How to Choose the Right Tires For Your Car

First of all, is the normal highway tire your car came fitted with. This tire is meant for city and highway use. It is designed for optimal performance on paved roads and offers a mix of good handling, safety, fuel economy, life and smoothness. It can take bad roads and to an extent, unpaved roads or driving on grass and sand. In other words, it meets and the requirements of normal use.

Then there are mud tires. These have a special tread design that forces mud away and allow for it to maintain better contact with the road. These tires are best suited for bad and wet road conditions and work best on back country roads and partial paved surfaces in wet areas.

Snow tires (also called winter tires) have an asymmetrical tread design that allows for better gripping of slippery and wet surfaces.

Off road tires (also called rally tires) are designed with heavy treads and ribs on the side that permit much better traction in off road conditions. They are usually more flexible than standard tires to allow them to contour and grip uneven surfaces. They are made to operate at low pressures and to flex to allow for the absorbing of bumps.

These are the four main types from which you can decide how to choose the right one for your car. Remember that each type of tire is designed for a specific application. It is not a good idea to use a tire for any purpose than it has been designed for. Mud or snow tires, if used on dry paved surfaces will not only wear out fast, but will provide inadequate traction and also tend to heat up more than standard tire. Snow tires or normal tires are not designed for off road conditions and if used there could easily blowout.

When choosing the right tire for your car, buy the type that best suits your driving conditions. If need be, get different sets for different conditions, i.e. standard tires for most of the year and snow tires for winter. If you have doubts or are confused, you local tire dealer or garage can give you advice.

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