There's no doubt about it. After going through an intense summer and a bitterly cold winter, your car is probably begging for new tires. As a car owner, one of your most important responsibilities is to ensure that your vehicle is fitted with tires that are both safe to drive on and comfortable. Having damaged or old tires can quickly lead to normal situations such as rounding a corner safely to a very dangerous scenario where your tires lose traction and cause you to lose control of your vehicle. However, before you head over to your dealership or local tire shop for your new purchase, there are a few things you need to know about the buying process.The following includes further detail regarding obtaining new tires for your car, the process, and things to look for in order to keep yourself and your family safe on the road for years to come.
Understandably, many car owners are worried that they may not know when they should change out their tires. Fortunately, there are a few quick and simple tests you can conduct on your own. The simplest includes the penny test. Slide a penny upside down into one of the grooves of your tires. If you can see all of Lincoln's head, then that is an indication that you need to change your tires.
One of the most common mistakes people make when they need to choose their tire size is simply looking at their current tires. If you bought the car used or this is the first time you're purchasing tires for it, assume that they are wrong. Always consult with a professional before choosing the same tire size. Doing so may save you from having to install new ones even sooner.
Need new tires? What's to worry about? You have a warranty waiting for you. Unfortunately, too many people rely heavily on their warranties to obtain their new tires. However, much like most contracts, there are exceptions to them. For example, some warranties will have a fine print where they will only pay if the tires lasted for less than the date that the manufacturer stated they would. Always read your warranties carefully.
When you arrive at your dealership or tire shop, you're likely going to be bombarded with tire jargon. For example, the person showing you the tires available may use words such as "high performance" and even "Ultra performance tires" in an attempt to sell you more expensive tires. Do not fall for these salesy words. In most cases, all you want are tires that are considered “all-season,” meaning they will be up for the job both during the summer and winter months. If you’re specifically shopping for winter tires, this may not be the case.
If your car is already on the lift, you might as well ask about wheel alignment. Wheel alignment can help you make the driving experience that much easier on you and even increases the comfortability of your passengers. If you're planning to go on a long trip, having your wheels realigned may help with the control of the car. This is especially important if you're venturing off onto roads that you may not be familiar with.
No matter if this is your first or tenth time buying new tires, it always pays to shop around first. The fact is that you are likely to find a good deal somewhere around your town. In fact, some used-tire shops will have heavily discounted new or barely used tires available simply because the previous owner didn't like them.
Thanks to the power of the internet, people can now read how other drivers have fared with the tires that you're contemplating getting. You can read up on the quality, feel and look of the tires. Although not all reviews are honest, you can get a good idea of their reputation. The best course of action is to look for multiple reviews on different platforms regarding each of the set of tires you are looking at.
