Choosing tyres for your vehicle can be overwhelming. If you pick the wrong tyres, your car could not be prepared for particular road conditions, and therefore, lose performance. Besides it, tyres and wheel alignment might be necessary. With so many on the market, how is someone expected to know which are right for their vehicle? It can be a bit intimidating to navigate, but we are here to help.
Let’s take a look at how to go about choosing the right tyres for your car.
Seasons
In Australia, we are lucky not to have such dramatic season changes. You can usually get away with purchasing all-season tyres; which, as you guessed, are suitable for all seasons. These tyres offer an effective, well-rounded performance.
If you are somewhere with harsh summers, it may be worth considering summer tyres. These excel in handling and dry/wet braking, but they aren’t suitable for snow. Winter tyres, on the other hand, have excellent snow traction but average braking ability on cleared roads.
Size
You need to check the owners manual to learn what size tyre you need. This should look something like P215/60R16 94T. The first part of the label refers to the tyre’s size measurements. You should purchase tyres that match those measurements. The 94 in our examples refers to the load index, or how much weight each tyre can support. The T refers the speed rating; the tyre’s maximum speed in relation to the load index.
When purchasing tyres, you should match the size, but you can be a little flexible with the load index and speed rating.
Performance
If you want to opt for tyres different to what has come standard, you will have to do some digging into the optimal speed rating you’re after. Consider if you need special seasonal tyres or all-season, and look at the size. Once you’ve figured those out, opt for tyres that match those two categories. Afterwards, you can explore speed ratings within that range. Regular full tyre service is also highly important.
Warranties
Another important thing to check when purchasing new tyres is the warranty that they offer. Check for a warranty that suits your needs. This includes mileage, limited road hazards, workmanship and materials warranty.
Budget
In many cases, there are tyres available that do an excellent all-around job and don’t cost an arm and a leg. Obviously, if you’re on a budget, you can’t be too selective with all the bells and whistles. Nevertheless, you should still be able to find reliable tyres to suit your needs.
If you’re still not sure about the right tyres for your vehicles, why not get in touch with Carcare Joondalup to help you to find the best new tyres for your car. You can also look at our tips on how to change a flat tyre and if your tyres and breaks are ready for summer. Call us on 08 6500 1708, or contact us online to arrange a service.