If you had to list down the most prominent expenses in a car maintenance then your car tyres would be among the top parts that require a significant investment. Driving with a worn out set of tyres is not only illegal but it can literally endanger lives. So, it’s important to be aware of when a replacement is due. 

Before we explain what factors you need to consider while purchasing a new set of tyres, you should know when your tyre has given you everything and you cannot get any more miles out of it. A tyre’s condition is judged by its treads and while each country has a different criteria for it, it’s a good idea to replace your tyres before they reach their minimum depth. 

Typically, a new tyre has a tread depth of 8-9mm and legally you are allowed to use them till they wear down to minimum legal depth of 1.6 mm. Bear in mind, after 4 mm of depth the tyres wear out much faster. You can easily buy a tread depth gauge off the shelf or from a tyre shop. Once you have figured that you really do need a new set of tyres then starts the research phase.

Unless you are a professional tyre expert, it’s hard to tell how a tyre would perform under your vehicle based on its looks alone. We have compiled a list of factors that you should consider while purchasing a new set of tyres.

Know Your Need

Just like your five fingers, not all drivers and vehicles are the same. During your research, you need to consider the key factors like ride quality, noise suppression, fuel economy, load capability and cost. Don’t use a passenger car tyre where you need van tyres as they are both manufactured to cater to different needs and requirements.

Tyres vary by size, load capacity, speed limit and a bunch of other features. One can determine these capabilities by the unique serial number given on the outer sidewall of each tyre. If you are a thrill seeker and prefer to have full control on your sports car at high speeds then an ordinary all season tyre would do you no good. What you need is a wide tread tyre with thin outer walls. This would give you a greater road traction but the downside of having such tyres is that they are really loud and have a bad fuel economy.

The Weather Factor

Since the weather conditions of the area where you live also have a significant impact on your tires’ health, you need to take that into equation before making a purchase. If you are looking to buy tyres in Dubai where the weather is hot and the road conditions are dry most of the year then it’s best to buy summer or all weather tyres since they are designed to especially cope with hot road conditions.

When To Change?

While there is no hard and fast rule to change your tyres during a specific time of the year but if you must then its best to change them during the fall season. A new car tyre offers a good grip on wet roads due to the newer tread but it doesn’t do very well on dry roads during the hot summer days. So, it’s best to buy a new set when it’s comparatively cold and by the time summer comes, you would have ideal tyres for the hot weather. 

For someone who likes to play it safe without indulging themselves in a deep research mentioned above, you can always stick with what you have and buy exactly the same tyre that came with the car by matching the tyre size and the brand.