How to Buy the Right Tires: A Practical Buyer’s Guide
From reading your tire size to choosing the right type and knowing when to replace, here’s how to buy tires with confidence.
Buying tires doesn’t have to be confusing. Once you know how to read your size, match the tire to how you drive, and spot the signs of a worn tire, the decision gets a lot simpler. Here’s what to look for.
Start with your tire size
Your tire size is printed on the sidewall and on the driver’s door-jamb sticker. Sticking with the recommended size keeps your speedometer accurate and handling predictable — if you want to change sizes, check with us first. A code like 225/65R17 102H breaks down as:
- 225 — tread width in millimeters
- 65 — aspect ratio (sidewall height as a percentage of width)
- R — radial construction
- 17 — wheel diameter in inches
- 102 — load index (the maximum weight the tire can carry)
- H — speed rating (the maximum sustained speed it’s built for)
Match the tire to how you drive
The best tire depends on your vehicle, your climate, and your priorities.
- All-season — the do-it-all choice for most drivers in our area, balancing dry, wet, and light-winter performance.
- Touring — prioritizes a quiet, comfortable ride and long tread life.
- Performance — sharper grip and handling, usually with shorter tread life.
- Winter — dedicated cold-weather rubber for the best traction in snow and ice.
Choosing tires for a truck or SUV
Trucks and SUVs have their own categories based on where you drive.
- Highway Terrain (HT) — quiet, long-wearing, and fuel-efficient for daily driving and highway miles.
- All-Terrain (AT) — extra traction and a rugged look for mixed on- and off-road use.
- Mud Terrain (MT) — aggressive tread for serious off-road traction in mud and rough terrain.
Treadwear and grip ratings
Beyond size, a couple of ratings tell you how long a tire will last and how it grips.
- Treadwear warranty — the manufacturer’s mileage estimate (e.g., 60,000 miles).
- UTQG treadwear grade — higher numbers last longer; lower numbers trade life for grip. Roughly, 300–500 is performance-focused, 500–700 balances both, and 700+ favors long life.
- Traction and temperature grades — the wet-grip and heat-resistance ratings that round out the UTQG score.
Consider your budget
Tires come in tiers, and the right one balances cost with the comfort, grip, and longevity you want.
- Economy — affordable, dependable transportation for budget-minded drivers.
- Mid-range — strong value with a better ride and warranty, like Falken, Kumho, Sumitomo, and General Tire.
- Premium — the quietest ride, best wet traction, and longest tread warranties, like Michelin, Continental, Goodyear, Pirelli, and Bridgestone.
Know when it’s time to replace
Even tires with tread left can age out. Replace tires when:
- Tread reaches 2/32" (the penny test) — though many experts suggest replacing sooner, at 4/32" for wet-weather safety or 6/32" for winter.
- You see sidewall cracking, bulges, bubbles, or exposed cords.
- Wear is uneven — often a sign of alignment, suspension, or inflation issues.
- The tires are aging — inspect at six years and replace by about ten, regardless of tread.
Should you replace all four?
On all-wheel-drive vehicles, mismatched tread depths can stress the drivetrain, so replacing all four is usually best. On front- or rear-wheel drive, replacing in pairs is fine — and the newer tires go on the rear for better wet-weather stability.