Selecting the proper tires for your vehicle is an essential decision that can have an enormous impact on its safety, handling, and driving enjoyment over tens of thousands of miles.
Your tire selection will depend on where and what kind of driving you do. To achieve the optimal experience, opt for the same tire model originally installed on your car.
What Kind of Driving Do You Do?
Your driving style plays a large role in selecting tires for your car, which in turn determines its type and performance. Selecting tires suitable to your driving habits will not only boost its performance but also make driving more enjoyable.
As an example, when driving on the highway you should seek tires with high-speed handling and stability. When traversing snowy conditions all-season tires may work best in most climates but to make sure all-season ones fit your driving style you may wish to review them and the specific model name you have purchased for specifics on how it performs in various climate conditions.
Attention should also be paid to the manufacturer-recommended tire size and speed rating for your vehicle, which can be found either in its owner’s manual or the Tire and Loading Information label located on the driver’s side door jamb.
What Kind of Weather Do You Drive In?
Wherever you live, driving conditions can have a dramatic impact on the performance of your vehicle. All-season tires may work in most instances; however, drivers living in regions that receive significant snowfall should upgrade to winter (or “snow”) tires for optimal traction.
Summer and all-season tires feature rubber compounds formulated for hot climates, making them less suitable in colder temperatures, even without snow or ice present. This results in reduced traction and making your car harder to control.
Maintaining tire pressure throughout the seasons is of utmost importance, particularly as temperatures decrease. When temperatures dip, air expands within your tires, leading to pressure loss. A tire with low air pressure is hazardous and investing in a pressure gauge to check them at least once each month can save lives – gas station air compressors may also work, though their accuracy might differ significantly from gauges purchased specifically for this task.
What Kind of Vehicle Are You Driving?
Your vehicle and driving style play an enormous role in selecting the proper tires. Cars require tires with excellent traction on paved roads for everyday driving; SUVs need more traction to handle snow, mud or gravel roads.
People tend to assume that wider tires provide them with increased traction; however, this may not always be true. Wide tires can negatively impact vehicle performance by making steering harder or adding weight which makes wheels more susceptible to shaking when traveling on rough roads.
Assuming you don’t require different-sized tires for each axle, it is generally best to select tires with identical tread patterns and brands – or at least similar types if due to availability or budgetary considerations you cannot avoid mixing – for maximum mileage per tread pattern/brand combination and to extend service life of tires by rotating regularly. Doing this will also promote even wear patterns that extend service life further.
What Kind of Driving Do You Want?
When thinking of car performance, the first things that may come to mind are its engine, horsepower, transmission, and tires – but don’t forget their role! Tires play an essential part in optimizing a vehicle on challenging road surfaces.
For instance, if you frequently drive on highways and freeways, choosing harder tires that can withstand higher speeds will extend their life and ensure more comfortable ride experience.
Driving styles and habits also influence which tires you need, with weaving through traffic often leading to uneven wear that shortens their life span and shortening their useful lifespan.
Before changing the size of your tires, it is wise to consult both the owner’s manual and tire specialist. Selecting an incorrect size could result in issues with suspension components as well as speedometer reading incorrectly – both serious hazards.