What's the right tire for you?

Choosing the best tire for your vehicle doesn't have to be a chore.

1. Start with the vehicle you drive.
   Do you drive a luxury sedan, an off-road truck, an energy-efficient compact, an electric vehicle, an SUV or CUV, or even a sporty convertile? What you drive can make a big difference when it comes to finding just the right tire.
2. Consider where you drive most with your vehicle – the conditions, surfaces or terrain your vehicle is most commonly driven.
   Stop-and-go traffic, long distances on highways, or rough roads and surfaces? The types of road surfaces you encounter most regularly give you a good place to start.
3. Determine if you could benefit from a special-use tire.
   Heading for some off-roading, cutting a new path through heavy snow, or heading tot he track for a little competition? Sometimes the special use case needs to be the deciding factor.

What's the best Achilles tire for you?

All-terrain tire providing smooth performance on paved roads and excellent grip for off-road adventures

Highway all-season tire giving drivers sport-like handling and high stability in almost any road condition

Commercial all-terrain traction that takes aggressive to the next level with max-off-road performance

Glossary of Terms

Types of Tires and Special Symbols

All-Season - A tire that can be used in four seasons, including light snow.

All-Terrain - A tire that can be used for off-road service, including gravel and muddy conditions.

Performance, High-Performance, and Ultra-High-Peformance - Tires designed for improved directionality
around curves and corners and when braking for sporty, response handling.

Summer - A tire designed for use during warm weather and typically excels at water evacuation.

Touring - A tire designed for a smooth, quiet, comfortable drive, especially on highways and paved streets.

Winter - A tire specifically designed to endure cold temperatures and grip in icy, snowy conditions.

3-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) - US Tire Manufacturers Association (ustires.org) symbol for tires rated that meet the requirements for severe snow service.

M+S - Standing for "Mud and Snow", M+S tires generally have thick tread blocks with wide sections of tread void to aid drivers when traction can be a challenge.

Common Technical Terms About Tires

Sipes - Small grooves in the tread pattern designed to grip uneven and click surfaces for improved stopping and handling.

Circumferential grooves - Central channels in the tread of a tire designed for water evacuation and to maintain a solid patch of contact with the road.

Speed rating - Determined under strict test conditions, this represents the fastest speed a tire can be safely maintain without compromising the structure of the tire.

Load index rating - Also determined under test conditions, the load rating tells us how much weight an individual tire can safely bear.

Aspect Ratio - This derived value is reported in percentages and is determined by dividing the height of the tire at the rim by it's width.

Low Profile - Tires with lower aspect ration percentages (55% and under) are considered low profile and are generally favored for sporty performance and handling.

UTQG - The abbreviation for Uniform Tire Quality Grading established by the US Departmnet of Transportation (US Dot) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). This code provides consumers with manufacturer-provided information about treadwear, temperature (heat) resistance, and traction.

Achilles – What’s the TPMS light and what should you do about it?

The Tire Pressure Monitoring System, commonly called TPMS, provides a safety measure. It monitors the current pressure in your tires and will display an exclamation point in a triangle as a symbol on the dash when pressure either exceeds or doesn't reach the recommended range.

The top reasons to stay on top of your tire pressure are:

1. Underinflated tires can increase the risk of a crash when tires don't handle the way they should and have less traction on the road.
2. Overinflated tires can increase the chances of a blowout and sidewalls can become weak and brittle. Hitting a bump, especially at high speeds, can cause unexpected, rapid deflation and could result in loss of control of the vehicle.
3. Improperly inflated tires cause the fuel economy of your vehicle to suffer by as much as 3%.
4. Properly inflated tires tend to have the best tread life results unless there is another mechanical problem that is affecting the tire contact patch.

Checking Your Tire Pressure

Checking the pressure on your tires is simple to do at home.

1. Look at the manufacturer's decal on the inside of the driver's door.
   
   This decal gives you the optimal tire pressure setting for your tires.
   
   
2. Test the pressure in each tire manually with a calibrated tire pressure gauge.
   
   Changes in temperature and time of day can result in different readings, but for the most part, keep your tires inflated to +/-10% from the psi indicated on the driver's side decal. If the manufacturer recommends a 40 psi value, as long as your test results fall between 36-44 (+/-), your tires should be operating in the appropriate range.
   
   Never inflate your tires above the Max PSI value stamped in the sidewall of your tire.
   
   
3. Do not rely solely on the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS).
   
   The Tire Pressure Monitoring System, or TPMS, has been natively installed on all newly manufactured vehicles in the United States since 2008, and while they do an outstanding job in most cases, it is best to double-check your tire pressure manually at least once a month. This can help alert you to TPMS monitor failing points, but more importantly, you are verifying that your tires are properly inflated, which is essential for the safest driving experience.
   
   
4. Remove the valve stem caps and adjust the pressure until your tires are in optimal range.
   
   Many gas stations and car care shops have air compressors available at no charge. To add pressure, connect the hose from the compressor to each tire separately and fill. If you have over-inflated your tires, use the tire gauge's edge to depress the value of the tire until enough pressure is released. Regardless of whether you are adding or subtracting pressure, always reconfirm that your tire is in the optimal range when done.
   
   
5. Replace the valve stem caps and be on your way.

Remember - Most repair shops, tire sellers, and general mechanics will also perform these tasks for you for free or for a nominal charge.