Essential Steps Towards a Proper Tire Comparison
A wide variety of tires are on the market today. Some are touted as being the perfect winter weather driving tires. Others are specially designed to deal with rain and wet roadways. Some tires guarantee high performance for sports cars, while others are intended to be used for trucks that haul heavy loads. In a world that has a nearly dizzying number of tire choices, how can consumers make an adequate tire comparison?
Start out by comparing each potential tire’s tread wear grade. This should be prominently displayed on the tire’s sidewall. Generally speaking, the higher the tread wear grade, the longer the tire will last. In theory, a tread wear grade of 200 will deliver twice the performance length of a tire graded at 100. However, consumers should keep in mind that the performance they receive may differ from the tread wear grade estimate, as things like driving habits and adverse weather can cause tires to wear out more quickly.
Consumers should also compare the traction ratings for each tire candidate. Tire traction may be rated as AA, A, B, or C. These grades are assigned to tires based on their ability to stop on wet pavement, with AA providing the best stopping and C providing the least responsive stopping. Clearly, drivers living in wet climates would do well to consider tires rated at the AA or A level for optimum performance and the best stopping ability.
Tires are also rated for heat resistance. Temperature ratings are set at either A, B, or C. These ratings indicate how well heat dissipates throughout the tire. Tires which allow excessive heat buildup are rated a C and can wear out more quickly and can even fall victim to tire failure.
Consumers seeking all season or all weather tires should look for an MS or similar designation on their tires. The MS stands for mud and snow, and means that this tire meets or exceeds the Rubber Manufacturers Association guidelines. A tire that receives this designation has a tougher tread pattern for enhanced performance in adverse conditions.
Drivers living in areas where wet conditions prevail would do well to complete a tire comparison of models that are meant to prevent hydroplaning. Hydroplaning occurs when driving through standing water. When the water cannot move out from under the tire quickly enough, the wheel lifts off the surface of the road, potentially causing the driver to lose control. Some tires on the market today are designed to minimize the occurrence of hydroplaning, resulting in a safer ride.
A good tire comparison should also involve a close look at the tire manufacturer and their reputation. Have they had any recent, sizable recalls of their products? Do they appear to have an inordinate amount of complaints? For product recalls that happened in the past, how did the company respond? Did they work to effectively correct the defects in their product? Knowing that a tire manufacturer has never had any major recalls or that they have successfully dealt with recalls in the past, can grant considerable peace of mind to the tire consumer. They can feel reasonably certain that any problems they encounter will be addressed fairly and efficiently.
Making a tire comparison is easy when the consumer is familiar with how tires work and how they are rated. It’s this kind of information that helps shoppers know exactly what they are looking for and where to find it. It’s also this information that makes the road a much safer way to travel.