The Importance of Buying New Tires on Time

Different parts of your vehicle require replacement parts to be installed at different times. For instance, the tires usually need to be replaced after a decade of being either on your wheels or in the trunk as a spare. However, the production date of the tires as well as the amount of tread left on them also determine whether or not you need to replace them – more on that later.

Timely replacements are a must, as a set of tires in good condition makes your car much safer, easier to control on tight bends and more comfortable on longer journeys. New tires can also help make your car look more appealing, especially when paired with other exterior upgrades.

Factors to Consider

Tread

One of the most important factors to keep in mind when looking for new tires is the tread pattern. It’s the part of the tire that makes contact with the road, and it needs to be able to clear water away from the wheel while also enabling you to have good grip on the road. The new car tires with aggressive tread designs offer better traction but are also louder than those with a more minimalistic tread pattern.

Sidewall

The area between the tread and bead of the tire is what helps keep your car stable, especially at high speeds and on sharp corners. The more rigid it is, the better the tires can withstand the weight of your car and prevent punctures too, however, this makes for a less comfortable ride.

Diameter

The diameter or size of auto tires is written on the sidewall, and it usually ranges from as little as 13 to as much as 24 inches. Make sure to match the diameter of your new automotive tires with that of your wheels, otherwise they won’t fit well, which is not a good look nor a safe one.

Manufacture Date

The manufacture date is also found on the sidewall in the form of four numbers. These numbers tell you the week and year the tire was manufactured. The first two digits represent the week, while the other two represent the year.

Load Index

The amount of weight a tire can withstand is usually marked next to or after the tire size in the form of a two or three-digit number. Obviously, the higher the number, the higher the rating, thus the weight the tires can handle when fully inflated.

Ply Rating

A tire’s load range or ply rating refers to an older measurement of the amount of weight it can handle. The number of plies the tire is made of affects this rating, and the higher the number of the rating, the stronger the tire is.

Speed Rating

Another rating that’s not mentioned enough when buying new auto tires has to do with the safe maximum speed at which the tires can withstand the abuse of the road. At this speed, they can still handle the weight of your vehicle, as well as the load the vehicle can safely carry.

Brand

There are many different tire manufacturers, with the most premium ones being Michelin, Pirelli, Goodyear, Continental and Dunlop. Brands like Mazzini, Yokohama, Hankook, Bridgestone and BFGoordrich are solid, cost-effective options.

Types of Tires

Summer

With summer tires, you’re able to have good traction on dry roads when the weather is warm, not only during the summer. These car tires also offer good grip levels on wet roads.

Winter

As you’d expect, winter automotive tires can help provide traction on snow and ice. They also help provide a shorter braking distance in cold temperatures and when driving on slush.

All-Season

A set of all-season auto tires is able to provide average grip levels on various surfaces, no matter the weather conditions. However, they aren’t as safe in winter as winter tires or as grippy in summer as summer tires.

Mud

Made for a specific type of driving in mind, mud tires are able to provide proper traction in the most challenging terrain, one covered in mud. If you like to go off-roading in the most demanding conditions, then mud tires are your best friend.

How to Check if You Need New Tires?

Treadwear

It’s not only a safety issue but a legal one if your tires don’t have enough material on them. Make sure that the treadwear on your current tires isn’t below 2/32 inches, and if it is, you need new tires.

Sidewall Wear

The sidewall of a tire can get worn out and damaged, especially if you beat it up against curbs or drive on roads with plenty of debris. Cracks, bubbling and bulges are clear indicators that you need new tires.

Date

Tires that are past the 10-year mark are to be replaced, no matter the condition they’re in. However, if they experience a lot of the above wear and tear before they reach their maximum safe lifespan, you should replace them earlier.