Buyers Should Understand These Three Tire Traits

Anyone buying tires may be bewildered by the array of options on the market. It's important to understand the different types of tires and their purposes. Here are three aspects of tires that are important to know so that you can walk into a tire shop with confidence.

Sizing

When manufacturers make tires, they label them with a code that includes the dimensions. For example, a code might read as "P205/65R15." There may be some trailing numbers and letters, but these initial ones are the critical ones.

"P" means the tire is for a U.S. passenger vehicle. "205" is the tire's width in millimeters. "65" indicates the tire's height relative to its width, and a higher number means the sidewall will be bigger. "R" means the tire is radial. "15" is the size of the wheel in inches that the tire will mount to.

Every one of these dimensions has to be right. If the tire is too thick or tall, it might rub against the suspension. Likewise, it has to fit the wheel exactly. On the other hand, too thin of a tire might not hold the weight of a heavier vehicle, such as a pick-up truck carrying a load.

Types

You'll also find tires for many purposes. The go-to solution is the all-season tire, one designed for highway use in all weather. Winter tires are probably the next most common kind, and they have softer and deeper tread to gain traction in snow. There are also touring tires, and manufacturers design these to improve gas mileage for summer-like conditions. Finally, there are off-road tires, and these work best for muddy or rocky conditions.

Using a type of tire outside of its intended purpose can create major problems. Off-road tires, for example, wear down rapidly if constantly used on highways. Likewise, a touring tire could lose traction and cause a wreck in snowy conditions.

When in doubt, go with an all-season tire. Be aware you may need two sets of tires if you live in a region that gets bad winters. Look for a tire sale in the fall if you want to find a good deal on winter tires.

Directionality

Some of the specialized tire types have directional treads. This improves traction in wet or icy conditions, but it may reduce performance if you have to back up or turn a lot. Directional tires are most suited to front-wheel drive vehicles.

For more information about the right tires for your vehicle, contact a local tire shop.