How to Shop for Tires

In 2024, the average age of vehicles on the road in the US continued its steady rise to a record-breaking 12.6 years old, according to a report from S&P Global Mobility. Considering the average American driver puts 12,000 to 15,000 miles on their vehicle each year, vehicle owners can expect to put new tires on their vehicle—likely more than once—during their ownership.

The lifespan of a tire depends on a number of complex factors, including how the vehicle is stored, the age of the tire, the type of tire, the surfaces of roads driven, and proper tire inflation. Tire prices can also differ dramatically from brand to brand and type to type. So, when it’s time to purchase new tires, it pays to shop around.

But what’s the best way to know whether a tire’s design is best suited for the kind of driving it will be expected to handle and the speed ratings your vehicle needs? Here, we explain how tires are rated and what the ratings mean as well as define some common tire types you should consider before making a purchase.But first, let’s define some common tire terms for a better understanding of the features of a typical tire.

What do tire speed ratings mean?

A tire speed rating indicates the maximum speed a tire is rated to handle before resulting in a drop-off in performance, indicated by the last letter in the tire’s character code sequence found on the sidewall. The speed rating system used for tires today runs A to Z through the alphabet, with a few minor exceptions. One exception is that the "H" rating is out of place, falling between "U" and "V." Additionally, the ratings "I," "O," and "X" aren't included. The later in the alphabet the letter appears, the faster the speed rating for the tire.

Before selecting a tire, always consult your owner’s manual for its recommended speed rating, and choose a tire that corresponds to the manufacturer’s recommendation. You keep in mind that even though a tire has a specific speed rating, factors like inflation level, road surface, and the load weight carried by the vehicle can lower the speed rating.

Common tire terms

Knowing these tire terms will help you shop for tires with more confidence.

• Tread/tread pattern
  
  The tread of a tire refers to the rubber that contacts the driving surface. The grooves in the tire are not actually the tread; rather, they make the pattern that’s designed to push water, snow, dirt, and debris away from the contact patch.
• Sipes
  
  Also called “kerf,” sipes are small slits in the tread blocks designed to increase grip in wet, icy, or snowy conditions. Sipes help push moisture and debris away to provide more grip.
• Sidewall
  
  The sidewall is the smooth vertical portion of the tire that sits between the tire tread and the wheel. It’s key when you are reading tire size. Sidewalls also include pertinent information such as inflation specifications, speed rating, and date of manufacture.
• Bead
  
  The bead is the inner edge of the sidewall that contacts the rim of the wheel. This thicker, reinforced edge slots into a groove in the wheel to form an airtight seal that allows the tire to hold air.
• Aspect ratio
  
  The aspect ratio indicates the height of the sidewall relative to the width of the tire. It’s important to keep the aspect ratio the same between your sets of tires to prevent the need to recalibrate your speedometer and odometer due to changing wheel circumference.

Common tire types

In addition to speed ratings, consider the driving conditions that you regularly encounter and the weather where you primarily drive the vehicle to select the best type of tire.

• All-Season
  
  All-season tires are the most popular tires used by drivers today. Well suited for driving on paved highways and surface streets, all-season tires provide acceptable performance in most scenarios. They are designed to provide a comfortable ride and good handling through a wide range of weather conditions.
• Passenger
  
  These tires are designed with comfort in mind, delivering a smooth, quiet ride and acceptable reliability throughout the year. Compared with other performance-type tires, tread life on passenger tires is very good.
• Touring
  Also referred to as “Grand Touring” tires, these deliver a comfortable ride and all-season traction while also boasting higher speed ratings and more responsive handling. Designed to lean into performance versus comfort, these tires work well on sporty sedans or other performance vehicles.
• Performance
  
  These tires come with larger grooves in the tread pattern to improve traction in wet conditions. With enhanced tread compounds, performance tires feature higher speed ratings and better grip in all weather conditions with less focus on ride comfort.
• All-Terrain
  
  Featuring a pronounced tread pattern with large tread blocks and deep grooves, all-terrain tires deliver grip and performance in off-road applications. All-terrain tires are perfect for driving on dirt, mud, or rocky surfaces.
• Winter
  Winter tires are designed to maximize traction with heavy siping and deep grooves that push snow and slush away from the contact patch. “Studded” winter tires even feature small metal pins to provide grip over ice. If you feel the need for winter tires, we recommend buying an extra set of wheels to install them so that you can switch between your summer and winter tires without having to remount and balance them.
• Summer
  Designed for great performance in wet and dry conditions, summer tires deliver great traction in hot weather. While they deliver responsive handling and grip during hot months, they don’t provide very good traction or handling during colder months. If you have summer tires, you may want to mount a secondary set of rims with winter or all-season tires to balance your vehicle performance year-round. 

Once you determine the tire type and tire speed rating that work best for your vehicle, turn to a certified technician for expert installation at a tire shop near you. Your tires are critical in not only keeping your vehicle running smoothly but also in keeping you and your passengers safe on the road.