Unfortunately, no tire lasts forever, so buying tires is part of the maintenance that comes with owning a car. If you own a car, at some point you will be in the market for new tires. Here at Burt Brothers, your tire needs are important to us, so we asked our readers to tell us what qualities they look for when shopping for new tires.
Randy VanderVaate is the CEO and founder of Funeral Funds of America.
Understand the Load Index
As you shop for new tires, you should know the load index, especially if you drive a truck or larger SUV. The load index indicates how much weight each tire can withstand. This is important for driving safely. The tread on your new tires should be deep enough and wide enough for [them to] grip on slippery or muddy surfaces, and the deep tire treads should also channel water away from the tire surface to reduce hydroplaning in wet driving conditions.
Prioritize Your Needs
When purchasing new tires, you first want to think about the attributes that are most important to you as a driver. Do you want the longest possible tread life? High-performance weather handling? A quiet drive? Knowing exactly what features you’re looking for will make your tire search much easier.
Determining between traction or tread life means choosing between tires that allow you to stop quickly and tires that last longer. Deciding between precision handling and a quiet ride means picking between stiff sidewalls and dampened road noise. Again, as the driver, you must first figure out what kind of driver you are and the qualities you are looking for in a tire.
Kyle MacDonald, Director of Operations, Force by Mojio.
Ahmed Mir, Founder, editor, and head of marketing at Sip Coffee House.
Dig Into the Details
Shopping for car tires is tricky if you do not know the specs you are buying and what exactly it is that you need. Hence, it’s best to determine the longevity you intend for on that purchase, as tire quality will vary distinctively based on how often you use your car and the kind of trips you take.
Look for the tire code. The tire code will determine the aspect ratio or the tire profile measurement. When you know [the tire code], then you’ll be able to assess what specific tire is perfect for your car.
Newer is Better
[The age of the tire] is always the first thing I check whenever I’m buying new tires for my car. Tires have expiration dates and you don’t want expired tires because they may cause you trouble and accidents on the road. The rubber on expired tires dries out and you don’t want a blowout hazard while driving down the street. Even good looking tires or unused tires are still not in good condition when they’re already expired.
Checking the manufacturing date on the tire will tell you how old the tire is. If it’s already years away from its manufacturing date, better choose other tires that have been made more recently.
Robert Banks, Founder of MrStocks.
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