Buying the Right Tire for Tire Safety
Worn out or inappropriate tires are dangerous; they can increase the chance of a blow-out or accident from a slip on an icy road. Tire safety is one of the ways to avoid an unnecessary car accident. When purchasing a car, owners should understand that they will need to replace their tires a few times over the life of a typical vehicle. Many technological advances have been made to tires, making tires longer lasting; but actual tread life varies by car type, tire type, driving style, and even road and weather conditions. Consumer reports conducts reviews of the various types of tires available and identifies the strengths and weaknesses of each brand and type.
Having the right type of tire and replacing tires appropriately may be helpful in preventing an unnecessary car accident from slipping on ice or snow, for example. If you or a loved one was injured in a car accident, you may wish to seek the help of an experienced car accident attorney.
What Type of Tire Should I Buy for My Vehicle?
All season tires
All season tires are the most popular and affordable type of tire; they typically come with an S- and T-speed rating. All season tires come standard on many sedans and minivans and are designed to handle most conditions, including dry and wet pavement and light to moderate snow. They are built for a comfortable, quiet ride, with predictable handling and long tread life. Most drivers who live in moderate climates can use all season tires.
All season truck tires
All season truck tires are designed for light trucks; they are commonly used on SUV’s and light duty pickups. These tires are designed to handle most conditions including dry and wet pavement and light to moderate snow. They also emphasize a comfortable, quiet ride, predictable handling, and long tread wear.
All terrain truck tires
All terrain truck tires are designed for light trucks. These tires are also commonly used on SUV’s and light duty pickups but differ from all season tires in their more aggressive tread pattern which is intended for use in both on-road and in moderate off-road conditions. Like all season tires, all terrain models are designed to handle most conditions including dry and wet pavement and light to moderate snow.
Performance all season tires
Performance all season tires are popular on newer vehicles and are sold in H- and V-speed ratings. They are considered one step up from regular all season tires as they place more emphasis on handling. The downside is that they tend to have a shorter tread life. V-speed rated tires are tuned more for performance in handling and cornering grip than H-speed rated tires.
Ultra high performance all season tires
These tires are available in the highest speed ratings of ZR with sub-speed rating categories of W and Y. They are ideal for enhancing dry and wet grip and handling but are not ideal for some light duty winter traction. Like summer tires they create a stiffer ride, and have a shorter tread life and higher price tag than lower speed rated tires. They are best suited to sporty sedans and coupes.
Ultra high performance summer tires
Ultra high performance summer tires are available in the highest speed ratings of ZR with sub-speed rating categories of W and Y. These tires are designed to deliver the ultimate dry and wet grip and handling and are commonly found on sports cars. Unfortunately these tires also come with a stiff ride, short tread life, and a high price. These tires do not work well in cold/winter weather.
Winter/snow tires
Winter tires are designed to hug the road when driving in icy/snowy conditions; this is accomplished by a tread with more biting edges and many have a softer rubber compound that remains flexible in extremely cold temperatures. The drawback is that on cleared roads, they might not grip as well as all season tires and they tend to wear more quickly.
Winter/snow truck tires
Winter/snow truck tires are like winter/snow tires but are designed for light trucks. See description above.
Performance winter/snow tires
Although similar to regular winter tires, many performance winter tires come in sizes and speed ratings of H and higher. These tires are designed for cars that use performance tires in warmer months. Performance winter tires have higher levels of snow and ice grip and keep some of the handling and cornering capabilities of the warm weather performance tires. They are not always as good as all season tires on dry and wet pavement and tend to wear-out faster. Performance winter tires should be removed once warm weather returns.
If you or a loved one were injured in an accident, you have enough to deal with. Let an experienced accident attorney fight for the full compensation that you deserve. It is not uncommon to receive a settlement from the insurance company that is five to ten times bigger with the help of a lawyer. Call the caring accident attorneys at Tario & Associates, P.S. in Bellingham, WA today for a FREE consultation! We have been representing residents of Whatcom County, Skagit County, Island County and Snohomish County since 1979. You will pay nothing up front and no attorney fees at all unless we recover damages for you!
