Tire Shop: How To Pick the Best Type of Tires for Your Car

auto mechanic showing a customer a variety of tire types

It’s no secret that tires deal with friction on a daily basis — after all, these are the only car parts that make direct contact with the road. And since tires are constantly subjected to this force, they usually last just three to five years before needing to be replaced.

To make sure your next set of tires lives up to your expectations, it’s a good idea to do some research before visiting your local tire shop. By following the steps listed below, you’ll be ready to find a set of replacement tires designed to fit your unique needs.

Know What You Need From Your Tires

First of all, drivers in Tucson, AZ, should understand that tires aren’t a one-size-fits-all product. Instead, you’ll have to choose between several different tire varieties as part of the tire shopping process. Depending on the type of tires you choose, your vehicle’s ability to handle different situations will change.

Some factors worth keeping in mind when looking for new tires include:

  • Your car’s required tire diameter. No matter how good a set of tires looks on paper, they won’t work with your vehicle if they aren’t the correct diameter. Finding this information is as easy as checking your current tires’ sidewalls or the sticker on your vehicle’s driver’s side door.
  • Your driving habits. Do you drive a fancy new luxury car or an everyday sedan? Either way, you’ll need tires that match your driving habits.
  • The weather in your area. Depending on your tires of choice, your car might perform better or worse than you’d expect in various weather conditions.
  • The surfaces you usually drive on. Paved roads, highways, and dirt all put different demands on tires.

Find Your Ideal Replacement Tires

Once you have a better understanding of your priorities as a driver, it’s time to find the type of tires you need. Depending on your situation, one of these tire varieties will be right for you:

All-Season Tires

You might assume all-season tires will perform well in most weather conditions — and you’d be right to think so. These high-performance tires do well on both wet and dry roads. Along with that, they have excellent tread life and deliver perks related to fuel efficiency. However, they also have an Achilles’ heel: their limited ability to cope with wintery conditions.

All-Weather Tires

Are you wondering, “What’s the difference between all-season and all-weather tires?” The most significant factor separating these tire categories is their performance in winter weather. All-weather tires fall somewhere between all-season and snow tires when it comes to dealing with snow and ice.

Snow Tires

Admittedly, snow isn’t usually an issue in or around Tucson. But if you’re planning to drive in colder areas any time soon, you’ll want to consider getting snow tires. Thanks to the cold-resistant rubber used in these tires, they provide excellent performance in winter weather.

Summer Tires

Summer tires are a great choice for many Tucson drivers, as they are made to work well in warm weather. These tires provide top-notch traction whether the road is dry or wet, but they aren’t intended for use on snow-covered roads.

Touring Tires

Like many other tires, touring tires don’t do that well in cold weather. Still, that shouldn’t detract from their many benefits, such as great handling, unmatched tread life span, and an overall sense of smoothness.

High-Performance Tires

Do you own a sports car or another luxury vehicle? If so, you need tires that meet this standard of quality — and high-performance tires will give you the results you’re looking for. Thanks to their shorter sidewall and wider body than the average tire, these tires deliver racing tire-like performance. Unfortunately, they also wear out at a relatively rapid rate.

Mud Tires

When off-road driving is your number-one priority, it’s hard to go wrong with mud tires. These tires stand apart from the crowd thanks to their extremely deep treads, designed specifically for off-road use. The catch is that mud tires don’t do very well on highways and other paved roads.

All-Terrain Tires

If you plan on enjoying both off-road and on-road driving, all-terrain tires are a fantastic choice. With these wheels, you’ll get deeper-than-average treads that aren’t as deep as those on mud tires. Because of that, all-terrain tires do well on both mud and pavement.

Visit Tucson’s Best Tire Shop

If one of these tire varieties seems like it could be the right fit for you, there’s a good chance it will deliver the exceptional performance you deserve. However, you shouldn’t buy your new tires just anywhere. To ensure you’re getting name-brand tires at fair prices, you’ll want to put some serious thought into choosing a tire shop.

Are you a Tucson resident asking yourself, “Where can I find tire replacement near me?” There’s one place where you’re guaranteed to get the best new tires in town — BRAKEmax Tire & Service Centers. In addition to our high-quality replacement tires, BRAKEmax offers essential tire services like tire repair, tire rotation and balancing, and wheel alignment

Explore our selection of tires today, and save on your next set of tires with our online service coupons and tire discounts!

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