What You Must Know Before Buying Tires

Car tires are often neglected by people who should consider exercising proper maintenance. The amount of wear that a car tire endures, especially when compared to the rest of the car, is immeasurable, and as a result you should make sure they are as well maintained as possible. The correct tire style will make all the difference to your vehicle.

To begin with, you have to get the proper size. The car tires you have now will have a number on them that can be very helpful - the tire's serial number, as well as the inches of the tire. Most cars have 13 to 17 inch tires, whereas 22 inch tires can usually be found on SUVs and trucks. As long as you get the right size, it will fit into your wheel wells and rims, and you will not have to worry about scraping and wear.

As you pick the right brand, you will want to go online in order to do the proper investigating. Websites exist that test out these sorts of tires, as well as host reviews from previous customers of particular tire brands. This way, you get a good mix of anecdotal evidence and hard statistics as to the performance of each tire brand. No matter what brand you decide on, it is a safe bet that your local auto store will have the tire you need.

A lot of us have to drive through all manner of weather conditions, which makes all weather tires more and more necessary. With these tires, you can successfully drive through whatever conditions you may find, such as snow and rain. For those of you who live in especially wintry climes, it might be necessary go for more winter-friendly tires, which have tread patterns that are specially designed to take your car through snow. If you need to, you can switch back to normal tires in the summer.

Once you put new tires on your car, you should be sure to rotate them every three to five thousand miles in order to extend their life as much as possible. When you rotate them, the tread will spread evenly across all of the tires, and make them last longer. Make sure to take a look at your tires every so often as well, looking for imperfections in the wall of your tire. You might find evidence of a potential blowout.

Once you get to the point of needing new tires, you can then figure out the prices that you are looking for and the types of tires you need. Be sure not to skimp on this component of your car, as it is possibly the most important one.

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This post was written by Andrew Tucker on September 1, 2010

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Pros And Cons Of Buying Your Car’s Tires Online

The traditional method of purchasing a new set of tires begins with driving to the local tire shop. Once there, you would spend a few minutes looking at the shop's inventory (pretending to know what you're looking for) until finally asking for help. An attendant would happily recommend a few sets, all of which are higher-priced than you expected. You would eventually concede to paying more than necessary, hoping to avoid the experience for another few years.

Many people continue to follow this model when purchasing replacement tires for their vehicles. But times are changing. Their numbers are dwindling. Lower prices, better service, and a lack of "hard sales" tactics are driving more consumers than ever online to purchase new tires.

Below, we'll approach this issue from both ends. We'll first describe the advantages to buying replacement treads online. We'll then take a look at the potential downsides to doing so. Lastly, we'll offer a few tips for finding a bargain.

Reasons To Buy A Replacement Set Online

The first reason to consider purchasing online involves price. If you buy a set of tires from your dealer, expect a large markup (this is true for most parts bought through the dealer). But even if you buy from a chain tire store, you'll pay extra because of their enormous overhead (i.e. buildings, staff, insurance, etc.). Online, the markup is lower, there's less overhead, and thus they're cheaper.

Second, the chain stores make a large part of their profit by upselling and cross-selling. Thus, they'll try to get you to purchase a set of replacements that are more expensive than those you need. They may also attempt to cross-sell brakes, struts, and other services. Online, you won't need to deal with the hassle.

Third, online tire shops often provide customer reviews. While these customers may not be trained mechanics, they can offer unbiased insight regarding certain treads. That's valuable.

Potential Downsides

As compelling as the reasons above are for buying a set of replacements on the internet, doing so poses a few potential downsides. First, you won't be able to examine the set prior to buying it.

Second, shipping may require a few days since you may be purchasing the tires from a supplier located in a different state. If you get a flat or experience a blowout, you won't have the luxury of an immediate turnaround.

Third, unless you're planning to install them yourself, you'll still need to find someone to do the job for you. This is actually less a problem than you might think (we'll cover the reason in a moment).

How To Find A Bargain

Even if you're unfamiliar with automotive tires, you'll find the process of choosing them intuitive. Most online retailers will allow you to select the year and make of your vehicle, or choose your preferred size or brand. Prices will be displayed for a variety of suitable choices, and you'll have the opportunity to sort them in different ways.

