Replacing Tires

Can you trust your tire store? According to Bill VandeWater of Bridgestone Firestone North American Tire, a tire dealer should ask a customer shopping for tires the following questions: What did you like about your OE tires? What didn't you like? What are you looking for from a tire? What is important to you? How are you going to use the vehicle? Based on this information, the dealer can then recommend a tire from his "tire wall" that will meet the needs of the consumer.

When it comes time to get a set of new tires, drivers have a lot of options. Traditionally, the most expensive option is to return to the dealership. Dealers will replace worn tires with original-equipment tires. This option can cost twice as much as going to the local shop down the street.

That local shop, be it a national chain or mom-and-pop establishment, is probably the best place for the average consumer to shop for new tires. Prices can be reasonable and the service manager will help consumers select the correct tire for their vehicle. However, consumers should always shop around for the best prices. Tire and installation prices vary widely from store to store.

A new option is the discount tire retailer. These wholesale tire distributors sell tires at extreme discounts. In addition to low prices, they are often just a phone call or a mouse click away. However, the when consumers purchase tires from the discount retailer, the tires are shipped to the consumer's door. It is up to the consumer to find a local shop to balance and mount the tires. (In some cases, these tire retailers will offer discount mounting and installation at a local tire store.) For some people who want exclusive or hard-to-find tires, this is the only option.

Regardless of where you get new tires, there are a few things you should keep in mind:

1. Know the size and type of tire recommended by your owner's manual.
2. Determine your needs and priorities. What type of driving you will be doing? Do you prefer a soft ride, a firm ride, or a mix of the two?
3. Make sure you purchase a tire that is capable of supporting the load your vehicle might demand. Don't buy a passenger-car tire if you need a light-truck tire.
4. Don't buy more tire than you need. Consumers often overestimate their tire needs. In most cases, a quality all-season tire will suffice where a touring tire might be suggested.
5. Keep in mind that any tire selection is a balance between ride quality, noise suppression, fuel economy, wear, load capability, and cost. It's the job of the tire-store expert and the consumer to select a tire that is the right balance of each.
6. An interesting trend in the automotive aftermarket industry is "plus sizing." It involves mounting bigger wheels and tires on a vehicle to enhance the look or improve handling.

Plus sizing usually increases cornering response and traction. Often these gains come at the expense of increased ride harshness. In addition, these larger wheels and tires are often not as durable as OEM wheels and tires.

A few items of note for consumers considering plus sizing:

1. Make sure that the tire and wheel are approved for use on your vehicle.
2. Make sure that the replacement tire has the same load-carrying capacity.
3. The new wheel and tire combination should be within 3% +/- the original tire diameter.
4. Make sure that a new tire placard is installed to inform future owners of the correct tire pressure.