Tires are something everyone has to buy sooner or later. Most people
will either go to the local tire store and buy what is on sale or buy another
set of the tires the vehicle came with. With a little research through
the links on this page, however, you can be sure you get the best tire
for your vehicle and will more than likely save some money. This page contains
links to sites where you can purchase tires over the Web or just find some
prices and information. There are also links to the homepages of various
tire companies. At the bottom of this page is a section explaining some
tire lingo and those numbers on the sidewalls. The last part has some suggestions
for those wanting to upgrade their wheels as well, including some tire
size selectors.
The type of tires right for a vehicle depend on the kind of vehicle.
Cars, trucks, and vans all need different types of tires. Another consideration
is the location of the place you live. For example, all season tires are
preferable for those living in places where snow and ice are common. All
season tires are not substitutes for snow tires, but provide better traction
in mud and snow than do summer tires.
Another consideration are your driving habits and where you drive. For example, if you own a pickup or sport utility vehicle, but live in the city and only drive on paved roads, you probably don't need something designed for traction in mud and sand. Instead, something designed for your vehicle with wet traction, ride comfort, and quietness will be more appropriate. If you drive a car or van you will want to take in to consideration the type of vehicle and your driving habits. On a standard passenger car, a variety of tires will be suitable. For most people, a good all season tire with a quiet ride is the best choice. If you drive a luxury or performance sedan, something with better traction and handling may be in order. A caution though, the higher performance tires will cost considerably more. If you drive a sports car, you want maximum handling and traction. Choosing an inexpensive sedan tire could result in poorer handling on your vehicle than you are used to.
Just a note : If you have just bought normal tires that came
with your vehicle in the past, you may want to upgrade. The tire services
listed below can actually sell you tires for less money than your local
retailer pays for them. You can often get a much better set of tires for
less money than you spent on the current ones. Tire upgrades will be discussed
a little further down the page.
Listed below are a few tire services with home pages on the Web.
By visiting any of the three sites you can look for a tire suited to your
needs, or search by brand or type if you already have something in mind.
Tire Rack and Discount
Tire Direct are the largest direct tires services. Their ads can be
found in numerous car magazines. Each will provide a wide variety of information
on a vast selection of tires. They also have toll free numbers you can
call to ask questions before placing an order. Your order is shipped to
your house through UPS generally. It will take two to three days depending
on your location. Once the shipment arrives, you just take the new tires
to one of your local tire shops for mounting and balancing. Call around
town first and compare prices. There is quite often a wide range.
Also listed are the homepages of some tire companies if you want to
find out even more information about their products.
Tire Rack -Phone#: 888-370-8473
Call Toll Free!
Discount Tire Direct -Phone#: 800-790-6444
Call Toll Free!
Wheels
Direct
Many people are unfamiliar with the markings on the sidewall (the
part of the tire facing outward). The set of numbers provide valuable information
about the tire which can aid in helping identify what you currently have
as well as what you are getting. Any of the services mentioned above can
provide you with the same information as you request, in addition to professional
opinions.
Most tire have a set of numbers on the side which look like this: 185 60 R 14 82H
The numbers each indicate part of the tire's dimensions and characteristics.
The 185 is the width of the tire in millimeters. The next number is the
aspect ratio. This indicates the tires height with respect to the width.
For instance, in this case the width is 185 millimeters. The height of
the sidewall is 60 percent of 185 millimeters. The R indicates the construction
type of the tire. In this case, the tire is a radial. Other types include
B, for bias-belted, and D, for diagonal construction. The last number is
the rim size the tire will fit on in inches. This one has a rim size of
14 inches. The next number, 82, is the load index. The higher the number,
the greater the weight the tire can handle at maximum pressure. For 82,
the weight is 1047 lbs. In most cases, the number is not something to be
concerned with. The last letter, H, is the speed rating. There is a corresponding
speed to each letter. A few are listed below. The higher the speed rating,
the sticker the compound. This results in better traction and generally
shorter tire life in terms of miles.
S = 112 mph T = 118 mph H = 130 mph V = 149 mph Z = 149+ mph
The other information on a tire looks like this:
Treadwear 300 Traction A Temperature A
These indicate the characteristics of a tire. Note: These numbers
are only good for comparison when examining tires made by the same company.
Treadwear indicates how long the tire will generally last. A higher treadwear
means you should get more miles out of the tires. The Traction letter is
either A, B, or C. C means it meets minimum requirements and A is the best.
The same goes for Temperature. This is a measure of how well the tire dissipates
heat when in use under maximum inflation.
A few tips :
Upgrading to a set of custom wheels can not only improve the looks
of your vehicle, but also improve performance. If you are looking to upgrade
there are a few things to keep in mind. First, try and keep the overall
tire diameter the same. This can be calculated using the numbers on the
present tires and the numbers of the ones you want. Listed below are a
few places that can make these calculations for you. You can even get information
on how much your speedometer reading will be affected by the change. Also,
if you are buying performance wheels you should by performance tires to
go with them. Tire Rack and Discount
Tire Direct sell packages of wheels and tires together. This can usually
save you even more money. Check the pages or call the toll free phone numbers
listed above.
| This page created by Josh Matthew and Jennifer Aaron
for Dr. Bruce R. Magee's English 303 class. |
|---|