It’s a well-known tip that when you have a couple of tires you need to replace, it’s best to simply buy four brand-new ones and maybe a new spare too. The reason for this is to allow your new tires to wear evenly, helping them last much longer than your old ones did. However, purchasing four or five new tires will be quite the investment.
Because of that, you’ll want to take the time to make sure you get the right ones for your vehicle. That’s why we’ve brought you this list of things to consider when buying new tires. With this article, you can rest easy knowing you can make the right purchase.
Where You Live
The place you live is one of the top things you’ll need to consider when buying tires. This is because tires are the main parts of your car that the weather affects. For example, if snow is very common where you live, you’ll want tires that use a softer rubber that will be able to grip slippery surfaces. On the other hand, if your summers are brutally hot, you need more rigid options that won’t melt. Either way, if you don’t consider the weather, your tires might not be able to perform as well as you want.
What You Do With Your Vehicle
Next, you have to consider how you use your vehicle. For most people, their car is simply a means to get from point A to point B. If that sounds like you, then an average set of wheels will do the trick. However, if you care about achieving peak performance or like to off-road in your spare time, a specialty wheel should be your go-to choice.
Tire manufacturers usually heavily advertise what their wheels are for. Still, it’s never a bad idea to ask a professional’s opinion about which is the best for your needs. Something to keep in mind, though, is that performance wheels won’t be great for regular driving.
If you only do off-road excursions occasionally and go back to using your vehicle as a commuter the rest of the time, you’ll need a wheel that can accommodate this. Otherwise, you’ll have to get two sets of wheels and have a way to change them out when switching uses.
How Long You Want the Tires To Last
The longevity of the tires you buy is also a vital point to consider. Getting a set that you can get your money’s worth out of is much better for car owners than one that wears down within a handful of years.
However, while it might seem like a person should always buy a tire set that lasts for as long as possible, this isn’t always the case. A perfect example of this is someone who’s driving their old car into the ground. While the car itself might still have a few years left of life in it, the wheels might not. Even though they’ll still be expensive to replace, no one wants to buy the best tires on the market just to have them become unusable when the car finally dies. Therefore, you should consider how long you plan on keeping your vehicle when deciding the quality of the tires you buy.
What the Tires’ Quality Level Is
Speaking of quality, it is one of the most important aspects to look into when buying a new set of wheels. Tires are easily one of the most important parts of your car. While they don’t make your car move or stop, they are the pieces that the other parts of your vehicle use to do so.
If you buy low-quality wheels to save a few bucks, you might be putting yourself and other people on the road in jeopardy. Granted, reputable dealers won’t sell tires that are actively dangerous to use, but you still don’t want to buy something cheap from an unknown brand if you don’t have to. It’s better to go with something from a trusted brand to ensure everyone’s safety and the strength of your investment.
What Size Tires You Want
When it comes to tire size, you don’t need to worry as much about measuring things yourself anymore. Tire dealers have computer systems with all the information you’ll need to know to ensure your new wheels fit within the wheel wells of your car. All you need to do is know your vehicle’s make, model, and year.
Therefore, while tire size is mostly an aesthetic choice, there are some advantages to having something on the big or small side. Larger tires will help improve stability, while smaller ones will be lighter for your vehicle. If these are important details for you, then you should focus more on wheel size. For most people, though, as long as it fits and looks good, that’s all that matters.
Which Special Features the Tires Have
One of the more fun things to consider when buying new tires is the types of special features they offer. The tread-wear indicator is a good one to have that’s becoming more of a standard these days. This is a little bump inside the grooves of your tire that’ll tell you if the tread is too low without employing the penny test.
Another useful feature to look into is run-flat tires. These will allow you to drive on a flat tire for quite a long time before needing to change it out, which can be convenient. Also, you can buy tires that use low rolling resistance technology, which will enhance fuel efficiency. Furthermore, it’s always nice when you can find a tire that doesn’t make a lot of road noise. Regardless of what you decide on, features like these can make a huge difference in how much you enjoy your tire purchase.
How Much You Want To Spend
Of course, all this boils down to the final price of your new tires. Even though they won’t be cheap, your potential options will vary in price quite a bit. While safety should always be a top priority, there are probably other features you’ll want to make sure your new tires have. However, you might need to make a few cuts to keep them within your price range.
Fortunately, many tire dealers, such as ours, can offer you wheel and tire packages that reduce the price of the wheels you want to something that fits your budget better. Be sure to ask about these kinds of deals before checking out to ensure you get the best deal possible for yourself.
