Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Tires for Your Car

Getting new wheels or tires for your vehicle is an important process since they play such an essential role in the safety, performance, and aesthetics of your car. Read on to learn about common mistakes that buyers often make and how you can avoid them.

Mistake #1: Going Too Cheap

Many first-time buyers make the mistake of thinking that cost is the only important factor when buying new wheels or tires for your car. Whether you are shopping for a replacement after wearing out a set of tires or want to completely upgrade your wheels for performance or racing, quality matters. That’s not to say you can’t shop for tires on a budget. You should absolutely stick to the price range that works for you, and you can always benefit from shopping around for a deal. However, when those tires are the only thing keeping your car off the ground when you’re hurtling along at high speeds, it is crucial that they can perform their job and keep you safe. Finding the best value for your buck is a great way to approach your shopping experience, allowing you to get a great deal while still making a quality purchase.

Mistake #2: Ignoring the Numbers

The next mistake that people often make when shopping for tires is ignoring the numbers. First, on the side of the tire is a service prefix that tells you what type of vehicle the tire is intended for. The next three digits tell you, in millimeters, the cross-sectional width of the tire. So, 225 would mean that the widest point from the inner sidewall to the widest point of the outer sidewall (when properly mounted) is 225 millimeters. The next two digits tell you the aspect ratio. So, 225/45 would mean that the sidewall distance (from the wheel rim to outside the tread) is 45% of the 225 mm. This means a 225/50 and a 225/45 are not the same thing, which is where many inexperienced buyers go wrong. A higher aspect ratio will have a taller sidewall (like a donut) vs. a lower-profile sidewall that comes with a lower aspect ratio.

Mistake #3: Guessing on Fitment

People often think that they can get away with guessing on fitment, and this can lead to a lot of problems that need to be fixed. It is important to get the correct measurements for backspacing, bolt patterns, hub bore, positive offset, and negative offset in order to select the correct wheels. Fortunately, tire fitment calculators can help you figure out the exact numbers, or you can take your vehicle to a pro to get an accurate measurement.

Mistake #4: Skipping the Warranty

No matter what tires or wheels you end up going with, getting a warranty to cover your bases is an essential part of the buying process. By choosing the best tires for your car and getting the right insurance to cover any incidents, you’ll get the most mileage for your buck. To explore your options for tire and wheel warranties, reach out to Wheel and Tire Care at 1-347-308-6161 today!