Want to know more about tires?

We know: How to Buy Tires

What SIZE tire should I buy?

Your owner's manual will tell you the proper size tire for your vehicle. Getting tires that are too big or too small for you car or SUV can cause rubbing, or overheating of the tire.

What TYPE of tire should I buy?

There are several types of tires, each with its own advantages.

All season tires usually provide a long tread life, a comfortable ride, and not much noise. They’re a good choice if you live in a climate without much bad weather.
Touring tires offer better handling than all season tires and are more expensive. Like all season tires, they offer comfort and quietness.
Performance tires can grip the road in dry and wet weather, and offer superior handling. However, they tend to be more expensive than all season tires and touring tires, have less tread, don’t ride as well and are noisier.
Snow tires or winter tires are for climates with pronounced winter weather and are removed when the snow season is over.

Are SUV tires the same as car tires?

Usually not. SUVs are heavier than most cars and need more substantial tires. There are two different tire types.

All season SUV tires are for normal highway driving, and are often suitable for snow, too.
All terrain SUV tires have thicker treads and can be used for some off-road purposes.

What TREAD should I get?

The tread you buy depends on the kind of driving you do. For most of us, a highway tread will do. But you may need a mud and snow tread if you drive in bad weather and over bad roads.

What does the tire GRADING SYSTEM mean?

Most tires have three quality grades that can be found on the tire sidewall. These are meant to be used to compare tires to one another.

The traction grade uses A (best) B and C to tell you how well the tire can stop on wet roadway.
The temperature resistance grade also uses A (best) B and C to tell you how well the tire will resist heat at high speeds.
The treadwear grade tells you how long different tires, driven by the same driver under the same road conditions, should last. The higher the rating number, the longer the tire should last. A tire with a rating of 50, will last half as long as a tire with a rating of 100.

Any tips for maintenance and replacement?

Keep your tires inflated properly. This can add significantly to their life and safety.

Check the treadwear. Put a penny in the tread and if you can see the top of Lincoln's head, get ready to buy new tires.

Look for even wear. If you're tires are wearing unevenly, you may need an alignment, struts, or shocks. Check with your mechanic.