Are you debating on those cheaper tires to save a few bucks? When you’re buying tires there are multiple things to take into consideration such as your car type, tire type, how aggressive you drive, along with the road and weather conditions. Tire performance varies based on the tread of the tire, car type, and maintenance/upkeep of the tires.
Rib Tread Design – The benefits include significantly better fuel economy but the drawback of a rib tread design is the lack of traction on wet or snow traction.
Block or Lug Design – The benefits include high traction and improved fuel economy on your car.
Depending on the type of car you have, the tire selection can have a high variance based on load compensation and material used. Trucks, cars, high performance vehicles, etc. all have different tread sizes that fit for the purpose of that vehicle.
Trucks, work vans, and other large vehicles (¾ ton or larger) will require Light Truck (LT) Tires. LT tires are built with more material and have sturdier walls to support the weight of the vehicle along with any additional cargo. Many people question about whether their truck can have Passenger Tires because Passenger Tires generally offer a smoother ride and are equipped on vehicles that are less than ¾ ton (SUV, minivan, compact, smaller pickup trucks).
Tip: As a general rule of thumb, buy tires of the same size and type that came with your car.
Monthly check-ups on your tires are recommended to make sure that your tires are performing at optimal level. In order for fuel economy and the life of your tire to be maximized it is crucial for you to be alert of these things:
Do your research before buying the cheapest or even the most expensive tire that you see. A great place to start comparing tires is the braking distance. The shorter the braking distance (take into account rain, snow, etc.), the more reliable the tire. Check out this article by Consumer Reports on more in-depth information on all-season tires, snow tires, all-terrain tires and more!
