By Pamela Rose
Buying new tires for your car can seem to be an easy job. But finding the right ones is a difficult one. You cannot afford to get the wrong tires. A wrong choice will affect the car’s performance and the tire’s ability to handle the weather. Whether your car tires are in need of an upgrade or you want a new set of tires, it is important to choose the perfect ones for your vehicle.
Types of Car Tires
The type of car tire is the most important factor you will be considering when choosing the right tires for your vehicle. The choice will depend on many factors including your work, when you drive the most, which roads you traverse the most, and the purpose.
Here are the different types of tires you should consider when looking to get your car a new set of tires.
All Season Tires
All-season tires are simply the most widely chosen tires. As the name suggests, they provide all-weather grip and have long mileage. They are usually used in mainstream vehicles. These tires are further available in different speed ratings, with the S and T speed ratings being the most common ones.
- Performance all-season tires are available in H and V speed ratings. These tires provided improved cornering grip, but don’t last as long as their S and T speed rated counterparts.
- You can also consider ultra-high-performance all-season tires if you have a high-performance sedan or a sports car. These tires have a speed rating of ZR, W, and Y.
If you have an SUV or pickup used for towing and hauling duties, it is recommended to consider all-terrain, all-season truck tires. They are available in large sizes and feature a more aggressive tread pattern to provide traction for off-road duties.
Summer Tires
If you need tires that provide excellent grip and performance on dry and warm roads, consider summer tires. Some of the key features of these tires are as follows:
- The rubber compounds used are typically softer compared to the all-season tires, but slightly harder than winter tires
- The tread blocks are farther apart. This allows the tire to lay flat on the surface.
- The tire maintains greater contact with the road.
Winter Tires
Winter tires provide greater performance and safety and are perfect if you need to drive on snow more often.
- The treads are filled with tiny cracks known as sipes
- The sipes bite through snow and reach the underlying road and provide proper grip
- The rubber is much softer. This ensures the tire remains soft even when the temperatures get very low
Winter tires are also known as snow tires and can be identified by the snowflake or mountain symbol on the sidewall.
Replacing or Upgrading Your Tires
When changing your car’s tires, you should also consider whether you want to upgrade the tires or replace them with equivalent ones. Upgrading is a more complicated process. You may want to select a higher-performance tire having the same size. For example, you may have a standard all-season tire and can replace it with a high-performance all-season tire. You may also consider upgrading to a wider and lower-profile set of summer tires or high-performance all-season tires.
When upgrading, it is important to consider whether the new tires will fit or not. They may rub on the body parts or suspension. Whether replacing or upgrading your car’s tires, it is important to seek the help of a tire expert. You should choose professionals that can take care of the tire replacement or upgrade process, while also providing tire alignment services.
