The tyre is a very important point of the car. It is the area of contact between the car and the road. Therefore, when you are getting new tyres for your car, you should know what you are doing and you need to be very selective. Consider the following factors when selecting tyres for your car.
Do you need new tyres?
Before you set out for the tyre showroom to select new tyres you need to know whether you need them.
You should conduct a visual inspection of your tyres daily. Watch out for any warning signs that might mean your tyres are worn and need replacing.
If you notice that the treads are worn unevenly, then you might need a change. However, you also need to get to the root cause of uneven wearing on your tyres. Most of the time, uneven tread wear is caused by bad inflation, improper alignment at the wheels, damage to the tyres and issues with suspension.
Figure out and solve the root cause of uneven wear in your tyres. If you do not do this, then the new tyre will wear out just as fast.
Watch out for too much wear on the treads as you make your inspection. Look at the tread wear indicator marks on your tyres. The marks show how much wear is acceptable on the tyres. If your car goes beyond this, then you need new tyres.
If your tyres show signs of bulging and blistering, then they are due for a change. If your tyres are unsafe, then you put yourself and other road users at risk.
Once you have ascertained that you truly require new tyres, go ahead to consider all the other relevant factors.
Ensure that your car is in good shape
Bad tyres are usually caused by issues with the car. You, therefore, need to check the overall condition of the car before you get new tyres.
If there are misalignment and suspension issues, then it is a sign of underlying issues with the car. Inspect the wear patterns on your old tyres to determine if it is even or uneven.
It would be a waste of money to buy new tyres and put them on a misaligned car. You would have the same problem at your hands soon enough.
Any alignment issues have to be fixed before the new tyres are put in. Make certain that they conduct a tyre wear and alignment inspection at the tyre centre.
You can also get a clear diagnosis of your car from your mechanic so that he can advise you on how to go about getting in new tyres
They may give you a wrong assessment at the tyre centre because they are trying to make a sale. Get an expert who is impartial to aid you if you are uncertain.
Consult your owner’s manual to get information
Cars vary in make and type and so do the tyres they require. Do not just get a new pair of tyres because someone you know got the same and they are working fine.
Your car manufacturer made specifications on tyre size and types that are most suited to your car. Most people will say anything to sell their product. If you go to the tyre centre without knowledge of what you seek then you might be stuck with the wrong tyres.
Be certain of what you are looking for before you go to buy the tyre. Get someone to look at your manual if you do not make sense of it.
Tyres are your safety on the road, you therefore need to make sure that you get it right. The card with the information is a law requirement. Usually, it is fixed to your door, the glove compartment and sometimes inside the lid of your trunk.
If you do not have a manual to consult from, get your replacement from the manufacturers to be on the safer side.
Learn about the tyre codes
The tyre codes are a standard law requirement used to describe the tyres. When you are buying tyres, it can be difficult if you do not know the significance of those codes.
The commonest letters you will encounter at the start of the code are “P” or in other cases “LT”. the letter P stands for passenger while LT is used for light trucks.
The first letter or letters are followed by a three-digit number which is the width of the tyres in millimetres. It is the width from sidewall edge to sidewall edge.
After that, the next number is not a law requirement. It is the index number of the tyre and it is usually a two or three-digit number.
After the index number comes a letter which stands for the speed rating of the car. When you are getting new tyres, get the speed rating that is recommended by your manufacturer.
Only consider changing if you have upgraded your vehicle for other uses.
Some of the other numbers you may not need to worry about. They are mostly about the date and place of manufacture.
If the tyre centre is good, they will give you a rundown of the codes and help you to choose the right tyres.
Consider the condition of the wheels
As you consider getting new tyres, check the state of your wheels. If you discover damage to your wheels, get new ones when you are replacing the tyres.
When you are getting wheels, appearance alone does not get precedence. Make sure that the wheel size is close to the original size by the manufacturer.
The size should be as close as possible to what is recommended by the manufacturer. You need to make sure that the wheels match the tyres and both should match the car.
If you use much bigger wheels, you will have to use tyres with a lower aspect ratio. The tyres are supposed to be very close to the original size so that turning can be easy.
