Most car owners treat tire replacements with a sense of dread, but having new tires put on your car should be an exciting time. Not only are you ensuring that your vehicle will continue to handle all road conditions safely and reliably, but you will also be restoring your car to its original performance. Choosing tires isn't always easy, of course.
Not only can the terminology surrounding different types of tires be confusing, but there are many common misconceptions as well. This article will dispel three of the most widely held myths around tire purchases so that you can make an informed decision when it comes when the time comes to put new rubber on your car.
Myth #1: All-Wheel Drive Vehicles Don't Need Snow Tires
Many all-wheel drive vehicles come equipped from the factory with all-seasons, but this doesn't mean that this type of tire is always the right choice. Winter tires outperform all-seasons in snowy conditions on every kind of car. Surprisingly, all-wheel-drive vehicles on all-season tires can even perform worse in snowy conditions than rear-wheel drive using snow tires. Does this mean that you should always purchase snow tires for your car? Not necessarily. All-seasons are fine if you live in an area that sees only very light snowfall, but separate winter tires are the right choice if you will be driving in snowy conditions regularly.
Myth #2: Summer Tires and Snow Tires Can Be Used Year-Round
All-season tires are designed to provide adequate wet and dry performance in most conditions, but the same is not true of summer or winter tires. Both of these specialized types of tires use rubber compounds engineered for the temperatures they are most likely to face. Summer tires, for example, tend to become hard and may even crack once the temperatures fall in the low 50s. On the other hand, winter tires become too soft on hot pavement and will wear rapidly. In both cases, you can expect reduced grip and even dangerously poor handling. The one exception is if you live in a climate that is warm all year; in these cases, running summer tires throughout the year is fine.
Myth #3: Mileage is the Only Wear That Matters
It is a commonly held belief that tires wear only with use and that old tires with little mileage are safe to use. Unfortunately, this is never the case. Rubber hardens and cracks with age, which can quickly lead to an old tire becoming incredibly dangerous. Tires that are older than five or six years old require replacement, even if they have low mileage or no apparent signs of damage. Tires worn by age are just as dangerous, if not more so, as tires worn down by usage. This risk is another reason that used tires should be purchased only rarely and only as a temporary stopgap. Without knowing the age of a tire, you are taking a risk every time you drive on it.
Talk to auto dealers if you're interested in getting some tires for sale.
Share15 October 2019
After driving an older car to work for several years, my husband was finally ready to buy another vehicle. He got tired of his car breaking down at his workplace, the grocery store, and the mall. Because gas mileage is important to him, my spouse shopped at local auto dealers for a small, four-door sedan. We were open to purchasing a new vehicle or a slightly used one. Whenever we saw a potential car at a dealership, we always studied its exterior and interior closely. My husband of course also requests to drive it down the road. On this blog, I hope you will discover tools for finding your dream car at an auto dealership. Enjoy!
