How to Find the Best Tires for Your Car | Van's Tire Pros

With 13 separate service locations throughout Ohio and over 30 years as a family-operated business, Van’s Tire Pros is the go-to place for Ohioans needing tire recommendations and first-rate vehicle maintenance, servicing, and repair. Each of our 13 locations has expertly trained technicians, knowledgeable and experienced mechanics, a committed and devoted service staff, and the latest vehicle servicing equipment and machinery. Our extensive experience servicing multiple makes and models of vehicles makes us an ideal solution for all your vehicle servicing needs.

If you have been wondering how to choose tires or asking yourself “What tires do I need for my car”, or “what tires should I buy”, our tire experts and service personnel are ready to serve. We maintain a vast selection of brand-name tires for heavy-duty trucks, luxury cars, SUVs, compacts, hatchbacks, and electric and hybrid vehicles.

Always at the forefront of new tire selection and servicing, our tire recommendations will ensure you have the best tires for your vehicle.

So, what do you need to know when trying to understand how to choose tires? This tire selection guide will help answer that question.

1. Start With Your Driving Habits

It is important to understand your driving habits when deciding how to choose tires. If you live in the country and often drive on dirt or unpaved roads, then you will need a much different type of tire than someone who lives in the city and always drives on city roads and streets. If you own a heavy-duty truck and spend a considerable amount of time on construction sites, then having a durable tire that can withstand road obstructions like nails, screws, and other hardware is best.

• Unpaved roads or off-roading adventures: For those of you who spend most of your time off-roading or on unpaved country roads, Van’s Tire Pros can help you choose among multiple off-road optimized tires that will improve control and traction.
• Driving in the City: Driving in the city involves a lot of stop-and-go braking and driving. Braking distance is incredibly important, as is fuel efficiency, which is why you will need a fuel-efficient tire that can withstand the constant wear and tear of city driving while also being better able to stop on a dime.
• Driving on Highways: Van’s Tire Pros customers who spend most of their time on the highways will need a tire with a good grip, excellent control at high speed, and one that provides maximized braking distance.

2. Match Your Tires to the Season

Winter tires have much deeper treads (10 mm) compared to summer tires (7 mm). This is because the deeper treads are designed to better manage deep snow and slush, giving you much better traction in winter conditions. A big mistake that drivers make is to keep their winter tires on all year. Given that winter tires are only designed for winter driving – and only last at most three winters – driving with them all year will increase wear and tear and force you to buy winter tires more frequently. Consequently, driving with summer tires in the winter will not give you the control or traction you need to avoid a serious accident.

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3. Identify the Size of Your Tires

All tires have an identifiable number on their sidewall. Typically, this number is about 12 characters long and can be found on the tire itself or within your vehicle’s owner’s manual. For example, the number may be something like P225/70B20 90H. The first letter “P” refers to your vehicle as a passenger vehicle. The next three numbers (225) are the tire’s width. The first two numbers afterward are the aspect ratio, while the next letter (B) defines how the tire was made. In this example, the tires are bias-constructed. The final two numbers and the H define how much weight and how fast your tires are rated.

4. Understand When Your Tires Need Changing

All tires are designed for a certain length of driving time. Eventually, the treads of your tires start to wear out due to overuse, everyday road debris, and different road conditions. Understanding when your tires need changing can save you money and help you avoid a tire blowout or flat. This is why it is always important to keep an eye on your tire’s treads. If you notice uneven tread wear, then the tire experts at Van’s Tire Pros may need to do a tire balancing or realignment.

Rely Upon the Tire Experts at Van’s Tire Pros

At Van’s Tire Pros, we have several tire experts who can help you choose the best tire for your vehicle, season, and driving conditions. Their vast experience with multiple makes and models of cars, trucks, and SUVs allows them to choose a tire best suited to your vehicle.

If you need help choosing tires or need our tire balancing and alignment services, contact us now.