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How to buy tires

Tips on How to “Read” Tires
Tread Wear, Traction and Temperature Grade

• Traction A, Traction B or Traction C rates. Most quality tires will indicate an A grade, the top indicator.

• Temperature grades, "A", "B" or "C", with "C" indicating a temperature grade that meets federal requirements for passenger car tires. "A" and "B" provide an even higher level of performance.

• The DOT number, followed by the tire’s identification number, indicates compliance with the Department of Transportation safety standards. The identification number identifies a variety of characteristics about that tire; e.g., 055 indicates a tire that was manufactured in the fifth week of 2005.

Old, worn tires are simply unsafe, but many people are unsure when it’s time to buy new ones — or which ones they should choose. Or they simply forget to check them periodically. This is a dangerous mistake.

Tires affect your vehicle’s handling, ride, braking and safety. Even with all the high-tech goodies found in today’s modern automobiles, tires are probably the most important safety feature on your vehicle. Without tires, you’re not going anywhere. It’s extremely important to choose the right tire for both your car and your driving style.

For optimum performance, tires must have the correct air pressure, tread depth, and balance, and the vehicle must have the correct wheel alignment.

Get a professional opinion

The first thing to know about buying new tires is how to figure out exactly if and when you need them. The only other thing that might be helpful is to bring the car’s manual, which should show the manufacturers recommendations. You should also be prepared to answer some questions about how the vehicle is used, and what your future plans are for it.

All four of a vehicle’s tires don’t always need to be replaced at one time. All of your vehicle’s tires should be the same size and grade with the exception of some performance cars that utilize front tires with a different size than the rear tires.

Making tires last

There are three things that will maximize tire life. First is correct tire air pressure.

Second is proper tire rotation. It’s usually a good idea to rotate tires every 5,000 miles to 6,000 miles. The third thing is wheel alignment. Correct alignment allows the tires to wear evenly and last longer.

Inspecting your own tires

The tire experts at Belle Tire recommend that consumers also inspect their own tires periodically. While you are checking the air pressure on each tire, which you should do once a month, visually inspect the tire’s tread and sidewall for signs of wear and road debris that may have penetrated your tire.

Tires depend on good tread condition to maintain traction, the tire’s ability to stop on wet roads. Tread wear is an estimate of how long the tire tread will last before the tire is worn out. Grading starts at 100 and goes up to 500, with 500 being the longest lasting tire wear grade.

Tread wear should be checked for excessive and uneven wear. There is an easy test you can perform at home, using a coin from your pocket…a penny. Simply place a penny in a main groove of your tire showing the least amount of visible tread. If you can see any space between Lincoln’s head and the edge of the penny it’s time for a safety check by a certified technician. The penny test can also show if the wear on your tires is consistent on four tires. Uneven readings between tires indicate improper tire inflation or that you may need for a wheel alignment.

Tires are also graded for their ability to withstand and dissipate heat. This can be critical if you live in or frequently visit a hot climate where road temperatures can increase tire temperature significantly. Another important measure is the load index rating, ranging from 0 to 279, that indicates the maximum load a tire can carry at the speed indicated by the speed rating. The speed rating (A to Z) indicates the range of speeds at which the tire can carry a load corresponding to its load index. Consult your vehicle’s owner’s manual for the tire’s recommended speed rating.

Make sure you have the correct size, manufacturer’s recommended, tire for your vehicle. To determine which tire size is recommended for your vehicle, check the tire sticker. It can be found in one of the following locations: vehicle door edge, door post, glove box door, or fuel door.