Anyone buying new tires for the first time will be shocked to find out how expensive they are. In fact, Americans spend nearly $20 billion dollars in total on tires each year (according to the Academy of Sciences statistics) because they know that driving around on worn tires affects gas mileage, performance, fuel costs, and most important, safety.
The type of vehicle, the climate where it's driven, and purposes for which tires are being bought are all factors when choosing which tires to buy. There are five kinds of tires to choose from for passenger cars: Performance, all-weather, studded-winter, and studless-winter. For trucks and SUVs, there are highway-touring, all-terrain, studless-winter, studded-winter, and mud-terrain.
Types of Tires to Consider
As with other consumer products, the types of tires you buy for your car will be dependent on the type of driving you do and the weather conditions. Due to this, there are different types of tires to consider when shopping for tires. Compare the types of tires to purchase below.- SUV Tires
- All-Terrain Tires
- Low Profile Tires
- Mud Tires
- Performance Tires
- Snow/Winter Tires
- Truck Tires
Finding A Tire Shop Near You
You can purchase tires in pretty much any city at any local tire dealer, or you can buy them online at the many sites across the internet, including Amazon. There are a lot of brands out there when it comes to tires, but the top five most popular are Michelin, Yokohama, Bridgestone, Continental, and Goodyear. These are known for their durability, reliability, and longevity and made to perform better than the lesser-known brands. It may be better to buy one of these reputable-named tires at a good discount than try and downgrade to cheaper ones at full price. In fact, they may be around the same cost in the end, so why settle for less? Check out these big name tire providers for more deals and offers.Make Sure You Always Check for Closeout Sales
The easiest way to save money on tires is to check each tire dealer’s website for promotions or sales. Winter holidays during a snowy climate is a great time to look for specials going on. Second to fall-preparation, winter is, in fact, the most discounted time of year to buy tires and will most certainly help spare your wallet the sting of cost. Springtime is the third-best time because people are feeling the need to be on the road more as the weather improves. Another way to save may actually be in your mailbox right now. Inserted within the junk mail usually overlooked and thrown away, are often many coupons directing you to a specific local or online tire dealer. One last way to save money is by asking friends, family, acquaintances, and co-workers if they know of any deals going on. Never underestimate word-of-mouth!Be sure to check your tires every few months for any issues, including thinning tread, leaks, shredding, bulging, and punctures. You can usually show up to almost any local tire store and the workers will check the status of tires for free, measure the tread and even air them up for you if needed. When and if any issues are discovered, that's the time you should start the shopping process as discussed-- and be sure to start it as soon as possible. Remember, keeping healthy tires on your vehicle not only looks nice and gives a smoother, fuel-efficient ride but also greatly enhances over-all safety. This is absolutely vital! It's not only the driver's life at stake on the road but also that of the passengers riding along!