Tire Buying Guide

Download Tire Buying Guide PDF

Whether or not you're a new driver, when it comes to servicing your car, you may feel confused and overwhelmed. This is especially true about tire selection. What tires will last the longest? Does a low price mean low quality? How do I know if I've purchased the right tire size for my vehicle? Which tires get the best mileage?

Unfortunately, when trying to find the answers to these questions through your own research or a conversation with an automotive technician, you may find yourself overwhelmed with technical information. That's why we've created this Total Tire Buying Guide.

In this educational driver-friendly guide, we'll help you understand exactly what to look for when selecting the best tires for your car. We'll cover the three most important elements to consider before purchasing, how to choose the right tire category for your vehicle and driving needs, and break down the tire-tech talk and help you understand the most commonly used tire size and service terms.

1) Fit Your Vehicle with the Correct Tire Size as Designated by the Vehicle Manufacturer

This information is usually found on your driver-side doorjamb, glove compartment door, or tire sidewall. Your replacement tires should equal or exceed the vehicle manufacturer's size (or tire dimensions) as well as service description (or load and speed rating).

For example, here's an explanation of what the size and service description of P205\65R15 94H actually means:

Originally used to determine a vehicle's speed limits in Germany, it is now viewed in America as a good indicator of tire performance, meaning steering responsiveness, road grip, stopping ability.

Since vehicle performance will likely be compromised when replacing with a lower speed-rated tire, most tire and vehicle manufacturers strongly recommend replacing with an equal, or improved, speed rating (see graph below). For more advice on speed-ratings we recommend that you discuss with your myTireShop Advisor or myTireShop Certified Shop.

Speed Performance Ratings

2) Choose Tires to Fit Your Driving Style

Before choosing the right tires for your vehicle, you'll need to determine the correct tire category for your vehicle and your driving needs.

For most cars, SUVs, and light trucks, the most common tire categories are Touring, High Performance, Ultra High Performance, P-Metric Light Truck, and Light Truck. Since we're not all tire experts, we've defined these major tire categories and their performance attributes by relating them to something we're all familiar with: footwear.

Touring

Walking or jogging shoes. Cushioned for good support, easy on the foot and body. Perfect for straight-line performance and longevity.

Touring Performance or High Performance

Tennis shoes or basketball shoes. A balance among durability, agility, and comfort while delivering improved grip for sudden stops and turns.

Ultra High Performance

Football and soccer cleats. Designed for maximum grip when you must maintain control when stopping and turning at high speeds. You won't lose contact with the ground when you need it most: in the most extreme turns and stops.

P-Metric Light Truck

Hiking boots. Durable, comfortable, adapts to different terrains.

Light Truck

Work boots. Protective, tough durable, grip. Not always comfortable, but they navigate through the toughest terrains.

3) More Than Just Mileage and Price

Think about what you expect from your tires because they're the only contact between your vehicle and the road. In addition to mileage and price, it's critical to consider your needs, typical driving style, and the environment.

Here are various scenarios that will help you evaluate your tire needs:

Tires must perform at their best in a variety of situations based on your typical driving habits or hobbies.

When a tires performance matters most, during hard braking, driving on slick roads, and when making sudden lane changes, all tires are not the same. Your myTireShop Advisor will help you select the best value for you; the perfect balance of price, longevity, comfort and performance.

At myTireShop, we understand tires and drivers. We'll help you make the best choice considering what matters most to you. That's why we provide our no risk Right Choice Guarantee. Also, when you order new tires through myTireShop, we'll contact you to discuss your tire choice, and other options if needed, before your tires are shipped so you can feel comfortable and confident in your tire selection.

Download Tire Buying Guide PDF