Tire Buying Tips — What You Should Know
When it comes to choosing new tires, there is some research you can do to feel confident in knowing where to begin. In this blog, we’ve compiled some of the most important tire buying tips to consider for anyone that’s unsure.
1. Determine Tire Size
The first thing that you’re going to want to do, and arguably the most important step, is to find out what size tires you need for your specific vehicle. This information can be found in your owner’s manual. In some cases, this information can also be found on a placard located on the inside of the driver’s door, the glove box, or even inside the gas cap cover.
You can also find out your tire size by checking the sidewall of your tires. Here’s a handy reference guide to help you.
2. Determine Tire Type
The most common types of tires for passenger vehicles are designed to be reliable for all-seasons. This includes:
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All-Weather
All-weather tires are different from all-season tires. They are equipped with aggressive tread patterns and are designed to handle snow, slush and wet conditions. They are also made with rubber that stays flexible in cold temperatures, unlike all-season tires.
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All-Seasons
Most cars come equipped with all-season tires. These are the most popular tire choice. All-season tires are equipped with treads that help provide traction in rain as well as hot and moderately cold temperatures (as low as 7 degrees Celsius). Below this temperature, they will begin to lose their grip and handling.
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Performance
Performance tires offer all the same benefits of all-seasons, but with a few added benefits. Typically purchased for sport and luxury cars, benefits include exceptional handling, higher speed capabilities, and enhanced grip.
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Summer
Summer tires offer speed, agility, and overall performance. Due to their unique tread patterns, summer tires perform pretty well in wet conditions, but not in the cold. These tires are an appropriate choice if you live in a climate where the temperature doesn’t dip below 7 degrees Celsius. In layman’s terms, don’t buy these if you live in Canada and plan on driving year-round.
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Winter/Snow
Winter tires offer wider tread patterns to navigate through snow and slush and are made of special rubber that won’t harden in really cold temperatures — this aids in maintaining their grip on the road. This option is the safest for our climate and is highly recommended to ensure safety and reduce white-knuckle driving in the winter. There may also be savings on your insurance premiums, so be sure to check with your insurance provider.
3. Choose Your Rims
If you’re in the market for a set of new winter tires, you will most likely need to purchase suitable rims as well. Black steel rims are the most common option when purchasing winter tires, however, if you prefer the look of something different, you can visit our website and shop for alloy rims specific to your vehicle.
4. Be Aware Of Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS)
Some vehicles are equipped with tire pressure monitoring systems. This is important to consider if you’re buying both winter tires and rims, as you may also need to purchase new sensors. In the past, if you didn’t put sensors in your winter rims, your only inconvenience would be having to look at the annoying low tire light all winter, however, in most newer vehicles, traction control will be disabled if there are no sensors in your winter rims — which is very dangerous.
5. Budget
Tire prices differ mainly due to the varied sizing requirements of every vehicle. If you’re hoping to purchase rims and tires that also include tire pressure monitoring sensors, you can enter your vehicle’s specific information here to get an accurate quote or call MTC Tire Oakville for competitive pricing.
6. Read Reviews
Reading reviews is a tool that many of us use to make purchases both large and small. If you’re the type to go online and read reviews, you’ll be sure to find great nuggets of information like this one, which informs that Scandinavian tire manufacturer Nokian Tyres, invented both winter and all-weather tires and operates the only tire testing facility north of the Arctic Circle!
If you’re not sure where to start, get in touch with MTC Tire Oakville. Our tire experts are always happy to help.
