What Tires Are Right For Me?

Are you wondering what type of tires is right for you? That's pretty understandable, given the tremendous range of tire types available. Do you need mud and snow tires? Do you want touring tires? Z rated? Oversized? Undersized? Oh my aching head –

· When should I replace my tires?
· How do I know what I need?
· How much should new tires cost?
· Will Elvis return to take back his throne?

Well, this guide will help with some of those questions. It's completely up to the King if he chooses to reveal himself to us lesser mortals.

Anyway, the choice of tires can be painful and annoying. Finding the right set of tires for your vehicle is important, of course. But so is saving cash. If you know what you're doing, you can do both!

- The "When" Factor –

For those with little or no automotive experience, knowing when to replace your tires is largely guesswork. Of course, leaving it to chance is not a good choice. That thin layer of rubber is all that stands between your rear end and the road!
Check the tread if it looks like Kojak's head, there dead. (I should’ve been a poet) Actually, you can watch the tread wear if you're vigilant. Most tires have a wear indicator bar, situated within the tread – it will look like a raised, smooth bar, perpendicular to the tread pattern. If this is showing, you know you're getting close to replacement time.
Other things to look and listen for include:

· Excessive edge wear – remember, exposed wires = bad
· Spider web – If you see cracks and spider webs on the side it could be dry rot.
· Thump thump – that thumping nose you hear could be your tires (did you rotate them?)
· Balding tread – remember the reference to Kojak? We're not joking!

- The "What" Factor –

Ok, so your tires are shot – they're smoother than a baby's bottom and nowhere near as cute. Now you'll need to know what to buy.
Wait! Before you rush out and buy just any new rubber, take a few minutes to define your needs. What type of tires do you need? Answering this question will involve some Freudian tactics – it's time to delve into your inner psyche! No, we're not going to investigate your Mommy issues – we're going to figure out the type of tire you need.

The type of vehicle you drive plays the largest role here. Do you have a modern sedan? If so, you'll likely not want to slap a set of mudders on there. Do you drive a truck? Those passenger-rated tires you're eyeing are probably the wrong choice.

Driving habits also play a role. Do you have a lead foot and a sports car? Z and ZR rated tires have the speed rating you need for safety. Of course, they'll wear out faster than other types, as well.

The profusion of options on the market is considerable. For instance, if you're willing to shell out a few more greenbacks, you can put a set of touring tires on your ride. These have a square-shouldered design for better stability and comfort and usually have a better mileage warranty than other tires.

If you'll be driving in a variety of conditions, then all-season tires are your best option. Actually, all-season tires are the most common option on the market – you'll have no trouble locating a set.

Winter driving brings other considerations. If you live in a cold, snowy area, then studded snow tires are a great idea – or at least a set rated for mud and snow. Pickup trucks will benefit from LT rated tires, if they actually do work. Trucks that do little work, but just look cool can use P-rated tires.

You will also find prices on tires vary by brand, style, geographic location and even time of year. As an example, high-performance tires run from $85 to $165 each, while truck tires average between $50 and $135 each. If you want an all-season tire, you can expect to pay between $30 and $85 each. It’s important to remember to take the total cost into account things like mounting and balancing add up so look at the whole package price.

Discount centers like Sam’s club, and BJ’s are great places to price shop. But like most things the best deals are found on line. Check out the tire rack great selection and prices as well as thousands of customer reviews on all kinds of brands and types.

Another great site is Auto Parts GIANT with its 110% price guarantee and free shipping Auto Parts GIANT is hard to beat.

Join our e-club by clicking here! You'll receive more great information as well as 2 free special reports every vehicle owner must read!

Make Your Tires Last

Do you want to make your vehicle stand the test of time?

– That's a ridiculous question, who doesn't? –

If so, then you need to keep her looking good and in excellent health . Like most "ladies" I know, keeping her need for shoes fed can get seriously expensive. Especially if she likes those designer brands!

Just so you know, we're talking about cars here.

Anyway, "shoes," or tires for you slower folks, are one of the easiest places to cut your costs and save hundreds of dollars. It only takes a few simple, commonsense steps to make them last longer.

So, if your tires are balding faster than old Uncle Frank, we've got a little work to do. Since they haven't invented "Rogaine" for tires yet, we're just going to have to do a bit of preventative maintenance.

Rotate Them! – Tire rotation might seem like something silly, dreamt up by dealerships and repair centers to rake in more green, but it is actually very important. You should rotate them roughly every 6,000 miles, or every other oil change (if you're using conventional oil, of course!). Whether you rotate them front-to-back or use an X pattern, just doing it at all is important.

Give 'Em A Little Air! – Tires lose pressure over time; it's just the way it is. This makes them wear unevenly and much more quickly. It can also lead to a dangerous sidewall blowout – and the expense of replacing that tire! So, check your tire pressure at least every other week. It takes just seconds and saves you money – and possibly your life! And for Pete's sake, use a tire gauge! They only cost a couple of bucks and "eyeballing" them just doesn't cut it.

Keep 'Em In Line! – Alignment is just as important to tire health as anything else. The simple act of driving can knock your ride out of alignment, making her drive as crooked as a politician's promise. Check your tires for edge wear – on either the inside or outside edge, but not both. If you see your tires getting a bit thin on the edge, get it aligned and do it fast! If you see wires dangling from the edges, it's already too late.

Watch Where You're Going! – Riding on rough surfaces does more damage than just pounding out a nice beat with rocks on your exhaust pipe. It can damage the tread on your tires. Keep to paved roads – you'll stave off the day you need to shell out major bucks for new tires. Of course, not all paved roads should have that name – know where you're driving and what the road conditions are like. Construction, potholes and rough pavement will eat away at your rubber, too.
Of course, the day will come when you have to break down and buy a new set of tires for your lady. However, before you rush out to that major tire store, check your options. You might be surprised by the number of options you have – used tires and cheap tires can be better options than buying a brand new set of "designer shoes" for your little lady.

Buying a set of used tires can help you save some major green while still keeping your ride "shoed" right. Another option is to buy cheap tires from a discount retailer. Get the lowest prices, best quality name brand parts, and helpful auto parts experts at Auto Parts GIANT. Now, don't go thinking Uncle Vinnie's going to break your kneecaps if you report his tire business. Cheap tires are a killer way to get back the tread depth you need for safety and comfort, without forcing you to take out a loan for the tires you need.

Join our e-club by clicking here! You'll receive more great information as well as 2 free special reports every vehicle owner must read!