Is It Time To Replace Your Tires?

There are a lot of factors to take into consideration and a lot of questions to ask before buying new tires. We’ll help you simplify the process with a simple checklist to help you find the right tires for your vehicle.

When should I replace my tires?

The first thing you need to look at is your tire’s tread depth and age. When the tread depth is at 4/32nds of an inch, it’s time for a replacement. For those living in snowy conditions, it’s recommended to replace your tire once it gets to about 6/32nds of an inch. Tires with less tread than this will have a significant reduction in traction and greater risk of sliding.

Tires also wear down over time. Minimum industry guidelines recommend having your tires inspected at least every year once they are 6 years old and completely replaced after 10 years. If you’re not sure how well your tires are holding up, you can bring your car into World Class Auto and take advantage of our winter inspection special, just $9.99.

What type of tire should I get?

There are 7 main types of tires to consider when replacing your vehicle’s wheels.

All-Season Tires: A cost-effective option with long tread wear and adequate traction in both dry and wet conditions. These are great for older cars and in climates that don’t often drop below freezing.

Performance All-Season Tires: These tires offer improved handling and braking. They are great for newer cars and colder climates.

Ultra Performance Tires: Experience great handling and steering in both wet and dry conditions. These are typically seen on upscale sedans and sports cars.

Summer Tires: These tires have softer rubber to provide maximum traction on dry and wet roads in warm weather.

All Terrain Tires: Excellent tires for those who mostly drive on paved roads but plan on doing some light-duty off-roading. These work great in most weather conditions.

Winter Tires: Winter tires have special traction designed specifically for snow and ice. They are made with rubber that can withstand freezing temperatures.

Performance Winter Tires: These enhanced winter tires offers even greater traction for high-speed handling and improved levels of snow and ice grip. These are recommended for those who live in areas that receive a substantial amount of snow and ice.

When selecting the type of tire, it’s important to take into consideration how your tires are used, the climate you live in, and your driving style. If you’re not sure, our specialists will be happy to assist you with any questions you may have.

Tire FAQ’s

What kind of specifications should I be aware of?

Every vehicle manufacturer will provide minimum requirements/recommendations for the tire put on that vehicle. You can find these requirements in your vehicle manual or simply by doing a quick Google search. The main things to look at are the load index, which ensure that the tires can carry the weight of your vehicle, and the speed rating. You want to make sure that the speed rating of all 4 tires on your car match.

Can I have two different types of tires?

Sometimes you only want to replace 1 – 3 tires on your vehicle instead of all of them at once. It is ok to have two different types of tires, but you do want to make sure that the size and speed rating matches on all of them. The tread will also wear down at different rates, so it is often a good idea to replace all 4 at once if possible.

On 4-Wheel Drive or All-Wheel Drive (AWD) vehicles, replacing all 4 tires at once is a must – otherwise you’ll be putting too much strain on the drive system, which is MUCH more expensive to repair than the cost of the tires!

What is an H rating on a tire?

Tires come with speed ratings that tell you how fast a speed these tires can handle. For example, an H rating has a maximum speed of 130mph. These are typically seen on sport sedans and are considered a high-performance tire.

With so many different types of tires out there, it is always best to call World Class Auto to browse options and find the best fit for your vehicle and lifestyle. If you want to know all about the different types of tires in American Fork, UT, make sure you call (801) 756-2661 so that we can help you in any way that we can.