Omaha Tire Shop Pointers for Choosing New Tires for Your Vehicle

If you’re an experienced driver, you know tires don’t last forever. These components usually have a service life of three to five years, assuming nothing goes wrong before that point. So, it’s always wise to have a plan for tire replacement.

As part of this plan, you’ll want to know what type of wheels you should buy when the time comes. With these valuable tips, you’ll have no trouble finding the perfect tires for your vehicle.

Schedule Tire Service Appointment

Know What Your Car Needs

No set of tires can deliver the performance you’d expect if they aren’t the correct size or type for your car. To avoid these issues, look at your tire’s sidewall and read the first letter (or letters) listed there. “P” stands for “passenger,” while “LT” stands for “light truck.”

Keep reading this code to find three numbers and a slash — these numbers indicate your tires’ tread width in millimeters. You’ll also find a few more characters: two numbers, the letter “R,” and another set of two numbers. The first two-number sequence expresses your sidewall height, while the second sequence indicates your rim diameter in inches.

You should also consider factors such as:

• The weather where you live: Different tires are designed to excel in different weather conditions, which means you’ll need wheels created with the local climate in mind.
• Your driving habits: Do you use your car to get to work or back, or do you enjoy driving as fast as possible in cutting-edge sports cars? Whatever your goals are, your tires should be ready to help you achieve them.
• The roads you typically drive on: If you almost always drive on paved roads, your ideal set of tires will be completely unlike the right wheels for an off-roading enthusiast, so you’ll need to consider the surfaces you drive on while shopping for tires.

Research Popular Tire Varieties

At this point in the tire-buying process, you should have a rough idea of what you need from your wheels. It’s now time to consider leading tire varieties such as:

Summer Tires

Omaha can have some hot summer days, and summer tires are a great option for this time of year. These wheels provide excellent grip on wet and dry roads (though they aren’t cut out for winter driving).

Snow Tires

Omaha often gets snow at or above the national average. Snow tires are ideal for these conditions — the rubber they’re made from is formulated to avoid hardening in cold temperatures.

All-Season Tires

All-season tires are an ideal choice for most weather conditions, and they also deliver exceptional fuel efficiency and tread life. While they can perform decently in mild winter weather, these wheels aren’t ideal for use in blizzards.

All-Terrain Tires

Even if truck and SUV owners do most of their driving on pavement, they might still want to enjoy the excitement of off-roading on occasion. All-terrain tires are an excellent choice for this use case — their relatively deep treads help them handle paved roads and rougher terrain such as mud and sand.

Don’t Hesitate To Ask Your Tire Shop Questions

Though the tips listed above can simplify the tire replacement process, they can’t replace personal guidance from the pros. During your next tire shop visit, make a point of asking questions such as:

• Am I due for tire replacement? If your wheels are approaching the end of their service life or have no more than 2/32” of tread, they need to be replaced.
• How many tires should I replace? For the best possible results, your tires should be nearly identical. Because of that, you might need to replace two or more tires, even if only one wheel has been damaged.
• What are the best tires I can afford? Tire quality matters when it comes to keeping you and the passengers in your vehicle safe on the road, so it’s never wise to skimp on replacement wheels.

Choose the Right Tire Store

No matter how much you know about tire replacement, you’ll still need to find a trustworthy local tire shop to help you with this process. Your ideal Omaha tire store of choice will deliver advantages such as: 

• ASE-certified mechanics: A shop is only as good as its technicians, and ASE-certified mechanics are the best in the industry.
• A robust selection of services: Along with tire replacement and other forms of tire work, your auto shop should be ready to handle a variety of auto repair and maintenance services.
• Convenient locations: If you’re searching for tire shops in Omaha, you already understand the importance of finding a tire store with locations throughout the area.
• Ways to save money: New tires can be expensive, but tire shops can help by providing coupons and financing options.

Finding a tire shop that offers these benefits isn’t as tricky as you might think. It’s surprisingly simple — just visit your nearest T.O. Haas location (or explore our online tire catalog)!