Did you know that fall is the best time to buy tires? According to J.C. Tire, they found numerous customers make the mistake of waiting until the spring to purchase new tires. The mechanics disclosed to us, “As a tire wears out, dry traction increases and wet (rain or snow) traction decreases making fall the best time for this purchase.” Now that you know the best time of year to buy tires, the question is “Do you NEED new tires?” We outlined how to determine if you are due for a new set below. Already know you do? Check out Part Two of our Tire Buying Guide to learn how to choose the right tires for your car.
How do you know if you even need new tires?
The best way to determine if you need new tires is to first take your car to the shop. Here, an expert mechanic can see if there is an alignment issue or if you really do need new tires, and if so, how many.
Do you need to buy all four tires?
You do not have to buy all four tires at one time. If you happen to run over something and need just one tire that is fine. If you can only afford to purchase two and plan on buying the other two at a later date that is okay too. If you do buy two new tires, your mechanic will choose which tires to replace based on whether your car is front, rear, or all-wheel drive. Find out how much tires may cost you by heading over to JCTire.com where you can search by your vehicle type or tire size.
Tip: Gary from Aero Motors expressed these important suggestions based on the type of vehicle you have. All-wheel drive vehicles require equal tread depth in order for it to work properly. This means matching low tire tread with a new tire tread could damage the system. On four-wheel drive vehicles it’s important to match axles. For example, you can have a new set on the rear and old tires on the front as long as the tread depths are near equal on each axle. This avoids potential damage to the self-locking splines on the four-wheel drive system.
What all comes with the tires?
When you buy your tires, be sure to ask what services come with the purchase. While some establishments do not offer any, others offer rotations or repairs. Krietz Auto has a great deal when you buy tires from them; they offer free lifetime rotations and tire repairs. They state on their FAQ page that “Our tires should be rotated every other oil change, or every 6,000 miles. Neglecting to rotate tires is a major cause of premature tire wear.”
It is important to note that you should figure out your budget before making a major purchase. Are you willing to pay for expensive tires that will last longer, or will you go with the cheaper option that typically will not last as long? This price verses quality issue is a major factor when considering purchasing tires.
Now that you know when to buy new car tires, learn how to choose the right tires for your car in part two of our Tire Buying Guide.
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