Tire Buying Guide 2024: How To Know Which Tires to Buy

By Tire Agent Staff

July 19, 2024

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How do you know which tires to buy for your car, truck, SUV, or specialty vehicle? When you walk into a tire store, you're at the mercy of the sales person. They may offer two or three options, but how do you know if those are the best options for you?

This tire guide will help you understand how to pick the right tire for your vehicle, budget and driving style. This guide to buying new tires answers these questions:

How do you shop for tires when you know nothing about tires? What to look for in tires.
What tires should I get? How to choose a tire from so many options.
What tires do I need? How to know what tires fit your vehicle.
How do I buy tires online? What to know when buying tires online.
How do I shop for cheap tires? How to get the best tires you can afford.

6 Things to Know when Buying New Tires

1. Tire size and type

The first step in tire buying is to determine the correct size and type. You can find this information in your vehicle's owner's manual or the placard on the driver's side door jamb. Choosing tires that match the recommended size and type is vital to ensure proper fit, performance and fuel efficiency.

Tire size is typically expressed as a series of numbers and letters, such as P215/65R16. Here's what each part of the code means:

P or LT: This indicates whether the tire is for passenger cars (P) or light trucks (LT).
215: This is the tire's width in millimeters.
65: This is the aspect ratio, representing the tire's height as a percentage of its width.
R: This stands for radial construction, which is the most common type of tire.
16: This is the diameter of the wheel the tire is designed to fit, in inches.

Choosing the correct type of tire is also important. There are various tire types, including all-season, summer, winter and performance tires. Your choice should depend on the driving conditions where you live. Read more about the different types of tires.

2. Tread pattern and traction

The tread pattern of a tire plays a significant role in its performance. Tread patterns are designed to provide specific benefits, such as improved traction, handling and water evacuation. When selecting new tires, consider the type of weather and terrain you encounter regularly.

All-season tires: These offer a good balance of performance in various conditions. They are suitable for most drivers who don't face extreme weather conditions. We explain all season vs all weather in a related post.
Summer tires: Designed for warm weather, summer tires provide excellent grip and handling on dry roads. However, they may not perform well in cold or snowy conditions.
Winter tires: If you live in an area with harsh winters, winter tires are necessary. They provide superior traction on snow and ice, improving safety and control. Get the guide to winter and snow tires.
Performance tires: These are designed for sports cars and high-performance vehicles, offering enhanced grip and handling on dry roads. However, they may not be suitable for everyday use in all conditions. This article lists some of our favorite all-season performance tires.

Tread patterns aren't there for looks. They're engineered for driving in various conditions. Want to learn more? Learn more about tread patterns.

3. Load capacity and speed rating

Every tire is designed to carry a specific load, which the load index indicates. The simplest advice is to choose the load capacity and speed rating that the manufacturer suggests. Choose tires with a load index that matches the weight of your vehicle. Exceeding the load capacity can lead to tire failure and safety hazards.

Speed ratings indicate the maximum speed a tire can safely handle. These ratings range from Q (99 mph) to Y (186 mph). Ensure that the speed rating of your chosen tires meets your vehicle's top speed capabilities.

Learn more about tire speed rating.

See this tire load index chart.

4. Fuel efficiency

Tire selection can impact your vehicle's fuel efficiency. Tires with lower rolling resistance can improve gas mileage, which can lead to cost savings over time. Look for tires labeled "low rolling resistance" to maximize fuel efficiency without compromising performance.

When shopping for tires online with Tire Agent, you'll be able to filter to tires that are labeled fuel efficient. This post lists 7 fuel efficient tires.

5. Road noise and comfort

The level of road noise and ride comfort can vary among tire models. If a quiet and comfortable ride is a priority for you, read reviews and seek recommendations from other drivers who prioritize these factors.

Some premium tires are designed to minimize noise and provide a smoother ride. Here's a deeper look into why tires make noise and some quiet options.

6. Before you settle for cheap tires...

While it's tempting to opt for the cheapest tires, remember that tires are a long-term investment in safety and performance. It's worth spending a bit more for high-quality tires from reputable brands known for durability and performance.

