Tips & Tricks

Back to Tips & Tricks list

What kind of tires and what size do I need?

This question always brings up a lot of answers. Choosing a tire brand and tread type is a lot like buying a car. First you need to sit down and determine what you use your vehicle for. Next determine how often you want to purchase new tires and what kind of a warranty do you need? Lastly what size of tire is best for my vehicle?

Tread pattern on tires widely varies in all manufacturers brands. There are also different rubber compounds and ply ratings that tires are made of. Choosing these options is best left to a professional. The biggest thing you as a driver need to do is determine (honestly) what type of driving and what type of driver you are. I.E. are you and aggressive driver, do you live in the mountains or in the city, do you travel on dirt roads or pavement or a combination of both, what types of loads do you carry, do you need a tire that performs well in inclement weather or do you normally stay home when the weather is bad? All of these questions need answered before you make the decision on what tire to buy.

There are many tire brands on the market today. Some are good and some are not so good. You don’t always get what you pay for when it comes to buying tires. In other words depending on how you answer the questions above you may be a prime candidate for an “off brand” tire that costs less but performs as well as the leading brands. Again it all comes down to research and listening to the recommendation of a professional.

When it comes to determining the size of the tire you will need the help of someone who understands your specific vehicle. In some cases you can replace a certain size of tire with a similar size with no adverse affects. In other cases this could cause you serious headaches and in some cases render some of you vehicles systems inoperable. You should also know that just because a person works at a tire store does not mean they are a tire expert. In most cases the best expert is your local Colorado Select AutoCare Center. Even if you choose to buy tires from the tire store check with us first as we are more than willing to help you determine what tire is right for you.