Do you need new tires? How do you know which tires to get?

Let’s look at selecting new tires in light of three factors: Function, Fit, and Value.

Function: This gets at what your needs are for new tires: weather conditions, terrain, temperatures, etc.

New family vehicles come with all-season tires. They can be used all year long and do pretty well in most road conditions – but they aren’t ideal at the extremes.

Winter tires have a more aggressive tread for handling snow and ice and they have a rubber compound that helps them have better traction as temperatures drop below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. In Illinois winter weather, that means definitely better stopping and road-holding characteristics than all-season tires.

Dedicated summer tires enhance warm weather performance driving.

If you drive off-road, there is a spectrum of tires from all-terrain (a good mix of highway and off-road capability) to dedicated off-road tires.

The key is to discuss the function you want with Douglas Automotive Repair. We can help you get the type of tire, load rating, speed rating and wear rating you need.

Fit: The easiest thing is to select tires in the same size that were installed at the factory. If you want a different size wheel or tire profile, be sure to make sure that your new wheels and tires fit properly and don’t rub in bumps or turns. It’s also important to make sure that safety systems like anti-lock brakes, stability control and traction control aren’t adversely affected by the new tire size (the computer may need to be recalibrated to make necessary adjustments).

Value: Note, I didn’t say price. The tire that meets all your needs AND has the warranty and tread life you expect will probably not be the cheapest option – but it may well return the best value for your tire dollar.

Douglas Automotive Repair can help you with options for this automotive decision.

Give us a call today.

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