Anyone who owns a car will one day be faced with the chore of getting new car tyres. Tyres do not last forever and if you allow them to become too worn you are not only breaking the law, but posing a serious safety hazard to yourself and others. Your car tyres will usually be checked when it is time to register the car; if they are a bit worn, but pass the inspection they may need replacing before the next inspection in twelve month's time. How do you tell if car tyres are worn?
Firstly there will not be much tread, or parts of the tread may be worn. The tread is the part of the tyre that touches the road surface. If the tread is worn the tyre will not be able to grip the road properly. This can lead to skids, aqua-planing in wet conditions and poor braking. Secondly there could be damage to the walls of the tyre. Bulges, splits and wear that expose the inner surface of the tyre all mean that a new tyre is needed immediately.
When you get new car tyres, you usually get the same kind as you already have on the car, especially if you bought the car new. Those tyres will have been fitted at the factory and usually represent a good tyre for general use. But when you buy a used car, it is possible that the factory tyres were replaced long ago and you cannot be sure that similar ones were purchased. They could be budget tyres or perhaps high performance tyres.
It is wise to take advice from the tyre-fitters as they are trained to know what tyres are the best both in value and in reliability. All tyres look about the same to the novice, so when you go to get new tyres and notice that some are really much cheaper than others, you may well be tempted to get the cheaper ones.
However, you have to think more about safety and reliability when it comes to car tyres. Besides which, cheaper tyres will wear out much more quickly and then you'll need to get more, so in the long run they are not likely to be a good deal. The more expensive tyres are made of materials that last a good deal longer than the cheaper ones.
You will also need to take climatic conditions into account when purchasing new car tyres. If you live in an area where snow is normal in winter, or where ice forms on the road on a regular basis, then you should consider getting special winter tyres. These have a much deeper tread and larger surface that helps the tyres grip the road in such conditions and reduces the likelihood of slipping and sliding.
Tyres are classified into three main categories; the speed rating, the size and the load index. High performance tyres are those that give more speed, but they do not grip the road as well. The load index tells you what weight vehicle that the tyre can support, while the size refers to the diameter and width of the tyre. It also takes into account the ratio of one to the other.
