5 Things You Should Know Before Buying New Car Tires

Getting new tires for your car may seem like an easy thing to do. You just go to a mechanic or a car shop that sells tires and you purchase the products the salesperson suggests. If you want to make sure that you are not getting bad tires, or if you want to compare between different options to find out what the best ones for your car may be, then your purchase is not going to be that simple. 

Lucky for you, we’ve gathered five things you need to know before buying new tires for your car, so that you do not pay more than necessary and so that you can ensure that your new tires will work well for you.

1. Types of Tires

There are different types of tires out there. Getting the right type of tires for your car is important if you do not want to be purchasing replacements soon after your expensive purchase. Tires can be classified mainly into two types: all-season, and winter or snow tires. Basically, all-season tires, as the name suggests, would work for you throughout the whole year in various weathers, while winter or snow tires are only meant to be used during the winter season and only if you are driving somewhere with lots of rain and snow. This especially goes for truck owners. You wouldn’t want to pay for that hefty price tag for a Ram tire just to find out that you have made the wrong purchase. Bearing that in mind, you can choose which type of tire to get based on your needs throughout the year. Each type has different treadwear, temperature resistance and life expectancy. That said, under each type of tire, you will find different classifications such as ultra-high performance, truck tires, all-terrain tires, etc.

2. Prices

Prices differ when buying tires from one manufacturer to another, and from one shop to another. Before committing to a purchase, it is advisable to compare prices around you. Nowadays, there are different websites with tire listings that you can check out to browse prices from the comfort of your home as well as compare different tire specifications. Prices can also be different if the tire you buy is second hand so you shouldn’t buy tires just because they are cheap. You should first inquire about whether they are new or not, since second hand tires are sold at very low prices, and may not offer the best quality.

3. Warranty

Believe it or not, tires can have warranties. Sometimes, tires with a warranty will cost you a bit more money. If you buy tires with a warranty, you do not have to worry about getting a defective tire and even if the tire is damaged, you can easily get it replaced  within the allotted warranty time. However, you should remember that warranty period also depends on the manufacturer. If you are getting tires from your car’s original manufacturer, they will most probably offer you a compelling deal; however, if your tires are from a random shop, they might be cheaper, but they will rarely be durable or provide you with the security you need.

4. Temperature Resistance

Tires are made out of rubber, which can withstand a lot of wear and tear. However, some areas around the world have very high temperatures, which can ruin the tires by either melting them or by making them explode from the heat. Before buying new tires for your car, you need to ensure that the tires you have in mind will be able to withstand the climate. As mentioned above, you can get winter or snow tires if the weather is wet and snowy; however, they are not meant to handle a lot of mileage, so you might need to replace them more often than you would with all-season tires. If the temperature is really high where you live, then you need to get tires that can handle the heat without leaving you in a serious lurch.

5. Details Found on Tires

Did you know that each tire has all its manufacturing data on it? This not only includes information such as the date of manufacturing, but also includes the tire size, and the code that signifies where the tire was made. The date of manufacturing is important because tires usually last for a maximum of 10 years, whether you are using them, or if they are kept in storage. You can also find helpful information such as the traction, treadwear and the temperature limit of the tire.

These five tips will help you make a well-informed decision regarding what kind of tires you want to get for your car. Now you know how to judge whether a tire is worth its asking price or not. Make sure to check out the tire’s manufacturing date to ensure that they are safe to use, and keep in mind that it is optimal to get new tires every six years or so.