Tires are one of the most important components of your car. Since the safety and grip of the car depend on them, it is important to make the best possible choice when it comes time to replace them. To make the right decision, you need to take many factors into account and understand your vehicle's needs, your type of road use, the weather conditions in your area, and much more.

In the comprehensive buying guide below, we will present to you in detail and step-by-step the factors you need to consider when choosing your tires. From understanding dimensions and labels to maintaining and caring for your tires.

Step 1: Understand your needs

Before buying tires, you need to understand your car’s needs:

• Vehicle Type: The type of your car (e.g. Passenger Car, 4x4 / SUV, Light Truck) affects the choice of tires.
• Climate and Weather Conditions: Do you live in an area with frequent rain, snow, or high temperatures? You should take this into account before making your choice.
• Type of Driving Use: Do you use the car for daily commuting, trips, or racing driving?

Step 2: Understand the labels and characteristics of tires.

The important information includes:

• Dimensions (e.g. 205/55R17): The first number is the tire width, the second is the aspect ratio, and the third is the rim diameter.
• Speed and Load Indexes: They indicate the maximum speed and maximum load that the tire can support.
• Fuel Consumption, Wet Grip & Noise Label: This label rates fuel efficiency, the tire's grip in wet conditions, as well as its noise levels. More information about the energy label can be found in the guide below, which explains all the markings of the new tire energy label.
• Tire Types: Tires are divided into categories depending on the season and their use, e.g. all-season or 4-season, winter, and summer.
• Special Features & Markings: Some tires have special features and markings such as Runflat and XL.

How do you identify the dimensions and indexes of your tires?

When we refer to a tire's size, we are actually talking about the following information, which can be found on the tire's sidewall:

• The first number informs us about the width of the tire e.g. 205 millimeters.
• The second number refers to the aspect ratio of the tire as a percentage e.g. 55. This ratio is derived from the height of the tire's profile and its width.
• The letter R refers to the type of tire e.g. the letter R means radial and is the internal construction of the tire (Radial).
• The number after the type refers to the diameter of the rim in inches e.g. 17 inches.
• The number e.g. 91 is the load index which corresponds to a maximum load that can be supported by a single tire.
• The letter e.g. V is the speed index which corresponds to the maximum speed at which a tire can carry its maximum load.

More information and correspondences for the above load and speed indices can be found at the end of the buying guide.

#Tipsbyskroutzteam: In addition to the side of the tire, you can find the exact dimensions of your tires in the car manual or on the sticker that is usually located on the side of the driver's door.

What are the differences between different types of car tires?

The main types of car tires are three, such as summer tires, winter tires, and all-season or 4-season tires.

How do summer and winter tires differ?

Summer car tires can be used in summer, e.g. from April to October, in high temperatures, as they are designed to increase grip on asphalt, reduce rolling resistance, and allow smoother driving during snow-free periods.

Also, they are not suitable for use below 7ºC, as they begin to lose their grip as the tire starts to harden.

Advantages:

• On dry roads, they offer lower fuel consumption, reduced noise, and better handling than any other type of tire.

Disadvantages:

• On wet roads, they offer less grip.

What are the differences between winter tires?

Winter car tires offer better performance in cold weather, which is why they are a good alternative to using snow chains. This type of tire is ideal for snow and more comfortable to use compared to snow chains. Mainly because you do not need to install anything and because you do not need to worry about issues such as any damage that snow chains usually cause.

In addition, winter tires are specially designed to allow you to drive on snowy and icy ground, even on wet surfaces. They are also suitable for driving on surfaces where the outside temperature is below 7 degrees. Winter tires are usually indicated by the M+S symbol: Mud and Snow.

Advantages:

• They offer better grip and control of the car at low temperatures and in conditions of snow and ice.
• They offer lower rolling resistance in snow and ice conditions, resulting in reduced fuel consumption.

Disadvantages:

• They usually require changing twice a year, once in autumn and once in spring.
• They offer reduced performance at high temperatures.

What are the differences between 4-season tires?

All-season tires are tires that can be used both in winter and in summer. They offer better performance in cold climates as well as in environments with high temperatures. However, they cannot fully replace summer or winter tires, as they do not deliver the same performance 100%. For this reason, you can also take a look at the different types of snow chains in the complete buying guide for this category.

Their selection and use depend on your geographical location, since the climate where you live, for example, if outdoor temperatures are not very extreme and remain more or less stable throughout the year, then all-season tires are ideal for you.

Advantages:

• They offer good grip and performance in mild conditions, such as dry or wet roads.
• They can be used all year round without needing to be changed.

Disadvantages:

• They do not offer the same performance as winter or summer tires in extreme conditions, such as very low temperatures, heavy snowfall, or very high temperatures.
• They wear out faster than winter or summer tires because they must cope with a wide range of weather conditions.

What do the special features XL and Runflat mean?

Tires with special XL marking

Some tires have the XL marking on the side, which means they can withstand additional load. These tires have been reinforced so they can carry heavier loads than standard tires of the same dimensions. Therefore, this type of tire is usually used in heavier vehicles, e.g. SUVs.

Runflat tires

Runflat tires are designed with reinforced sidewalls, which help support the weight of the car, allowing it to continue moving after a loss of pressure.

#Tipsbyskroutzteam:

Tire Age

It is supported that the production date of a tire does not affect its performance as long as it is stored in a dark and cool place. However, because in practice it is particularly difficult for tires to be stored under ideal conditions, it is recommended to avoid tires older than three years.

How to find out the production date of the tire?

Each tire has a four-digit number indicating its production date, which can be easily distinguished on the right side of the DOT marking. The first two digits refer to the production week and the last two digits refer to the production year. Specifically, if a tire has the production code "4020", then the tire was produced in the 40th week of 2020. (August 1st-7th).

How to find the correct tire pressure?

The correct tire pressure is important for the optimal performance of your tires. Every aspect of driving is affected by underinflation or overinflation, so it is important to know exactly what your tire pressure should be and to check it regularly.

The recommended pressure for your tires can be found in your vehicle's manual or, alternatively, it should be visible on the inside of the driver's door or on the fuel filler flap.

Driving with the correct tire pressure will ensure optimal handling and grip in all weather conditions. In addition, tire pressure has a positive impact on braking distances and fuel efficiency.

Also, an incorrectly inflated tire wears down your tire treads faster, which means you will need to replace them sooner. Therefore, using a tire pressure gauge is the ideal solution to know immediately whether your tires need air or have the correct pressure.

If you read all of the above about tires but still have questions and concerns? Then ask us any question you have about car tires and at the first opportunity a skroutzer will answer you!