When comparing the prices you see online with those charged by your local shop, you'll need to take a few additional factors into account. Be sure to consider shipping fees, installation fees, taxes, and the cost for disposing your old set. That's the only way to make a fair evaluation of the savings you'll enjoy.

What Happens After You Buy?

Once you've purchased your new set of tires, you'll be prompted to choose a mechanic (usually by zip code) to install them. The online supplier will ship your new set to your chosen mechanic. Your mechanic will call you when they arrive, so you can have them installed. Installation costs vary, but usually include mounting and balancing as well as the valve stems.

The entire transaction is smoother than most people think. Moreover, everyone benefits. The online shop gains your business and trust; the mechanic earns an extra ticket for very little work; and you save money due to purchasing through the internet. In a few years, a majority of new tires may be sold in this fashion.

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This post was written by Robert Holkum on August 30, 2010

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4 Common Reasons Automotive Tires Fail

The treads on your tires wear down over thousands of miles. As they do, they gradually deliver less traction, steering response, and ultimately, less control of your vehicle. The traditional rule of thumb is that tires should be replaced when the depth of the grooves reaches 2/32". Many experts, however, suggest replacing them when they reach 4/32", especially if you live in an area that receives significant rainfall. Doing so ensures you and your passengers remain safe on the road.

While tread wear is important to monitor, few people consider the factors that might cause a blowout. This article will provide an overview of four of the most common reasons it occurs. Keep the following in mind to avoid a dangerous tire failure that may leave you and your passengers exposed to injury.

1 - Excessive Or Insufficient Air Pressure

Your owner's manual will list the recommended psi for your vehicle's tires. This psi is usually between 28 and 34, though it varies based on the type of car you drive and the size of the tires. The problem is, many drivers either fill their tires with too much air, or allow the pressure to drop below the recommended psi. Both circumstances can lead to a blowout.

Excessive air pressure results from someone filling their tires without using a gauge, or intentionally filling them to a higher-than-recommended psi. This places excess stress on the rubber, which then becomes more susceptible to road hazards.

Underinflation is more problematic. Air seeps through the rubber over time, which causes your tires to lose pressure. It happens so slowly that you're unlikely to notice. Unfortunately, insufficient pressure causes the sidewalls to stretch, which in turn causes the heat surrounding the rubber to rise. Given the right conditions, the rubber may burst.

2 - Excessive Weight

All tires come with a load rating (sometimes called an index) that is clearly listed on the sidewall. It is comprised of the last two digits of the ISO Metric tire code. This rating reflects the maximum weight a tire can safely carry without concern of a blowout.

For example, suppose the ISO code is displayed as "P195/55R16 87S". The "87" in the code reflects a maximum weight of 1,201 pounds. If you exceed this weight, you'll run the risk of a failure.

As a side note, very few passenger vehicles deal with this problem since they are rarely used to haul heavy loads. It is much more common with pickup trucks.

3 - Hazards In The Road

Nails are not the only type of road hazard that can cause a blowout. Deep potholes, rocks, debris, and even small branches, can pierce your treads or sidewalls. If they don't cause your tires to fail outright, they can damage them to the point they fail in the future.

The best way to avoid blowouts from road hazards is to drive carefully, and watch for them in the road. If you suspect you have driven over something that may have damaged your treads, pull over and inspect them. Otherwise, you'll risk a dangerous blowout while driving.

4 - Treads That Are Too Old

The rubber of your tires loses its ability to flex and stretch as it ages. Instead, it becomes stiff and inelastic. In this state, your tires become far more susceptible to a blowout, especially if you run over a sharp object. While there is no official expiration date on tires, most auto technicians recommend changing them at least every ten years, and preferably every six or seven.

Note that this recommendation only addresses age. Your treads may appear in good condition, but the underlying rubber might still be weakened and brittle, and thus vulnerable to a blowout.

Make sure your tires are inflated according to the recommended psi in your owner's manual; stay under the load rating; watch for road hazards; and replace the treads when they become old. Doing these four things will prevent your tires from failing while on the road.

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This post was written by Ben Stuart on August 27, 2010

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