That's why Tire Agent has created Paypair. It's our tire payment plan marketplace where tire buyers can choose their payment terms. You'll find options for lease-to-own, weekly or monthly payments, 90-day early buyout, and more. If you've got issues with your credit, you may find viable options too.

How to Know What Tires to Buy Online

Tire Agent makes it easy to select tires. From any page, enter the make, model, year and trim level of your vehicles. Verify the size of your tire, which you can find on the side of your existing tires, from the sticker on the inside of your driver's side door, or by reading your vehicle owner's manual.

We'll list all available options for your vehicle, and you can filter by price, brand, and other features. Use the Featured Filters to sort the list by current deals, great warranty or best value for the price.

If you are still unsure how to choose a tire, you can always use the Live Chat feature or contact a tire professional.

Where Should You Buy Tires?

Marketing experts tell us that today's shoppers use an average of 8 channels before making purchase decisions (Source). Which means, we know that while you're shopping for tires online with us, you're also checking your local retailers and other sources, and you should.

Here are some questions you should ask when buying tires:

What is the mileage warranty for the tires you recommend?
How much does the online tire seller charge for shipping? (Tire Agent is always free within the US.)
Would you put these tires on your child's/spouse's/parent's car?
Should I get 2 tires or 4?
Does my spare tire need to be replaced too?
How will the tires affect fuel economy?
What tread type is my existing tire, and what tread type do I need for my driving style and location?
Should I get winter tires, or all-season?
What are your current deals, coupons, rebates and discounts? Are there any coming up?

Get answers to FAQs about buying tires online with Tire Agent.

Tips for Buying Tires

Check the UTQG code

To learn more about the strengths and weaknesses of an individual tire, check the Uniform Tire Quality Grade (UTQG) code on the sidewall of the tire. These codes measure the treadwear, traction, and temperature ratings of a tire. The National Highway Safety Administration developed this code to help buyers purchase tires, but the rating comes from the manufacturers’ own self- testing. Learn more about what the UTQG means.

Check the warranty

A tire manufacturer warranty comes with the majority of tires. Just like any other warranty, this “guarantees” that your tire will be operable for a certain period. The manufacturer promises to refund all, or part, of the tire’s cost if it’s rendered inoperable due to manufacturing defects. However, tire warranties only cover a certain amount of miles or a certain treadwear depth marked by the tire’s treadwear depth indicator, and always under normal driving conditions. Learn more about treadwear depth indicators and tire warranties here.

Don't buy used tires

Used tires are dangerous. It’s tempting to purchase them because they’re significantly cheaper than buying a new set of tires. But these tires are very risky to drive on because you don’t know their history. Used tire sellers will try to make a used tire appear safe, but it could be only a day or two away from suddenly bursting on the road. You would rather not gamble your life on saving a bit of money. Learn more about how to spot a used/refurbished tire and why not to by used tires here.

Take care of your tires

Although tires will all wear down over time, there are some steps that you can take to make your tires last a bit longer. Rotating your tires, maintaining good tire pressure, and regularly inspecting your tires for damage are all steps you can take to maintain safety on the road. Learn more about how to make your tires last as long as possible here.

Do the penny test

If you’re wondering if you need to replace your tire, there’s a simple test that you can do. This test, called the penny test, checks to see if your tire treads have worn down to the point that they’re too dangerous to use. It involves taking a normal penny and putting it in the tread groove to check if you can see all of Lincoln’s head. Learn how to perform the penny test and some other useful tire tests here.

Learn tire tread lingo

Tires and their treads have very specific constructions to perform well in different environments and weather conditions. Treads have blocks, ribs, grooves, and sipes that all perform different tasks with your tires. There are even several types of tires like directional tires, asymmetrical tires, and symmetrical tires. If you want to be better versed in tire lingo, we have a guide on understanding more about tire treads.

Best time to buy tires

The best time to buy tires is before a disaster on the road. You can usually expect to need to replace your tires around every 6 years, but this can vary dependent on your tire, local road conditions and driving style. This means following some of our above tips for checking tire pressure, tread depth, and not buying used tires. Besides this, look out for end-of-year sales, discounts, and special promotions during shopping seasons. Learn how Tire Agent can make it easier to buy a new set of tires.