Most people don’t give much thought to the type of tire they choose for their car, and instead assume that all tires are created equal. Just ask any tire expert, though, and you’ll quickly learn that that’s not the case. Instead, the type of tire best suited to your car depends on several crucial factors, including the climate conditions where you live, the size of your vehicle, and what purpose your vehicle serves. Read on to find out the most common tire categories and to understand which kinds of vehicles and conditions they’re suited to.
1. Summer Tires
As the name suggests, summer tires are best used in warm weather conditions. They won’t give you additional traction under icy or snowy conditions, though they can be used in wet conditions. Summer tires most often feature orbital grooves and tread patterns to maximize your vehicle’s handling when the weather is humid or hot. If you’re looking to replace your summer tires, you should choose tires that are the same size as the ones that came with your vehicle. Going too large or too wide can cause your vehicle to hydroplane in wet conditions.
2. Winter Tires
For people who live with wintry weather conditions for part of the year, winter tires are a must. They improve traction in cold weather conditions with various types of tread and weather and generally perform better on snow- and ice-covered roads. Narrow tires are better able to cut a path through snow, and in general, you should choose a tire that is similar in size to the vehicle’s base model.
3. All-Season Tires
Though they’re competent in both the summer and the winter, all season tires aren’t the best option for either the summer or winter. They may be the most useful for people who live in temperate regions, where neither winters nor summers are extreme. People who experience extremely wintry conditions should probably go with winter tires, which offer the utmost in performance on dangerous, snow-covered roads. For those that can get away with all-season tires, an obvious benefit is that you don’t have to change all-season tires all year. Of course, they’ll also wear out sooner than tires which you change from season to season.
4. Performance Tires
Performance tires were once reserved for race cars and powerful sports cars. However, tire manufacturers have since realized the potential of performance tires for the average driver—whether it’s a Chevrolet or a Porsche. They are now available for every make and model, and come well-equipped for specific road conditions, such as cold weather, ice and snow, and off-road driving.
5. Truck Tires
Truck tires are in a class all their own, considering that trucks are often used for hauling and towing. If you have a truck, the type of tire depends on the purpose of the truck. Utility truck tires provide traction in off-road and bad weather conditions, so they have a staggered tread pattern. All-terrain truck tires are more durable than other types. They incorporate various tread patterns for added grip and traction. Highway truck tires are specifically designed to make for an overall smoother ride while on the highway.