Buying tires should be a simple decision based on the make and model of your vehicle, but with multiple kinds of tires on the market, even this seemingly simple purchase can be complicated. If you need to put new tires on your vehicle, choosing the right tires based on the time of year and the type of driving you do will make each trip you take safer. Most tire shops offer many brands of tires in a wide range of sizes, but each vehicle only has a few tire sizes it will take, and most have one recommended tire size. The real decision comes when you need to choose between tire types. This article covers the three major types of tires and how to know which one you need.

All-Season Tires

If you want a simple solution to your tire purchase, all-season tires might be right for you. These tires work decently well in all kinds of conditions, including wet and dry braking and driving on snow. They offer moderate traction levels and decent ride comfort and noise levels. These tires are a great choice for drivers who don't typically drive in harsh conditions. As long as you don't have to drive over packed ice and snow, and you aren't concerned with optimizing the performance of your vehicle, all-season tires are probably a great choice. They are also known for being long-lasting and durable, so they are an excellent choice for drivers who put a lot of miles on their vehicles.

Winter Tires

Even though most people don't love driving in snowy conditions, some drivers simply have to put up with them to get where they need to go. If you live in a mountainous or snowy area, you may need to install winter tires on your vehicle every winter. These tires are easy to identify; unlike average-looking all-season tires, winter tires have deep treads and visible snowflake symbols on their sidewalls. The treads help drivers gain traction on icy or snow-covered roads, but they are prone to wearing out more quickly than all-season or summer tire treads. Many drivers who rely on snow tires to keep them safe each winter change them out for all-season or summer tires after the last snowfall of the season to save the rest of their tread for the next winter.

Summer Tires

For maximized performance on good road conditions, one type of tire outshines the rest: ultra-high-performance summer tires. These tires are made for use on warm, dry roads, but they function decently well on wet roads, too. They offer enhanced handling for sports cars and other high-performance vehicles. If you like to drive fast and feel the road beneath your car, summer tires will let you have the best possible driving experience. Just make sure to switch them for winter tires before driving in snowy conditions. Unlike all-season tires, summer tires don't provide much traction on snow and ice.

To learn more about purchasing new tires, contact tire shops in your area.