Your tires and brakes are the most important factors to the safety of your vehicle. The interior and exterior demand our attention but the car tires are often totally forgotten until the ride is affected, you discover a flat tire, you have a blow-out, or worse, an accident. With the safety of yourself and your family being so important it is a good idea to have your tires regularly inspected and purchase new auto tires as soon as any wear is indicated.
An added benefit of keeping your tires properly inspected with consistent air pressure is more efficient gas mileage. Before you get ready to purchase new car tires it is important to check your current tires for their level of wear. Some tires come with wear indicators. As the tires wear down to approximately 1/16th of an inch from the upper surface the indicators become visible. The indicators are hard rubber bars. If you see them in multiple areas of your tires it is definitely time to replace them. If your auto tires don’t have wear indicators a penny is a great alternative. Place the penny in between the treads of your tires. If you can see Lincoln’s head you need to go shopping right away.
Now that you know you need new car tires you need to determine what kind is best for your driving and the proper size for your vehicle. For people who tend to need specialty tires for heavy terrain and excessive weather conditions there are auto tires designed specifically for those situations. But usually you have to give up something in the way of comfort or other attributes. With this in mind the most popular tire is one made for all-seasons. It’s a compromise tire and is the standard tire found on new vehicles.
It is best to replace your tires with the same size you take off. You’ll find that information printed on the side of the tires. The number will start with a P for passenger and will be followed with the width, height (a ratio of height to width), an R for radial and then the last number which will be the diameter of the wheel. As with any major purchase it is a great idea to shop around for the best car tire prices. Local auto supply stores and discount stores both offer good selections as well as professional installation and service. The Internet offers the greatest selection and generally the best prices. You can install them yourself but it is really a good idea to use a professional who has all the proper tools. Have your auto tires rotated on a regular basis to maintain their integrity and to keep your vehicle in top safety condition.