Don’t underestimate the importance of good tires. A car is only as safe as its tires and since tires need to be replaced every three years, you need to find tires that are a right fit for your car.
There are three main categories of car tires: all-season, summer, and winter. All-season tires which can run cheaper can be used in any kind of weather but may not handle as well as the other two categories. Summer tires handle well and brake easily on dry roads but have little to no traction on snowy roads. Winter tires perform well on snowy terrain but underperform on dry and clear roads. No tire performs well in all conditions. Before you buy new tires, there are a couple of things you need to check.
Check Your Recommended Tire Measurements:
The driver’s side of the door jamb will have a label that will look like this P215/60R16 94T. P215/60R16, or the first part of the label is the size (the width and diameter) of the tire that will suit your car. The 94 is the load index or how much weight your tires can support. the T is the speed rating or how fast your tire can go in relation to the load index. Stick to the size measurements but feel free to a higher range when it comes to load index and speed rating indicators. It may be worth the extra money for the durability and safety it brings.
Identify Your Tire Type to Match Your Speed Rating:
All-season tires usually come in S and T speed ratings, and have good grip and long mileage. They are most suitable for SUVs and mainstream cars used for city travel.
Performance all-season tires come in H and V speed ratings. These have a better grip than S and T-rated all-season tires but don’t wear as well.
Ultra-high performance all season and summer tires come in ZR, W, and Y speed ratings. They are suitable for sports cars and performance sedans.
All-season and all-terrain truck tires are larger and best suited to pickups and SUVs. Their stronger tread pattern makes it your best bet for hauling heavy loads.
Winter/Snow tires have a mountain and/or snowflake symbol on the tire and should be bought in sets of four to optimize handling on snowy terrain.
