you the purpose and size of the tire and it tells the government which tire it is in the event of a recall.
Here’s how the number format works:
- “P” for passenger or “LT” for light truck – indicates what the tire is used for.
- 3 digit number – indicates the width of the tire in millimeters, from sidewall to sidewall.
- 2 digit number – indicates the aspect ratio of the tire, height to width.
- “R” for radial construction – most tires, except on classic cars, use radial construction.
- Another 2 digit number – indicates the width of the tire that the wheel is meant to fit.
There may be other numbers as well, but these first 5 are the most important in determining which tires you need.
3. Making Sure You Need New Car Tires
Many drivers will see car tires for sale and jump at the opportunity to get new tires for cheap, but you should always make sure you actually do need new tires before replacing them. If your tires are more than 10 years old, you should replace them, but if they’re newer and look okay, then there’s no need.
The signs that you really need to replace them are excessive tread loss, cracked sidewalls, and bulging. If you see this, go to a place like OZZYTYRES and get new ones ASAP.
Get the Right Tires
Now that you know how to buy new car tires, you can confidently go to your local auto shop and get yours replaced. As long as you know what type of tires you need and the tire code, you’ll be able to get the help you need from a professional.
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