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So, you’ve done the penny test and there’s an awful lot of space near Old Abe’s head. What next?

Shopping for tires does not have to be a painful process. Before you begin, it’s important to know the factory specifications for your exact vehicle. You can find this information on the inside of your driver’s side door panel or in your owner’s manual. A wealth of information is also available on the sidewall of the car’s current tires. This will be handy if you are only replacing two tires instead of the whole set, because it is important that the new tires match the old tires.

What To Look For When Buying Tires

Buying new tires does not need to be a pain — for your head, or your wallet.

Finding the perfect set of tires for your ride comes down to finding the perfect cross-section of price, value, safety ratings, traction, climate and weather conditions, terrain, handling, noise tolerance and other factors. Knowing how you’d like your tires to perform is the first step to finding the ideal fit.

Before diving in, let’s go over a few basics beginning with what goes into making your tires. A large part of the volume of a modern automobile tire consists of air. Around that cushion of air, modern tires are constructed with a myriad of component layers, each of which is designed with a specific task in mind. The inner liner is what holds air in your tire. Around the inner liner, fabric bands are constructed to help the tire maintain its shape. These bands consist of layers of pliable composite fabrics. On top of the bands, steel belts give the tire strength and stability, and help flatten the top of the tire. The bands act as a nice, flat, firm surface on which to place the tread — the rubber part of the tire that meets the road. The sidewall is the vertical portion of the tire you can easily see when looking at the side of your vehicle. Nearer the wheel, a bead runs along the interior of the sidewall of the tire and acts as the connection between the wheel and the tire.

The tread and sidewall are two defining characteristics of the tire. Some key areas of focus include: tread style, tread rating, tread wear and sidewall. When looking for new tires, it helps to consider the pros and cons of these features. Then, it’s just a matter of choosing the type of tire that fits both your vehicle and your lifestyle.

As the most easily noticeable feature of the tire, the tread is a major determining factor for most people when making their tire purchase. Deeper grooves offer stability in snow and rain, while the shallower grooves of ‘touring’ style tires allow for better grip on dry surfaces and higher speeds. An additional consideration is noise — the deeper grooves of the aggressive tread design make for a noisier ride at higher speeds.

Tread wear ratings range from over 600 on the high end to 100 on the low end. This rating reflects both durability and comfort. Tires with a high tread rating are built with harder rubber, which means you will get more miles out of each set. And an added benefit is that they will be more responsive to your steering. The downside is that these higher-rated tires provide for a much bumpier ride. If you prefer comfort, go with a lower tread rating.

Next, we’ll take a look at tread wear. The tire’s tread wear rating will range from highest to lowest: AA, A, B and C. The ‘AA’ tires are rated to perform exceptionally well in the most extreme rain and snow conditions. On the other hand, ‘C’ tires are fit only for dry arid climates and may prove treacherous in even light rain.

Finally, sidewalls offer variety in both aesthetics and ride quality. Short sidewalls offer a lower profile as well as help to grip the road on bends adding maneuverability, while a taller sidewall allows the tire to absorb shocks, offering a smoother ride.

Best Tire Deals

Once you’ve done your homework and feel confident in knowing what to look for, it’s now time to find the best price. After all, nobody enjoys paying more than they have to for their tires. A good first step is to consider the traits that are important to you and then complete an online search to see which brands offer the qualities you are seeking for the make and model of your vehicle.

Once you have narrowed your search to three or four types of tires, you can begin looking into pricing. It may be helpful to compare online vendors to large retailers, dealerships and local brick-and-mortar shops, but remember that if you order your tires online there will likely be an additional shipping fee. Unless you are able to mount and balance the tires yourself, you will still have to find a local shop to place the tires on your vehicle, so it may be helpful to consider an out-the-door final price that includes the cost of shipping, the mounting the tires and any additional costs to allow for an apples-to-apples price comparison.

Helpful tip — if you find a better price online than at the local shop where you plan to have the tires mounted, consider giving the business a phone call to discuss pricing. Many local shops will consider matching prices, and you will save yourself the extra step or organizing delivery. Make sure you consider disposal fees for your old tires and confirm this cost is built into your quoted price. One way you can protect your investment is by purchasing a warranty. Most vendors who sell new tires offer warranties. Although they may add to the sticker price of your new tires, they do offer some insurance against malfunction once you drive the tires off the lot.

Finally, keep an eye out for add-on deals and freebies. Some retailers may offer perks like roadside assistance, lifetime tire rotation and balancing, or a ‘buy three tires, get the fourth one free’ promotion. These deals could add value to your sticker price in the long run.

Here at Highland Tire, we offer coupons that highlight current deals. Our associates are happy to walk you through any questions you may have. Give us a call to get expert advice on your new tires!