Mechanic Chris Neiderer rolls a tire at the service center at Chapman Chevrolet in Philadelphia. (Matt Rourke / Associated Press)
If you're cutting corners by canceling cable or clipping coupons, it might seem natural to skip replacing your tires, too. Don't.
It's true that replacement tires are pricier than in the past because they've grown taller and wider. But worn treads can be dangerous, especially when they lose their grip as you're trying to brake or steer around danger.
Here are some tips on how to get the most for your money when shopping for replacements.
Match tires to driving needs
Figure out what you like and dislike about your current tires before you start shopping. Did the tires wear out faster than you thought they should? Did they slide when it rained? Were they noisy?
When to buy
- Generally, when the tread depth reaches 2/32 of an inch, tires don't have enough rubber left to stop or start safely, especially on wet or snowy surfaces. Tires have "wear bars" that are perpendicular to the tread -- you'll see a stripe across the tread if they're worn out. Begin looking for tires when the tread depth reaches 4/32 of an inch. Put a quarter in the grooves, and if you can see all of George Washington's head, start tire shopping.
Companies make tires for summer, snow and all seasons, so consider the climate where you live, says Bob Toth, manager of passenger tire marketing for the Goodyear Tire & Rubber Co.
There's also generally a tradeoff between handling, fuel economy and tread wear, and you need to come up with the best compromise for your needs. Tires that handle and stop better generally have softer rubber that grips the road better but wears out more quickly. Gripping the road also can cut into fuel economy. Higher-mileage tires with harder rubber don't handle as well but can get better mileage.
Toth suggests looking at Web sites for tire reviews from consumers and independent testers. He uses online store Tire Rack because the company performs its own tests and lists customer reviews.
Stick close to original tires, sizes and ratings
The outside diameter and width of the tires generally need to be the same as the original tires, and the load-carrying capacity must be the same or better. If the diameter is too far off, new tires will throw off speedometers and other gauges that are set to a certain number of tire revolutions per mile. A different width can hurt the vehicle's handling. If the load capacity is too low, it could make tires wear faster.
Tire sizes are stamped on the sidewall like this example: 225/60-R15 89H. The 60 in this case is the aspect ratio, or profile size. The higher the number, the taller the tire. Generally tires with low aspect ratios handle better, while those with higher ratios ride more smoothly.
Be careful with cheaper brands
Many drivers think all tires are the same: round and black. But the quality can vary wildly in rubber compounds, tread design and the supporting structure. Prices also vary by size, ranging from around $50 for smaller tires to more than $500 for high-performance tires.
Gerry Feeman, owner of Gerry's Tire and Alignment in Saline, Mich., says lesser-known companies make good tires, so you can change from a brand name such as Michelin or Goodyear for cost or other reasons. "They make good stuff, but you don't need to buy the major brands," he says.
Matt Edmonds, vice president of Tire Rack, agrees that lesser-known companies such as Kumho and Yokohama make good replacement tires. Yet he warns that some off-brand tires may not be as good as name brands, even if the tread patterns are similar.
"They don't tend to have the engineering behind the tire," Edmonds says.
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