If the wheels are big but the tyre size still the same, the sidewalls will very short. The sidewall is very important when handling the car.
If the sidewall is short due to large wheels, it will be hard to handle car turns and absorb the bumps on the road.
When you switch to custom wheels, it could also be a problem. They are normally heavier which can affect your car suspension. Heavy wheels can also impact fuel mileage.
If you want to put larger wheels, do research and consult an expert so that you do it right.
Consider the style and ride quality of the tyres
How your car looks is an important factor to you as the owner. You may like to add personality to your car from the style of your tyres.
The size of the tyres is determined by the type of car you drive but the size specific to you comes in varying designs and styles. Since the styles are different, you can get a unique look and feel on your car.
The tyre packages come in many different forms. For example, you can get a sporty, modern, rugged or even elegant look from your tyres.
Before buying new tyres, keep in mind what style best suits you. You should however consider that the different styles of the wheels do not perform the same way.
For instance, if you use low profile tyres, they will render you a sportier look. However, they are more prone to damages. They offer much better handling but they are rougher, wear out more easily and are even more expensive.
While considering the style that best suits you, put also into consideration the lifespan of the tyres. It will cost you if you have to buy new tyres repetitively because they are not durable.
As you select new tyres, you need to strike a balance between what they look like and their overall performance.
While it is easy for everyone to pick out the best-looking tyre, consult an expert to guide you about the performance of the tyres.
Replace the entyre set of tyres
If you have a damaged or worn tyre, you might think it is cheaper to replace just the one that is damaged. However, replacing just one single tyre will affect the entyre suspension of your car.
The system is designed to have matching tyres supporting the car. If you replace just a single tyre, they will not align as they should and continue to wear out quickly.
If you are considering replacing just a single tyre or maybe two you need to check the condition of the other tyres first.
It could be of little consequence only if the other tyres are relatively new with plenty of treads still left on them.
While replacing the tyres, you must also make sure that they have the same tread patterns. You what all your tyres behaving the same way as you accelerate, brake or corner.
If you cannot find the same model while replacing your tyres, if you are not replacing them all, then you need to find the most similar option.
The emphasis on replacing all the tyres is applicable also if your car is an all-wheel drive. With the tyres moving at different speeds, there is greater strain on the other components within the car.
With the variations in wear, the other components are likely to suffer bigger damages and therefore costlier repair.
Inspect your spare tyre
Before you get new tyres, check your current spare. The spare tyre should be similar to the tyres that you get. If you are going to replace your tyres with a similar make, keep the best-used one for a spare tyre.
The spare tyre is not intended for constant use on the road but it should be in good condition. Remember that you should not drive long distances on your spare tyre. It can lead to damages of other components.
When you are getting new tyres, you need to make sure that the spare tyre is functional. Check the air pressure in the tyre before you keep it as a spare.
If your spare tyre is underinflated or damaged, you may be stuck on the road when you need it. It is therefore important that you check the condition of the spare tyre.
If one of the other tyres you are getting rid of is better than your current spare tyre, then make it your new spare tyre instead.
Carefully break in your new tyres
Once you have bought your new tyres and replaced the old ones, you need to get the new ones familiar with the road.
When making the tyres, there is a residue that is left on them. When the tyres are new, they are not able to grip the road as they should.
You need to drive with them carefully until the manufacturing residue wears off the tyres. If you are driving your car in wet conditions, you have to be more careful.
Take care when making corners and do not drive fast until you have gone about 500 miles in your new tyres.
Even after the break-in period, make sure that you maintain your new tyres. Inspect the inflation status daily.
If your tyres are well inflated, your overall gas mileage will improve. Every day before you use your car inspect them so that you can boost longevity.
Maintain a routine where you have your tyres rotated and constantly check the air pressure in the tyres.
Conclusion
If your tyres are worn and you are thinking of getting new ones, it can be a difficult situation trying to figure out where to start.
With these tips, you have a few pointers regarding where to start and what you need to be on the lookout for.
Remember to ask for help from an expert if you do not know so much about tyres especially when it comes to functionality and durability.
