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Having the right tire information can make buying tires easier. Our tire guide includes answers to common questions such as when to buy tires, how to find your tire size, and more. We also help explain the differences between types of tires and even offer a checklist to make your purchase process easier. Print the full guide.

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  When should I think about new tires?

  For the most enjoyable driving experience it's important to replace worn tires. Optimum traction helps provide responsive handling for a smooth, reliable ride. To determine when you should start shopping, follow these simple steps.

  • First, test the tread. Pinch a Lincoln-head penny between your thumb and forefinger, so that the top of Lincoln's head is showing.
  • Place the top of Lincoln's head into one of the tire tread grooves - try to measure at the deepest point within the tread.
  • If any part of Lincoln's head is obscured by the tread, your tires have enough tread. However, if you can see above Lincoln's head, you're ready for a new tire.
  • You should always check your tires in several tread locations. Be sure to check the inner, outer, and middle grooves of each tire, as tires can wear differently on each side, due to improper wheel alignment and/or low inflation.
  • For professional help, visit a Goodyear Tire & Service Network location for a free inspection by our experts.

  What should I consider when choosing a tire?

  Below are a few considerations that make choosing a tire simpler.

  • Look for tires that excel in tests for braking, handling, and resistance to hydroplaning.
  • Let treadwear, ride comfort, noise, and rolling resistance help narrow your choices. Goodyear's comparative tread-life tests demonstrate that a manufacturer's warranty doesn't always reflect how a tire will wear, but used as an estimate, it's an important piece to review.
  • Choosing a vehicle tire depends on where you live, weather and terrain issues, what performance expectations you have, and what your vehicle requires.

  What can I do with old tires?

  Termed "end-of-life tires," 90% of old tires are recycled for energy recovery in the U.S., Europe, and Japan. Goodyear Tire & Service Network locations will handle the disposal of your tires for a small fee that they use to ship the tires in bulk to third party entities. The tires are then burned to power cement kilns or are ground into asphalt.¹

  ¹ Goodyear 2010 Corporate Responsibility Report

  What's the difference between all-season and winter tires?

  The key to good traction is friction, but this can be elusive depending on the weather. Winter tires are designed to stay soft and pliable at low temperatures, so they will deform and reconform to all the micro-irregularities of icy surfaces, resulting in grip. All-season tires are designed to help provide traction in wet and snowy conditions. Their reinforced sidewalls keep the tire shoulders on the road, while microgrooves help provide biting edges that lock together, enabling better grip when turning on wet roads.

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  Tire shopping may not seem that exciting, but once you're driving on new tires, you'll notice a difference. Here are some tips for how to prepare and what to expect while shopping for new tires.

  • First, find the make and model of your vehicle. Your version/option might also be required. This is commonly referred to as your trim or package level. In the example Honda Accord EX V6, EX V6 is the version/option. Please check your vehicle owner’s manual for your version.
  • You can also use your tire size. Your tire size should be on your tire’s sidewall. It could also be listed on the placard inside your driver’s side door, or in your owner’s manual.
  • Factors like whether you drive around town, take frequent long trips, or drive on- or off-road should influence your decision, as tires are designed to serve a variety of functions, like street performance, long, comfortable rides, enduring threadweare, and enhanced grip.
  • Ask what's included in the tire price, such as balancing, valve stem replacement, installation, Tire Pressure Monitor System service, and wheel alignment, which could be necessary if the previous tires wore unevenly.
  • Selecting optional Road Hazard Coverage will protect your tires from scrap metal, or other items that could puncture them.
  • If you still end up with more than one choice our sales professionals can discuss the features and benefits of each tire with you, so you can make a confident decision.

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  Also known as snow tires, winter tires help provide enhanced traction in some of the most severe winter weather conditions including ice, slush, and snow when the temperature drops below 45 degrees. Other reasons to consider winter tires include...

  Design

  Most winter tires feature specialized tread compounds and advanced tread designs that help provide superior traction.

  Performance

  Your vehicle’s starting, stopping, and turning abilities ultimately come down to the amount of traction your tires can offer on snow-covered, or icy road surfaces.

  Security

  Even if you have traction control or four-wheel drive on your vehicle, these features can offer a false sense of security in winter conditions.

  Winter Tires Fact

  Four winter tires should always be installed for equal traction. Installing only two winter tires can upset the balance of traction and handling of your vehicle.

  The Sign of Confidence

  The Mountain Snowflake Symbol located on the sidewall of a tire indicates that the tire meets specific winter traction performance requirements, and is well suited for severe winter driving conditions

  View All Tire Categories

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  Are premium tires worth the price? That depends on your expectations and lifestyle. Tires are designed to adapt and excel to a variety of conditions, but because there are so many variables how much you invest is proportional to the tire’s performance. No matter what kind of car you drive, it’s your tires that ultimately connect with the road and influence how well your vehicle starts, stops, and turns. Based on these realities, you can decide whether you should consider premium tires.

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  Metric, or tire type, defines the proper use of the tire. For example, a "P" designation means that it is a passenger car tire. An "LT" designation is for a light truck.

  Tire Width is the width of the tire measured in millimeters from sidewall to sidewall. This tire width is 215 millimeters.

  Rim Diameter is the width of the wheel from one end to the other. The diameter of this wheel is 16 inches.

  Speed Rating tells you the maximum service speed for a tire. This rating relates only to tire speed capability and is NOT a recommendation to exceed legally posted speed limits.

  Aspect Ratio is the ratio of the height of the tire's cross-section to its width. On our example, 60 means that the height is equal to 60% of the tire's width.

  Construction tells you how the layers of the tire were put together. The "R" stands for Radial, which means the layers run radially across the tire. A "B" stands for bias construction which means that the layers run diagonally.

  Load Index indicates the maximum load in pounds that the tire can support when properly inflated. You'll also find the maximum load elsewhere on the tire sidewall, both in pounds and kilograms.

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  DOT means that the tire complies with all applicable safety standards established by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Next to this is a tire identification or serial number - a combination of numbers and letters up to 12 digits.