Choosing new tires for your car can be a complete minefield if you've never done it before. When you're considering which tires you need to get, you need to consider factors such as performance, price, brand, comfort, appearance and safety. But how do you know which tires are the 'right' ones for your car?
New Cars vs Used Cars
If you bought the car from new, it's a safe bet that you can just replace the old tires with the same type that the car came with. However if the car was used when you bought it, you can't be sure that the previous owner has chosen the correct type of tires on the vehicle you purchased.
If you are buying a used car, it's a good idea to do your research and make sure that the car you are buying has the correct tires fitted. If not, replacing them all with the right type once you own the car would be a good idea.
When looking at new cars, different kinds of vehicle will come with different tyres. 4x4's, trucks, cars and high performance cars will all come with tires specific to the individual vehicle. These tires are great for a variety of conditions, will last for differing lengths of time and will cost varying amounts of money to replace.
What Kind of Tires?
You need to make sure that you know what kind of tires your car will need when it comes to replacement time, and make sure that you do change them as soon as the time comes (or slightly earlier if possible).
You can change the tires on your vehicle to another type, but you really do need to do your research first and make sure that the new type is suitable for the vehicle you wish to fit them to.
Where you live can affect your tire choice. Conditions such as frequent rain, snow, heavy winter weather or extreme heat can all affect the type of tire that you need to use. In the America where the weather varies hugely from state to state, you will find that car manufacturers equip their vehicles with tires that are well-suited to the conditions in that particular area.
Different tire types vary hugely in function as well as price. High performance tires are usually quite expensive and wear out more quickly, so are not necessarily worth the extra cash - it depends on your priorities. There are all season tires, performance all season tires, ultra-high performance tires, winter tires and tires made especially for suv's to name a few. If you drive a high-performance sporty car you might not worry in the slightest about having to buy expensive tyres to keep this car up to scratch. On the other hand, if you need a suv to get through farmland, or sludgy mud-strewn roads to get the kids to school, you should appreciate when you buy the car that the tires are going to be expensive to maintain.
When Should I Replace Them?
How do you know when it's time to replace your tires? In the USA, the legal limit for minimum depth of the tread on your tyres is 2/32", across the central ¾ of the tread going around the complete circumference of the tire.
If your tire treads drop below this level you could face a penalty
Tires are made with tread wear indicators in the grooves along the tread to help drivers see when their tires are nearing the legal limit. Although the legal limit is 2/32", most motor safety organizations suggest that the tIres should be replaced when the tread depth reaches 4/32" as it is recognised across the country that the current legal limit isn't really sufficient to protect drivers caught up in adverse driving conditions.
Should I Get a Professional Opinion?
Of course if you're not confident about your choices, or you're not sure about which tIres to get for your car, speak to a professional. That's what they're there for, and if you go to a reputable company, they will be able to point you in the right direction.
Finally, remember that if you do change your tIres to something more high performance, you may need to inform your insurance company as it can sometimes affect the price of your premium, though whether this is the case should be outlined by your insurance provider in your policy documents.
Dave Burton
www.bargain-motors.com
