Difficulty: Moderately Easy
Things You’ll Need:
Step1
Think about how and where you drive. Tire engineers design product lines for specific results, such as a cushy ride, durability, sporty handling,or traction in rain and snow. But choosing one virtue usually means giving up a little of the others.
Step2
Consider an all-season tire. It's a reasonable compromise for most drivers' that's why automakers usually provide all-season tires as original equipment on new cars.
Step3
Know your current tire. In general, it's best to replace your tires with those of the same brand, design and size, all of which you'll find printed on your tires. Look for the 'P' (passenger vehicle) followed by the tire's width in millimeters; its height, shown as a ratio of its actual height to its width; 'R' for radial; and the last number, which is the diameter of the wheel the tire fits.
Step4
Decide where to buy your new tires. In addition to car dealerships, tire stores and gas stations, they can now also be bought at discount stores or ordered over the phone or the Internet. Prices and service vary, so shop around if you can.
Step5
Have a mechanic or tire dealer perform the installation. Special machines are needed to slip your new tires over the car's wheels.
Step6
Keep tire wear even by rotating your tires as the manufacturer suggests'new cars are sensitive to tires with differing degrees of wear. Keeping tire wear even means your tires will all need replacing at the same time, so monitor tread depth to help you budget ahead for the expense.
Comments
ssampier said
on 8/12/2008 You most certainly need special equipment to put new rubber tire on existing wheels. If you buy brand new wheels and tires and someone else mounts them, you could certainly install them yourself.
CatRocketship said
on 6/11/2008 What "special machines" are needed to put your tires on? A jack and a tire iron? I'm not saying it's wouldn't be beneficial to have a mechanic do it, but it's also something you could do yourself, if you've ever changed a tire.
Anonymous said
on 9/23/2006 If you buy over line or from a discounter, ask if they give a refund if you have a problem with your tires.
Anonymous said
on 6/30/2006 If your vehicle is equipped with four-wheel-drive (or all-wheel-drive) it has a transfer case. These are very sensitive to having different size tires and will be damaged if the tires' OD (Overall Diameter) is off by too much. The point is if you replace your stock wheels and/or tires, be sure that you have a spare that is the same size or it will be useless to you.
Anonymous said
on 11/22/2005 Check with people like Sears, etc. I found that they will discount 5 to 7% for a "fleet" if you register with them and get your tires there. They also give you free mounting which can amount to $10.00 or more per tire. A "fleet" can be just ONE car!! I registered our small landscaping company and so far so good.