What You Need To Know About Types Of Tires

Posted on: 9 December 2018

When looking at tires for sale, you may be wondering exactly what differentiates the different types that are offered. There are 6 basic kinds of tires: all-season, all-terrain, low-profile, mud, performance and snow tires. Each serves its purpose, and there's a good chance that, depending upon the region of the country you live in and the types of jobs you handle, you may not need a particular type.

All-Season and Winter Tires

These are the mid-range tires for sale that are intended to handle a wide array of conditions, including dry, wet and snowy conditions They're especially popular with folks who don't want to buy more than one set of tires for their vehicles. While they're rated to handle snowy conditions, be aware that this only means a dusting of snow.

If you live in a region that gets heavy snow storms, more than 6 inches at a time, or one that experiences sudden bursts of one or two inches in a matter of minutes, then a winter tire is the better choice. Some people in northern climates run winter tires all year, but the soft design can lead to the tread wearing off quickly. Winter tires also tend to be among the loudest tires available, especially for cars.

Low-Profile and Performance Tires

If your goal is to grip the road in dry conditions and get the most performance out of your car, then a low-profile or performance tire is for you. Folks who own sports cars, especially ones they only run during nice weather, tend to prefer these. Low-profile tires tend to provide righter handling, gripping hard turns better at high speed. Performance tires tend to have more traction, allowing a car to take off faster. Low-profile and performance tires tend to deliver the lowest levels of road noise, too.

All-Terrain and Mud Tires

All-terrain tires are designed to handle a wide range of road surfaces, including gravel, and limited off-road conditions. The all-terrain models are popular with folks who own all-wheel-drive vehicles and who need assurance their rides will perform well in tough weather conditions during the summer. Mud tires are made for use in the worst of off-road conditions, including ground that may be rocky, wet and bumpy. It's advised to not use mud tires on anything but four-wheel drive vehicles, and in many cases, drivers use them on vehicles that ride high or have been lifted.

Share