Old Car Wheels and Tire Parts
How to Buy Tires For Your Car
By Paul Ransom
You probably spent months, in one way or another, shopping for your new car (whether it was just new to you, or actually brand new does not matter). But how much time do you spend shopping for tires? When you think about it, slapping any old rubber on your rod is insane. Your life literally is riding on those tires, so you need to buy right.
The first thing to consider is which size tire you need. You don't have to be a mechanic to figure it out, but you do need to look where those guys look. You'll find it in one of five places:
- Your owner's manual
- The tire sticker (it's called placard, actually) on the driver's side door jamb
- On the glovebox door
- Inside the fuel hatch (where your gas cap is)
- On the sidewall of the tires you currently have
The stuff on a tire sidewall can be gibberish if you don't know how to read it, but your owner's manual should list the specs you can take with you to the tire store. (And if you want to learn how to read a tire sidewall, Google "how to read tire sidewall" and you'll find an embarrassment of riches).
The second factor to consider is what type of tire you want to buy.
Are you looking for all-weather tires? Winter tires? Tires that are good on wet roads? This is a judgment call on your part. If you live in an area that has seasons, and one of those includes the possibility of ice or snow on the road, all-season tires are probably a safe bet. If you live in Alaska, you might need winter tires most of the year.
Once you are armed with those two things-your tire size and type-you can head to the store. Don't be afraid of the salesman. These folks want happy customers, so they're going to help you put the right tires on your car. They'll ask questions. Just answer them honestly and you'll end up with good tires.
