Vancouver Tire Shop Guide To Choosing New Tires
Most drivers in Vancouver, Washington, understand why tire maintenance matters, but no service schedule can give your wheels an infinite life span. If you want to stay safe on the road, you’ll eventually need to buy a new set of tires.
Some tire options will do a better job of meeting your vehicle’s needs than others. This guide provides valuable advice on what to look for in your next set of tires, and how to find a Vancouver tire shop you can trust.
Step One: Consider Your Vehicle’s Needs
For your new tires to function correctly, they must be the right size and type for your vehicle. Your first step in the tire selection process should be checking the information on your current tires’ sidewalls. The code you’ll find there will tell you everything from the type of tires you have installed to the tread width and sidewall height of the wheels.
Once you’ve looked at this code, consider how you drive, the surfaces you commonly drive on, and the weather in your local area. These factors can play a role in determining what you need from your tires.
Step Two: Explore Different Tire Varieties
You’ll also need to decide what type of tires you want. A few popular tire varieties that might be right for your vehicle include:
- All-season tires: As the name implies, all-season tires can perform well in all kinds of weather conditions, but they may have trouble dealing with wintry weather.
- Snow tires: It doesn’t snow all that often in Vancouver, but this type of precipitation occasionally hits the area. Snow tires are made from a form of rubber that’s specifically designed to deliver exceptional performance in the cold.
- Touring tires: Touring tires are a solid option for many drivers — they deliver benefits such as smooth driving, exceptional handling, and a long life span. But like all-season tires, these tires don’t do great in cold temperatures.
- Mud tires: Do you enjoy off-roading regularly? If so, consider investing in a set of mud tires. Thanks to their deep treads, these wheels are a fantastic choice for driving on rough surfaces.
Step Three: Find a Reliable Tire Shop in Vancouver
You’ll need to make one last decision before picking out new tires — deciding where you want to buy them from. While it isn’t hard to find a tire shop in Vancouver, not all of these stores are truly qualified. Your ideal shop will offer a large tire selection, service from expert mechanics, and opportunities to save.
To get these benefits and more, make Gaynor’s Automotive your go-to Vancouver tire shop. Our ASE-certified mechanics will walk you through the process of choosing new tires, and you’ll be able to keep your costs to a minimum by using our online coupons. Schedule a service appointment today, or simply explore our online tire catalog.
Frequently Asked Questions About Choosing New Tires
How long should four new tires last?
Assuming you take good care of your new tires, expect them to last for quite a while. The average set of tires has a service life lasting between three and five years. When your tires start getting close to this age range, it's wise to think about getting new wheels (even if your current tires seem to be in decent shape).
Which tires should be replaced first?
Replacing all four tires on your vehicle simultaneously will give you the best possible results from your new wheels — you'll get a complete set of virtually identical tires. If you do opt to replace two of your tires, be sure your shop's mechanics install the replacement tires on your rear axle. When your rear tires have deep treads, you'll benefit from improved handling and fewer issues while driving on wet surfaces.
Does tire brand matter?
If you're trying to save money on auto work, you might think buying the cheapest possible tires is a good idea, but that's not the case. When it comes to keeping you safe on the road, tires play a more significant role than nearly any other auto component. Because of that, you'll want to pay a bit extra to get tires from a brand you can rely on.
Do you need an alignment after replacing your tires?
Although wheel alignment service isn't a mandatory part of tire replacement, taking care of this task at this time is a good idea. By handling this service, as soon as you get new tires, your wheels will be ready to meet the road at the correct angle. Avoiding this service will give you a rougher ride and increase your odds of uneven tread wear later on.
How often should you replace tires?
The average service life span for a new set of tires is three to five years. Your wheels can still run into trouble before this point, and you might need to replace them ahead of schedule. If your tires have sustained unrepairable damage or have less than 2/32” of tread left, replace them as soon as possible.
