Tire Shopping? Here Are 5 Things You Need to Know.

Take the confusion out of tire shopping. With this guide, you'll learn about:

• Signs you need new tires
• Benefits of new tires
• Different types of tires
• Which tire type is right for you
• How to bring home new tires today

Let's get started!

If you've noticed any of these problems, your tires may need replacing.

• Visible wear and damage: This is the most obvious sign your tires have reached the end of their lifespan. Look for cracks, frayed or bulging rubber, or worn down treads. To quickly and easily check your tread depth, place a penny headfirst in your treads (ideally, do this in several different spots to ensure your tires are wearing down evenly). If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, your treads are too worn down to be safe for driving.
• Excessive vibration or shaking: A slight vibration while driving is normal. However, if your car is vibrating hard - or even worse, shaking - it's a sign something is wrong. This is usually caused by defective tires or bent wheels.
• Warning lights are always on: If an orange exclamation point and/or the letters "TPMS" (which stand for 'Tire Pressure Monitoring System') illuminate on your dashboard, fill your tires as soon as possible. The light should shut off shortly after. If it doesn't, one or more of your tires may be damaged and should be replaced quickly.
• Tires over six years old: Even properly-maintained tires get worn down by weather, time, and the regular wear and tear of the road. Because of this, most tire experts recommend replacing your tires every six years.

• Increased safety: Good tires allow your car to brake reliably and, if need be, to stop suddenly. Additionally, good tires decrease the chance of tire blowouts, which reduces the risk of losing control of your vehicle and getting into an accident.
• Improved handling: When you have good tires, every aspect of driving is made easier, especially starting, stopping, and turning. Plus, new tires improve traction, which comes in handy on wet, snowy, or icy roads.
• Better gas mileage: When your tires are old and worn down, your car must work harder to keep moving. This strain can drain your gas tank fast! New tires take some of the stress off the rest of your vehicle so you can enjoy savings at the pump.

These benefits are universal, but some tire types provide extra benefits. You can learn more about them in the next section!

There are three main types of tires: all-season, winter/snow, and studded winter/snow. Keep reading to learn more about each! But first, an important warning...

Used tires may seem like a cheaper, environmentally-friendly choice. However, you should never buy used tires. There are several reasons for this, but some of the more pressing ones are:

• Uncertain history: You'll have no way of knowing where the tire has been, what it's been used for, or what conditions it's been in.
• Compromised safety: Used tires are often unsafe, even if they look fine from the outside, due to internal damages like cracked or degraded rubber.
• Missed recalls: If the tires are recalled for any reason, you won't be notified because the notice will go to the original owner.

All-season tires are best for areas that get mild summers and winters. They can hold their own in moderate heat or light snow, and they travel well through rain and mud.

Chances are, last time you bought a car it was equipped with all-season tires. All-season tires are designed to balance the speed and lightness of summer tires with the heft and traction of winter/snow tires. They have moderately deep treads, so they can grip the road in a variety of weather conditions.

Because of the depth of their treads, all-season tires have a long life - typically between 40,000 and 90,000 miles, according to Consumer Reports.

Driving in ice and snow can be scary - but if you have the right equipment, that fear could go away. That's where winter/snow tires come in! These tires are equipped with deep treads that can pack in snow and ice, which means less under your car causing slipping and sliding. They're made of a softer, more pliable rubber that molds itself easily to wintry roads, providing better traction.

Edmunds Car Reviews strongly encourages snow tires if your area gets 350 inches (or more) of snow per year, and/or if winter temperatures regularly drop below 40 degrees Fahrenheit. Woody Rogers, a product information specialist at TireRack, recommends "installing winter tires around Thanksgiving and taking them off at tax time." By sticking to this schedule, you prolong the lifespan of your tires and ensure you're always using them when they're at their most efficient.

Studded winter/snow tires are similar to normal winter/snow tires, except for one crucial difference; their treads are fitted with small metal studs. The studs dig into ice and packed snow, acting like mini anchors that keep your car from sliding off the road.

Because of this, these tires are best if you live in an area with harsh, extremely icy winters. In fact, TireBuyer magazine recommends studded tires for these conditions only. "In snowy, slushy, or mixed conditions, the traction advantages of studs are minimal," they advise. If your area gets minimal snow and/or the snow tends to not stay on the road long, regular winter tires are a better choice.

Some states only allow studded tires at certain times of the year (or outlaw them entirely). Visit this chart from TireRack to learn if your area has any studded tire laws.

Take things to the next level with "performance" all-season, winter/snow, or studded winter/snow tires. Performance tires provide even better handling and braking than their standard counterparts. And for the driving and racing hobbyists among us, performance tires are designed to withstand extremely high driving speeds!

So you've picked the right set of tires, placed them on your car, and driven away happy. Enjoy that feeling for a long time with these simple tire maintenance tips!

• Check your tire pressure. Each car has a recommended pounds per square inch (PSI), or an ideal tire pressure. You can usually find it in your car's owner manual and/or on the label beside the driver's side door. Sarah Robinson, a tire expert, recommends checking your tire pressure with a tire pressure gauge at least once a month.
• Inspect your treads. Deep treads are important to your tire's safety. You can check your treads easily with the penny test we mentioned earlier.
• Rotate your tires. Regular tire rotations are vital to your tire's - and your car's - longevity. During a tire rotation, a mechanic will remove each tire from your car and place it in a different position. This ensures that all your tires wear down evenly. Consumer Reports recommends getting a tire rotation every 5,000 to 8,000 miles.

Not sure where to take your car for maintenance? Use this tool to find a mechanic fast!

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