The life of a tire can depend on a combination of factors such as driving habits, upkeep and road conditions—meaning there’s no comprehensive answer for when it’s time to put on some new wheels. However, there are three major things you should consider when making the call: treadwear, age and surface defects.
The tread on your tires should be in healthy condition. The longer and more even the treads, the better. When the grooves of your tread appear shallow and uneven, you are risking less grip on the road especially in harsh weather conditions.
Use the penny test.
After your tires turn five years old, most manufacturers recommend to have your tires inspected annually. Depending on your driving habits and maintenance, it could be time for a change, or it could last another five years
Proper upkeep will extend the life of the tire, but most manufacturers suggest replacing tires at 10 years, regardless of visible appearance.
On the sidewall of the tire, there will be a 12-digit DOT code. The last four digits represent the date the tire was manufactured—the first two of the four indicate the week number and the last two indicate the year it was made.
Due to improper maintenance and/or extreme weather conditions, your tire may endure physical changes throughout its life. These changes can cause defects such as cracks on the sidewall, bulges and blisters. These weak spots may be an indication that a leak is developing or the tire’s surface is about to suddenly blow out. If your tires are showing signs similar to the image below, you are in need of new tires immediately.
SpeedyTire offers a wide selection of tire types available for a variety of driving needs. While most manufacturers create many lines of tires with different proprietary characteristics, they can typically be grouped into general categories based on vehicle requirements and driver preferences. To get started, select the type that’s best for you and your vehicle.
Made for both on-and-off-road driving all year long. When you find yourself in muddy, snowy, wet or dry conditions, these tires will stand up to the challenge and provide comfortable ride along the way.
Your standard, middle-of-the-road type of tire. Often the most popular and versatile tires, All Season tires offer a dependability designed for a variety of driving conditions in addition to good fuel economy and tread life.
Best for low speed traction, cornering and handling. If you’re looking maneuvering capabilities with decent tread life, these are your best bet.
Designed for a quiet ride and longer tread life. Highway tires offer a more predictable ride for high mileage usage on those long commutes.
Clings to the road and hugs curves. This type of tire is made to put as much of its soft rubber on the pavement as possible for ultimate acceleration and control.
Offers all-season capability, predictable handling and long tread life. Touring tires can take light snow conditions while providing a smooth, quiet ride for your most frequent driving.
Designed for the top luxury sedans and sport cars. These tires tout a quiet, gliding ride with superior control and handling only for the most elite vehicles.
Stays inflated when punctured. Depending on the model, these tires can drive up to 50 miles after the puncturing incident. Runflats can only be installed on cars with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
Provides increased traction on the snow and ice. Also called “Snow Tires,” these tires sport larger treads to provide the extra grip you need on the slick roads in the winter months.
Focuses on versatility and dependability. Made for the most common type of driving, these tires offer the additional security of driving up to 50 miles after being punctured. Runflats can only be installed on cars with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
The luxury sedans and sports car tire that won’t give up on you. These Ultra High Performance tires have the potential to drive up to 50 miles after being punctured. Ultra High Performance Runflats can only be installed on cars with a Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) and a speed rating of Z or higher (indicated on the tire’s outer wall).
Finding the size tires you need is a breeze using SpeedyTire’s search. Just enter your vehicle’s year, make and model, and we’ll provide a selection of tires that are made for your vehicle!
Search NowBy law, your tires are labeled with several measurements on the sidewall. Use the diagram below to identify the necessary measurements.
When you look at the wall of your tires, you should see a set of 8-12 characters such as P235/75R15. This is called the Tire Identification Number (TIN).
Tire Type – the first letter or set of letters in the sequence referring to the type of vehicle or circumstance when the tire may be used.
In our example...our tire is a passenger tire.
Tire Width — the set of numbers following the tire type in millimeters(mm). This indicates the width of the tire tread.
In our example...our tire’s width is 235mm.
Aspect Ratio — the two-digit number following the slash. This number represents the ratio of the height of the tire's cross-section to its width.
In our example...our ratio is 75, meaning the tire height is 75% of its width.
Speed Rating (optional) – the letter following the Aspect Ratio. In some cases, the tire will display a W,Y or Z to show the speeds it can handle, with Z being the highest speeds for performance tires.
In our example… our tire does not have one.
Construction — the letter following the speed rating or aspect ratio. This represents the way the tire was constructed—the most common being Radial.
In our example… our tire is Radial.
Rim Diameter – the last number or two in the sequence indicating the width of the rim in inches.
In our example, our tire has a rim diameter of 15 inches.