Westerville Automotive is the leader in Westerville, OH for the selection and service in your tires. Our Westerville Automotive auto shop staff will take the time to educate you on what tire to look for to suit your needs.
Tires are a vital component of car safety, and their importance is often overlooked.
Considering that quality tires can make the difference between stopping safely and hitting a car in front of you at 30 mph, let's take a look at a few key questions that typically surround tire purchases and maintenance.
What kind of tire should I look for?
Tire shopping can be a daunting task with so many options available. The staff at Westerville Automotive can help you confirm size, speed rating and load carrying capacity. Once you’ve figured out your specs, you can make a list of priorities based on wear, longevity, performance or price.
You’ll then want to ask yourself some questions regarding your tastes and driving style. Do you need winter tires? How important is comfort for you? The tire professionals at [BUSINESS-NAME] in Westerville, OH will be able to help narrow down your choices based on what you want. There are three overarching categories of tire: summer, all-season and winter. Within those, you’ll find various performance levels to suit driving conditions. And of course, SUV and light trucks can be clad with off-road, all terrain, highway or highway all-season tread patterns.
Should I spend extra for premium tires?
Premium tires generally have been manufactured using higher standards such as testing, design, stability, wear resistance or casing construction. Although they may be a larger investment in the beginning, in the long run, they are often a better value due to performance, warranties and higher expected mileage.
What technology comes with top dollar rubber?
So you've decided to invest in quality tires? Great! You've opened the door to countless cutting edge, high-tech features such as Yokohama’s Advanced Inner Liner not only enhances performance and fuel efficiency by reducing rotating mass, the feature also minimizes air loss which, in the long run, can enhance tire longevity.
Toyo's Silent Wall system significantly reduces road noise, while Continental's Extreme Contact DWS tires feature novel indicators with lettering that disappears when it's no longer safe to drive under certain conditions. When tire wear makes it unsafe to drive in the rain, the letter "W" disappears from the tread. Similarly, "S" indicates snow worthiness and "D" reflects when there's sufficient rubber for dry traction.
Run-flat tires also cost a premium, but save the weight of a spare tire and reduce the risks associated with changing a flat by the roadside.
While it may sound overwhelming to choose from so many options, the technicians at Westerville Automotive can help you make an informed decision.
What about green tires?
For many people, the impact they make on the environment will narrow their decision. Eco-consciousness means more to them than fuel economy improvements.
Yokohama has made their tires ecologically friendly by using citrus-based orange oil—a renewable resource which enables petroleum to be replaced with natural rubber. The compound has been used in the Yokohama-only IMSA GT3 Cup Challenge race series, as well as on the ENV R-2 line of street tires.
Protecting your investment… and your safety
So you've installed your new set of tires—what next? You'll want to protect your investment with a proper four-wheel alignment, and read your owners manual to check for rotation intervals. At Westerville Automotive, we’ve got you covered. We can take care of these things for you, and keep your car running safely.
Your tire pressure (which can also be found in the owners manual, in the door jam or inside the fuel filler cap) should be checked regularly, and you should keep an eye open for uneven wear, which can reflect an alignment or shock issue. If you notice anything like that, contact us at Westerville Automotive right away.
If you need answers on automotive repairs or maintenance, simply call Westerville Automotive today to schedule an appointment with our ASE certified automotive technicians.
