Table of contents
Introduction
The time has come for you to get new tires for your car. But what do you choose? Do you pick all-weather tires? Or do you go for performance ones? What kind of driving do you do? What weather do you deal with? All of these questions will arise while evaluating a purchase. Making the right choice translates into optimized performance and safety. Poor choices can result in quick wear, poor braking and handling performance, and horrendous ride quality.
What To Look For In The Best Car Tire?
When choosing the best tires for your car, you need to take the following into consideration:
- What are my driving needs?
- Size
- What type?
- Tread pattern and performance
- Cost
In this post, we will break down each one of these criteria and why it is important to evaluate your purchase before sealing the deal.
Driving Needs
Every car has different objectives on the roadway. A commuter car isn’t going to benefit from snow tires if it never sees the snow and an off-road SUV will suffer without All-Terrain or Mud tires. Think about the type of vehicle you own and what you need your vehicle to accomplish. If you have an economic car to take you to work, you’re going to look into tires made to go for thousands of miles comfortably. Alternatively, if you have a sports car, you’re going to want ones with improved traction to put the power down efficiently and have optimal grip during a turn.
Size
Purchasing the right size is crucial to your vehicle’s performance. An improper size will make your speedometer readings wrong and may cause suspension rubbing issues. For example, a car that comes with 195 width tires from the factory will probably have difficulty fitting a 255 width tire without modification or aftermarket wheels. On the other hand, too small of a tire may compromise handling and braking performance in your vehicle.
Additionally, cars with aftermarket suspension such as coilovers or air suspension need to pay more attention to tire size. Lowered suspension removes wheel gap, but also limits the tire sizes available for your car. Consult a professional before purchasing to avoid rubbing and fitment issues with your new tires.
Types
Tires come in several categories such as high performance, all season, and all-terrain. The right type of tire is necessary as you can compromise your vehicle’s performance. SUVs and trucks driven off road are going to need all-terrain tires to overcome obstacles. On the contrary, a commuter car driven year long may do best with all season tires.
For example, a high performance car like the new S650 Mustang GT or the new Acura Integra Type S is going to need sticky tires to maintain traction on the road. You would not want to put economy tires on a ride like that!
Tread Pattern and Performance
The tread pattern design assists with traction as it disperses water to prevent hydroplaning and loss of grip. Tires come with the following types of tread patterns:
- Symmetrical – Designed for road noise reduction and balanced performance
- Asymmetrical – Presents different tread patterns on the inner and outer sides of the tires. This results in improved handling in both wet and dry conditions.
- Directional – Provides a V-Shaped tread pattern designed to disperse water more effectively. These are ideal for severe wet weather conditions.
Cost
Like most things, there are a wide range of prices. Common brands such as Michelin, Continental, Hankook, Mickey Thompson, and BFGoodrich will typically range between $120-$200 each, depending on the type and size. Obviously, the bigger or wider the tire, the more expensive the cost. It is not uncommon to see large off-road tires cost upwards of $500 a piece. In contrast, economy focused tires can be as low as $100. Luckily, many companies offer awesome promotions such as “Buy 3 tires, get the 4th free” or offer rebates for purchases of a full set. Check out websites such as Discount Tire or Tirerack to compare for the best deal!
So Which Are The Best Car Tires?
Now that we’ve established the considerations for buying decisions, its time we unveil our picks for the best ones on the market! Through personal experience and feedback from other enthusiasts, we have gathered the strongest contenders in the major categories to take out the guess work for you. Find the one that fits your vehicle’s needs and check out the winners.
All-Terrain Winner: BFGoodrich KO2
High Performance Winner: Falkin Azenis RT660
All-Season Winner: Firestone WeatherGrip
Summer Winner: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
Winter Winner: Bridgestone Blizzak
Conclusion
When looking for the best car tires, you have to determine the cost, tire type, size, and performance category suited for your car. Like other car modifications, tires have varying levels of quality. Installing the right set of tires is not only a safety issue, but if done right, is one of the best car modifications you can do. Remember, whenever you are dealing with modified cars, consult professionals like Fitment Industries in order to get proper fitting tires.
We hope this guide aids you in picking the right tire for your car. Have more automotive questions? Check out our blog for answers!