There are five main things to know when buying tires. They are:

• General tire knowledge
• The vehicle specifications
• What kind of tire it needs
• Buying in person or via the internet
• How much to spend

General Knowledge

Tires are like anything else; it is important to know a little bit about them in order to buy smart. When looking at a tire, there are four major things to look for.

• Tread
• Inflation
• Odd markings
• Visible Damage

The tread on a tire is what makes it able to grip the road. The tread needs to be high enough to cover President Lincoln’s head if a penny is inserted into the space between ridges. If buying a new tire, the tread is normally still covered with little finger-like rubber projections from the molding process.

The inflation of a tire should be enough so that the tire feels like a basketball; hard and not movable. The specific inflation point will depend upon the tire, but is normally about three PSI, pounds per square inch, for a car. If the tire is not fully inflated, ask the salesman to inflate it in front of you, and then pay close attention to see if it stays inflated or if you can hear any hissing or spitting sounds coming from it.

Odd markings on the side of a tire can mean damage done by a previous owner. This is most important in used tires, as a vehicle with improper alignment can rub tires in odd ways. Though not usually immediately a problem, the uneven use can mean a higher risk of blowouts.

Visible damage is a given. If the tire, or the rim, appears to be damaged, it is probably not a good buy and should be avoided. Though this is not always the case, it is true often enough to warrant saying.

Vehicle Specifications

Each vehicle has its own set of specifications. Most importantly is the size of the tire. Though larger and smaller tires are often used to ‘improve’ the looks of a vehicle, tires of the wrong size affect things like gas mileage and the speedometer. A tire is measured in three ways:

• height
• width
• rim size

If one of these numbers is off, the tire may not fit your vehicle, so it is very important to know what size tire you need. Tire specifications can be found in the owner’s manual that comes with most cars. If there is no owners manual, most makes and models offer online manuals. Tire sizes can also be found printed on the side of the tires themselves. Be aware, however, that the tires that are on the vehicle may not be the right ones, especially if the car was bought from a person rather than a dealership.

Type of Tire

All tires are not created equal. Sports cars need high performance tires to keep up with their acceleration abilities, while a pick-up truck often needs heavy-duty tires in order to keep up with the demands placed upon it by the driver. Four-wheel drive vehicles also typically use different tires than the same vehicle that is only two-wheel drive.

Within this category is a little wiggle room. The type of tire needed is, largely, a personal choice. A sports car, for instance, will run with regular tires, they will simply need to be replaced more often. A truck that is used for nothing buy driving back and forth to work on well-maintained roads can probably do without the heavy-duty tires that would be needed if it were a work truck that was often found off-road. Choosing the right type of tire requires that you know what the vehicle is expected to do, and know the right tire for the job.

In Person or Via the Internet

It is a well-known fact that just about anything can be found, often at a deep discount, online. Shopping on the internet allows a person the ability to shop at their convenience and have the items delivered to their home. It also prevents a person from visually inspecting the items. When buying tires, the choice of in person or online can be especially important. Besides the convenience, internet-based companies generally have a much larger tire selection, which makes them invaluable to anyone who has an uncommon tire size.

How Much to Spend

It is usually a given that the amount of money available dictates where anything is bought. Tires can be found in places from large department stores to tiny tire shops. If buying a common tire, it can be financially beneficial to frequent smaller, neighborhood mechanics. If you are in need of something specialized, you may find the cheapest place is an online retailer. Either way, shopping around for the best price is acceptable.

Buying tires can be a daunting prospect for anyone who is not a mechanic. With a little knowledge of the subject, though, finding the best place to buy tires can be as stress-free as sitting down to dinner.

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