Selecting the right tyre for your needs and budget is something you can accomplish by using the search modes and helpful information available on our web site.

Determine When You Need Tyres

• Tyres are considered to be worn out at 2/32 inch minimum tread depth.
• In wet conditions 4/32 inch or less tread means a significant loss of wet traction due to shallower grooves and sipes.
• Irregular wear necessitates early tyre replacement.

Determine How Many Tyres You Need

If you need one tyre (due to damage, a defect, irregular wear, etc.) it is recommended that you replace it with a tyre that has a similar brand, line, speed rating, and load capacity of the three remaining tyres.

If you need two tyres due to poor or irregular wear, replace the tyre with ones of similar or better quality. The two new tyres should go on the rear of your vehicle.

Replacing all four tyres is the best-case scenario, as you are open to a wide range of options.

Determine the Tyre Size

Most people replace their old tyres with the same size that was on the vehicle. You can check the sidewall of the tyre or the users’ manual for this information. If you know the tyre size you need, use our Search by Size option to see what we have available.

Changing tyre size can often improve the ride and performance of a vehicle through the following methods:

By selecting a tyre of the next lower profile, you can significantly improve the ride quality and handling of your vehicle. Use our Find Tyre Size by Vehicle search to see these options.
Upsizing, or selecting a larger car tyre, is a common option, especially for SUV and truck owners. Taller, wider tyres improve performance as well as ride quality. Because cars and trucks are equipped with computerized systems (ABS for example) that use feedback from tyre rotation, use these guidelines to select a larger tyre:

• Make sure the tyre has load carrying capacity equal to or greater than what the vehicle placard suggests.
• Verify that the rim width range is appropriate for the tyre to be installed.
• Confirm that the tyre-to-vehicle clearance, lock-to-lock steering and suspension clearance is such that no rubbing occurs.

Analyze Your Driving Conditions

Here are some guidelines to help you select the right tyre based on your driving conditions:

Most tyres purchased today are the all-season type that provides acceptable performance and traction across the spectrum of possible driving conditions in all four seasons.

Consider seasonal tyres. All-season tyres have performance and traction disadvantages since their design elements are averaged. In seasonal tyres, the designs feature far superior dry handling and traction with wet performance ranging from acceptable to excellent.

In terms of traction, designs range from HT (highway tread) to AP (all-purpose) to AT (all-terrain) to MT (mud terrain) in order of aggressive tread design. Highway ride quality diminishes as the tread design becomes more aggressive.

You can pick tread aggressiveness according to your needs, but be mindful of the highway ride quality trade off.

Buy the Best Quality You Can Afford

When you are comparing tyres within a particular brand, use the UTQG (Uniform Tyre Quality Grading) ratings (treadwear grade) to calculate value. Divide the tread wear rating by the price. The highest number should be your pick if you want the best value according to treadwear grade. This system won’t help you compare between brands, however, because there is no standardization for wear scoring.

Consider Performance and Speed Ratings

You need to buy a tyre with the appropriate speed rating for your vehicle. A tyre’s handling response corresponds with its speed rating. You’ll lose that crisp handling the manufacturer designed into the vehicle and you will not be able to safely achieve the speeds the vehicle was designed for if you use a lower speed rated tyre than the original design. Conversely, you can improve your vehicle’s handling with a higher speed rated tyre.

Consider Tyre Type

Each year more car tyres, light truck, and SUV designs are introduced into the markets, as a result, tyre manufacturers are responding with more specialized designs. Be aware that for a given vehicle you can choose anything from long-wearing, easy-riding tyres to style-conscious, ultra-high performance tyres.