How to Purchase the Proper Tire for Your Car

You should know how to purchase the proper tire for your car. Your tires are one of the most important parts of your car – for without them, you won’t be going anywhere! Tires help keep you safe on the slippery streets in the winter and the rainy days of spring so you don’t want to skimp on them.

Difficulty: Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• No special tools needed.

How to Purchase the Proper Tire for Your Car

1. There are two types of tires: all season tires and snow tires. Snow tires are normally thinner, so they can “rut” through the snow, and make the car easier to handle. There are also studded tires – which work better, but are inherently noisy. All season tires work well in snow and rain, but not as well as snow tires. While they are more expensive than snow tires, you won’t have to change your tires when the snow and ice disappears.

2. Depending on the area you live in and your needs, you would choose snow tires or all season tires. If you live in an area that tends to get lots of snow, and you do not drive far to work, you may elect snow tires. Should you drive some distance to work, and take the highway daily, all season tires may be the better tire for you. They are less noisy, and the highways are usually cleared better, unlike some of the secondary roads. Also, your pocket will dictate whether or not you choose snow tires. With snow tires, you will need to change them out to all season tires in the spring, and back to snow tires in the fall. Although more expensive at first glance, all season tires can be used year round, alleviating the need to go to the tire shop twice a year. You also stand the chance of changing from snow tires to regular tires, and getting trapped in that late season snowstorm!

3. The higher the tire's load index number, the greater its load carrying capacity.89 = 1,279 pounds88 = 1,235 pounds87 = 1,201 pounds86 = 1,168 pounds85 = 1,135 poundsThis number is found, as is with all numbers, on the sidewall of the tire. It is the last series of digits in this example: P195/60R15 87S. The S is the speed rating. Tires are safe for certain rates of speed. The higher the speed rating, usually, the more expensive the tire.

4. In the older tires, you would find the speed rating within the size of the tire, as in the chart below.225/50SR16 112 mph, 180 km/h225/50HR16 130, 210 km/h225/50VR16 in excess of 130 mph, 210 km/hStarting in the early 90’s, the speed rating can be found in the speed rating portion of the tire’s service description, as in the chart below:M 81 mph 130 km/h N 87 mph 140km/h Temporary Spare TiresP 93 mph 150 km/h Q 99 mph 160 km/h Studless & Studdable Winter Tires R 106 mph 170 km/h H.D. Light Truck Tires S 112 mph 180 km/h Family Sedans & Vans T 118 mph 190 km/h Family Sedans & Vans U 124 mph 200 km/h H 130 mph 210 km/h Sport Sedans & Coupes V 149 mph 240 km/h Sport Sedans, Coupes & Sports CarsThere are also W,Y and Z rated tires, for excess of 149 miles per hour – which is rarely used in the U.S. If you think you will be driving on the autobahn soon, it might be advisable to look into a higher speed rated tire!

Tips & Warnings

• Always check the tire size before buying tires.
• Make sure the tire tech put the proper size tires on your car.
• If you put your own tires on, tighten the lug nuts in a diagonal pattern. While the lug nuts need to be on quite tight, you do not want to over-tighten them and risk stripping a stud.

[MacDonald]

on 6/3/2008 I always use all season tires, they work best for me up here in snowy Michigan.