The next time you're in the market to buy tires, be sure to print out these
Tire Buyers' FAQ to equip yourself with key purchasing information about tires. Once you've selected the right tires for you and your vehicle, our
Congratulations on Your New Tire Purchase Handout can help you locate and record important information that you'll need throughout the service life of your new tires.
What type of tire should I buy?
This will vary by where you live and the typical weather you drive in.
- All-season tires can handle a variety of road conditions. They have some mud and snow capabilities.
- Winter tires are more effective than all-season tires in deep snow.
- Summer tires are warm-weather tires that are not designed to operate in temperatures below freezing, or on snow and ice.
- All-terrain tires are mainly used on four-wheel drive vehicles. They provide a good compromise between on-road driving and off-road capability.
How are tires rated? What does the tire rating mean?
Many tires are rated by the U.S. Government on treadwear, traction performance and temperature resistance. It's called the
Uniform Tire Quality Grading Standards (UTQGS) (PDF 5 MB), and the
tire ratings are on the sidewall of every passenger vehicle tire sold in the United States.
- Treadwear grades tell you how long the tread should last. For example, tires with a grade of 200 should wear twice as a long as a tire with a grade of 100. The tread on tires with highest numeric ratings, 600 or more, should take longer to wear down.
- Traction grades tell you the tire's ability to allow a car to stop on wet pavement in a shorter distance. It's graded AA, A, B or C, with AA being the highest rating.
- Temperature grades tell you how well the tire resists heat. It's graded A, B or C, with A being the highest rating.
What size tires should I buy?
Check your owner's manual or the Tire and Loading Information Label located on the driver's side door edge or post to find the correct size for your car or truck.
How old is the tire I'm buying?
All tires have a DOT Tire Identification Number (TIN) on the sidewall. The last four digits represent the week and year the tire was made. NHTSA recommends checking this date when purchasing tires, along with knowing the vehicle manufacturer's recommended tire replacement timeframe. Look on both sides of the tire. The TIN may not be on both sides.