Types of Tires | Carroll, IA
When buying a new set of tires for your car, pickup, or SUV, you’ll be presented with a stunning range of options. Deciding which type of tire is the best for your car will depend on your needs, budget, as well as how and where you drive.
Most cars sold today are equipped with all-season tires designed to handle a wide variety of road and weather conditions. They are a jack of all trades and master of none. They don’t provide the best ride quality, the best grip in snowy conditions, the best performance in dry conditions, or the best traction off the road, but if you had to pick just one type of tire to use all year round — especially in Iowa where we get all four seasons — then it would be an all-season tire.
Winter tires are made with a special rubber compound designed to handle colder temperatures, and feature unique grooves that are better at biting into the pavement through snow. For the best performance during snowy weather and icy winter conditions, nothing beats having a set of winter tires to put on your car.
Summer tires are intended for performance vehicles and come in several grades, such as touring and high performance. They perform better than all-season tires when the pavement is warm and dry, making them a good fit for most of the year. They also wear faster than all-season tires. Using summer tires in the spring, summer, and fall, and switching to winter tires in the winter can be a good strategy for many drivers.
Also known as mud tires, off-road tires, have wide and deep grooves that can help you traverse mud and get past obstacles on a variety of loose surfaces. They have heavy-duty construction designed to prevent punctures and other types of damage.
All-terrain tires attempt to find a balance between all-season and off-road tires, making them a good fit for SUV and truck drivers who drive mostly on pavement but occasionally want the ability to go for a joyride in the dirt. Their downside is greater noise and reduced fuel economy.
Low-profile tires are tires with short sidewalls and larger wheel-to-tire ratio. They are popular for their performance characteristics and striking visual look. The stiffer sidewall of a low-profile tire leads to better handling, and the greater room in the wheel makes it possible to install larger brakes. However, cars with low-profile tires have a bumpier ride and are more susceptible to wheel damage when riding on poorly maintained roads.
Instead of filling your tires with regular air, you can pay extra to fill them with nitrogen instead. This is done to reduce air leakage, making it popular on recreational vehicles and for other heavy-duty applications. If you are diligent about keeping tabs on your car’s tire pressures, however, nitrogen-filled tires are an unnecessary extra expense.
Before you settle on a new set of tires, visit Motor Inn of Carroll, Iowa. Our service specialists will be able to help you find just the right type of tire for your ride.