Do you always give much thought to your car tires? Most car owners rarely care about their vehicle tires until they fail. However, there are multiple reasons to give your tires attention now, lest you find yourself stranded on the roadside at night. Carefully selected and maintained vehicle tires can contribute a lot to your safety. They also enhance fuel economy, offer better stopping and handling regardless of the road condition, and provide greater ride quality and comfort.
Walking into a tire showroom, whether you need a standard car tire or an earthmoving tire, can be overwhelming since there are hundreds of tire brands that come in a wide array of construction, style, price, and composition. But, the selection process doesn't have to be difficult; this post will share great tips for purchasing tires.
Find out if you really require new tires
Inspect your car tires, and if you notice excessive tread wear, discoloration, or cracked sidewalls, then it's probably time to get another set. Moreover, if the tires are over ten years old, be sure to replace them, no matter how good they look. The more rubber is exposed to oxygen, the more it deteriorates.
Ensure the vehicle is in great shape
Conduct an inspection on the tires to check for uneven wear signs Ð this could mean it has suspension or alignment problems. When you install new tires on a misaligned vehicle or on one that has bad shocks, you'll be wasting your funds. If you aren't sure, get a trusted mechanic to inspect the car before you consider buying new tires.
Check the owner's manual
Car manufacturers usually make recommendations about the type and size of tires that are suitable for your car. This data is found on the owner's manual or placard. The data on the placard is required by law; this is the reason it's permanently attached to the doorpost, door edge, inside the trunk lid, or at the glove compartment door.
Purchase a complete matching set
While it's tempting to cut corners and replace the worn-out tires, modern suspension technology has been designed to work perfectly with matching sets of tires. If you replace all the tires at once, it will be easier to maintain them, note suspension problems earlier, and attain the highest degree of predictable handling and safety.
Check on the spare
Now that you are getting new tires, this is the best time to replace your spare tire, if it's worn out. You will probably get a better deal for getting an extra tire. A tire dealer can help you choose the correct tires for your car.