How to choose the right tires for your car

Which tires are suitable for my car?

Buying a new set of car tires is an unpleasant purchase for most of us. We'd rather buy something cool and fun, like a holiday or a huge TV. But tires? They are in the same category as an insurance policy or a new refrigerator; you only buy them when you absolutely need them.

The catch is that car tires come in a wide variety of sizes and applications, and unlike a refrigerator that only has to fit in the kitchen, a car tire can't afford to be inappropriate.

What tires are best for my car?

The most important thing when buying new tires for your car is to buy the right ones for your car.

Automakers go to great lengths during the development phase of a new model to select the best tires for their vehicles.

By partnering with major tire companies, automakers strive to develop tires with the best combination of road noise, ride comfort, handling, braking, efficiency and wear rate.

Once upon a time, when it came to changing tires, original tires were usually the best.

This holds true if your car is a current model, but if it's a bit older then advances in technology mean there could easily be a better tire that still fits the car but offers better performance, durability, safety, or even value for money. and quality. .

Which tires are suitable for my car?

To find out about the tires that the car manufacturer recommends for your vehicle, refer to the owner's manual.

There you will find the recommended tire according to its size, speed index and load capacity. This is what you need to know when buying new tires.

As a general rule, the automaker does not specify a specific tire brand, it is up to you, but you can use the brand that was installed when the car was new as a guideline.

Which tires are suitable for my car?

How to choose tires should start with the basics; what sizes and types are suitable for your car.

To find out about the tires that the automaker recommends for your vehicle, the first step is to consult your owner's manual.

There you will find the recommended tire according to its size, speed index and load capacity. These are the non-negotiable things you need to know when buying new tires.

In fact, you're unlikely to want to buy a tire with a lower speed rating than what was originally fitted to your vehicle, and if you're towing heavy loads, you may need to look into a different type of tire that's right for you.

You may also find that there is a slightly wider tire that still fits your car's wheels and can give you a little more grip.

As a general rule, the automaker does not specify a specific tire brand, it is up to you, but you can use the brand that was installed when the car was new as a guideline.

Trust the brands you know

"Which tires should I buy?" is not an easy question these days.

Walk into any store that sells a tire and you'll be greeted with countless tire options in terms of size, performance and price.

We know the size and characteristics of the tires we need from the owner's manual, so we just have to decide on the price we are willing to pay.

As a rule, we are given a choice between several brands of tires, some well-known, lesser known and completely unknown, as well as a range of prices.

Tires remain a commodity to which the old adage “you get what you pay for” largely applies.

In the end, a more expensive tire will be better, and when it comes to safety, that should mean something.

Established brands usually have a premium price; the lesser known ones are usually much cheaper, leaving the buyer with the dilemma of what to buy.

With tires from one of the leading brands, you can safely assume that you are getting the best of it all. You can't be so sure when you buy tires from a brand that has little history, is new to the tire industry, and has no consumer support network.

Don't get hung up on a particular tire brand or model just because they were the best a few years ago.

Tire companies are constantly overtaking each other in terms of performance, so what could once be a cannon tire may now be second or third best.

How to identify a second-rate tire?

Weeding out the brands you don't need is a good starting point when it comes to choosing car tires.

Once upon a time, it was easy to distinguish a second-rate tire from tires made by an established tire company. All you had to do was look at the sidewall and see where the cheaper tire was made.

You will usually find that it was made in one of the Asian countries, which would raise alarms due to their once substandard manufacturing practices.

Doing this today is not entirely correct, as most of the major tire companies have factories in Asia or participate in joint ventures with Asian companies. The tires they produce in these plants are of the same quality and performance as the tires produced in their other plants around the world.

In particular, don't be intimidated by tires that are made in China these days.

The fact is that the vast majority of tires sold here now are indeed made in China (as tires have been discontinued in Australia), so buy according to the brand's reputation and not any prejudice about Chinese quality.

Now the brand itself should sound the alarm. If it's an unknown brand with little or no history, stay away from them.

However, even established brands like Toyo aren't available everywhere, while newcomers like Winrun and Maxtrek are decent choices for budget tires, even if you've never heard of them.

Be careful when buying tires.

Online shopping can be fraught with dangers in this department.

Some brands and models of tires sold in some markets may be a completely different product than tires sold here under the same brand and model.

The compounds (the actual rubber that the tire is made from) can vary from market to market depending on regional road conditions and consumer tastes.

The solution is to shop locally and visit a tire store. And then listen to what they tell you.

These people specialize in tires and usually have a wide selection of tires, which is a good thing because a tire shop is often the first place people look when it comes time to shop. 

A good starting point (and this will be the first question an experienced tire salesman will ask you) when it comes to choosing tires is "Are you happy with the tires you currently have on your car?".

If the answer is yes, then you have a long way to go to make the right choice.

A good tire shop will also be able to give you an idea of ​​the relative performance and life expectancy of a particular tire compared to alternatives.

Buying from a regular tire store also means that you can balance new tires and align at the same time in the same place.

The risks of buying cheap

There's an understandable temptation to save a few dollars when we're faced with having to spend a small fortune on new tires, but before we think about the risks you're taking.

Our tires serve a number of vital functions in our vehicles, they are arguably the most important piece of safety equipment we have.

They allow us to safely accelerate, steer and brake on any road surface in all weather conditions.

Buying tires from an unknown brand can compromise some or all of these features.

Choosing the second best can jeopardize our safety and the safety of our loved ones.

Again, look for experts who make a living selling tires.

What backup do you have?

All major tire companies are represented in this country, all have offices where you can go if something goes wrong with their products.

But obscure tire companies rarely have any representation here. They are more likely to be handled by importers or small operators who cannot offer the same level of product support as large companies.

Before you decide to buy a cheap alternative, research the tire company, the one that imports and sells them here, and ask them what backups you might expect.

Tire dealers know which brands are giving them the most warranty issues and are likely to get you away from them first.