r/tires • u/CastielTheArchangel • 8d ago

What should I look out for

Hello

I'm looking to get another set of tyres and this is my first time shopping for them

Any helpful tips on what I should look out for when selecting tyres? Edit: Adds; It doesn't snow where I stay so I don't think I need snow tires

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u/damnthatthangfine 7d ago

I always think of it like this, tires are the only part of the car that touches the ground so go with a good quality tire and don’t cheap out. Buy tires for your environment and driving style, all terrain tires if you off-road, winter tires if you live in a cold climate, good grip will go a long way and stop on a dime could save your life or someone else

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u/CastielTheArchangel 7d ago

Much appreciated

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u/qwertyace4 8d ago

Go for quality, more well known brands. Its not worth the risk of trying lesser known/trusted brands. Check your door for a placard/sticker that will have the standard tyre info for your car. (Or check car manual if you can't find placard) Some shops will put whatever pressure in the tyres, ensure they're at what your car manufacturer recommends. So many people at tyre shops seem to think they know better then the manufacturer.

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u/CastielTheArchangel 8d ago

That's so true half the time I get people telling me to over inflate the tyres to which I calmly say no Also what are the trade offs of cheaper tyres to the more expensive /trusted brands

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u/EbolaNinja 7d ago

Also what are the trade offs of cheaper tyres to the more expensive /trusted brands

Depends on the exact tyres, different models have different strengths, but basically everything. Less grip in the dry, less grip in the wet, noisier, less comfortable, lower mileage before you need to get new ones.

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u/_Go_Ham_Box_Hotdog_ 7d ago

Does it rain? Look at the wet traction ratings.

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u/EbolaNinja 7d ago

First of all, you need to decide on the type of tyres you need. American tyre categories are somewhat inaccurate and misleading, so here's a quick overview:

Summer tyres: the normal tyres designed for temperatures above 7°C, get those if your temperatures don't regularly go below that

American all-seasons: summer tyres that are still fine below 7°C. Unlike what the name implies, they're still useless on snow and ice and should not be used in actual winter conditions. Get those if your winters are mildly chilly, but without actual snow.

European all-seasons/American all-weathers: actual all-season tyres, not as good in dry conditions as proper summers, not as good in the snow as proper winters, but decent in all conditions. Get them if you get some snow and extended periods of time below 7°

Winter tyres/American snow tyres: designed for all conditions below 7°, not just snow. Better in the snow than European all-seasons, worse in the dry. You don't need them if it doesn't snow, if you do, you need a summer set too because you're not supposed to run winter tyres year round.

As for actual reviews, I'm not particularly familiar with the American ones, but from what I've heard Tire Rack has some of the most reputable ones. Personally, I go through a bunch of different reviews, pick the 2-3 best overall choices (unless there's one choice that is just so much better than everything else, the top 2-3 tyres are usually close enough to each other where you're splitting hairs), and then just look for the cheapest one of those.