Wednesday, February 29, 2012

What You Should Know About Buying Tires

Have you ever wondered what exactly is up with Tires? This informative report can give you an insight into everything you've ever wanted to know about Tires.

Now that we've covered those aspects of Tires, let's turn to some of the other factors that need to be considered.

Tires are undoubtedly one of the most important safety features of your car. They are the only thing on your car that touches the road, and it doesn't matter what engine or brakes you have, if you don't have the right tires gripping the road, you will be in trouble. When the time comes that you need to buy new tires for your car, you may be lost, confused or, like me...break out into a cold sweat! You might even be in the category of not knowing if you need new tires or not! (Note: In order to see if you do need new tires, perform the "penny test" by flipping a penny upside down and placing it inside each of the tire's tread grooves. If the top of Lincoln's head can be seen from any of the grooves then the tread is too low.) After determining that you are in the market for new tires, take a deep breath, arm yourself with information. Tire purchasing might not be as "tiresome" as you think. (See, you already feel better with a little tire humor!)

1) Where to Buy Your Tire:

It used to be that you could only buy your tires at the dealership, but these days there are many other options that will allow you to compare quality and price. Search around at tire stores, gas stations, discount stores, and even the Internet to find the right set of tires for your car.

2) Size:

The biggest mistake that buyers can make when replacing tires is getting the wrong size of tire. Make sure to follow manufacturer recommendations (in your owners manual) and also look at the codes on your tires to make sure that you are getting the correct size and load rating tire for your car.

3) Variety of Driving:

Consider what kind of driving you do before you purchases your tires. Do you live in a climate where you need winter tires? Or would you be better suited to have the all-season tires? Do you carry a lot of heavy equipment that would put an extra burden on your tires? Remember there isn't a tire that will be perfect for everyone, it's all about finding one that will work for you.

4) Fuel Economy:
With everyone looking to save money these days, remember that changing your tires can also change the fuel economy of your car. Most experts agree that to get the best fuel economy, you should try and buy tires identical to the ones that it came with, and also remember to keep them fully inflated so that they can do their job properly.

If you've picked some pointers about Tires that you can put into action, then by all means, do so. You won't really be able to gain any benefits from your new knowledge if you don't use it.