New tires aren’t at the top of anybody’s shopping list, but it’s something that everybody needs to do at some point with their vehicle.

1. Replacing Tires: What You Should Know September 17, 2010

2. New Tires? New tires aren’t at the top of anybody’s shopping list, but it’s something that everybody needs to do at some point with their vehicle. Local tire retailers have dozens of different new tires made by dozens of different brands. How do you know what to look for? What size is the correct one? Does it matter if they’re different? Fall is right around the corner, do I need to start thinking of snow tires?

3. What To Look For The first thing to do when you’re contemplating new tires is check the tires to see if they actually need to be replaced. Outside of a puncture or flat, there are two easy and quick ways to determine if you need new tires.

4. What To Look For cont. Try the quarter test. To see if the tread is worn out on any of the car’s tires you take a quarter and put it into the shallowest groove on the tread with Washington’s head down. If the top of the former President’s wig is visible then the tire should be replaced. A different way to test out the tires is to look for wear bars. These are narrow bands that appear in the grooves of the tire (between the tire tread). They are raised patches of rubber and if they are flush with the tread then the tire isn’t worn out just yet, if they are raised higher than the tread then the tire needs replacing.

5. Only One Tire After you’ve inspected your car's tire wear you’ll know just how many new tires your vehicle needs. This information is important because it changes what you’ll be looking for at a retail tire store If you only need one tire then you are going to want to get the same exact tire to replace it

6. Two Tires When replacing two tires on your car, you have two different options – you can either match the tires to the ones you have or you can just get two matching tires that are at least equal in quality. If you are getting two new tires, you want to make sure they are both put in the rear of the vehicle, new tires have deeper treads and when roads are wet you’ll be able to take advantage of their improved hydroplaning resistance in the back.

7. A Whole New Set If you’re in need of a full new set of tire, then your options are open. You can get the size and quality you want to fit your vehicle, driving style and area’s weather conditions.

8. The Sidewall Some other helpful information to have, or at least be aware of you, when you are thinking of buying new tires is located on your tire’s sidewall. Written on the sidewall is information like the tire’s actual size (width, height and diameter), the ratings for load-carrying capacity and for speed handling ability

9. Load Index If you are interested in increasing your car’s load index (the amount of weight your tires can carry) then you get the number off the sidewall (usually located right before the speed rating) and ask a friendly technician at a local tire store or look online for the load index chart to see how much weight the car can carry

10. Load Index cont. A car with a load index of 95 can safely handle 1,521 pounds. Multiplying that by four gets you your vehicle’s maximum load capacity. The higher the load index number, the more weight your car can handle. One note - never replace your tires with a lower load index number. The letter after load index is the tire’s speed rating. It will be a letter from Q to Z (best) and that will determine how well the tire reaches and maintains a specific speed, the higher the rating the better the handling

11. Get To Your Tire Retailer Armed with all this information makes shopping for new tires can be a pretty harmless process. Qualified sales associates at tire retailers can walk you through any questions or concerns you have, but understanding what you’re looking will help them provide the perfect fit for your vehicle.

12. Belle Tire People have trusted Belle Tire for the best value since 1922. Because at Belle Tire we challenge ourselves every day to make sure that you always get the lowest tire price, period. Prove it to yourself. Take the Belle Tire Price Challenge. Challenge us online, over the phone or even challenge us right in the store. Come in to any Belle Tire, and we’ll check other stores’ prices with you, right at the counter, and prove to you that Belle Tire has the lowest tire prices, PERIOD! Plus, at Belle Tire, you’ll always get out the door with more value, services and protection with every tire installation than the competition can offer, at any price! For the Lowest Tire Price, Period and great low prices on Custom Wheels, Alignments, Brakes, Batteries, Oil and Lube, Shocks & Struts, Windshield Repair and Replacement, and more. Visit http://www.belletire.com and also join our online communities: BELLE TIRE CARES * BLOG * FACEBOOK * TWITTER * ABOUT BELLE TIRE