TIRES
You need new tires, and you have questions. What type of tire do I really need? What do terms like “all-season” and “all-terrain” really mean?
HonToy Care Automotive is here to help you understand tire buying (and owning). While we currently do not sell tires ourselves, we are here to help you with tire selection, professional installation, and preventive maintenance for a long tire life. We even check your tire pressure and tread wear.
WHAT COMMON KINDS OF TIRES CAN I BUY?
Seasonal Tires
Change these tires twice a year for the best possible tire performance in summer and winter.
Snow/Winter Tires
The strongest possible winter traction thanks to tread edges that bite into ice and snow, generous channels that send away slush -- and rubber that stays supple at lower temperatures than other tires.
Summer Tires
Lower rolling resistance (and less fuel consumption) than winter, all-season, or off-road tires thanks to flatter treads (for more road contact) -- and rubber formulated for warmer temperatures.
Year-Round Tires
Not into changing tires along with the seasons? These versatile tires balance the features needed for summer and winter driving, on and off the roads.
All-Season Tires
The tires that come with most passenger cars. Ideal for street driving in areas where winters are moderate (at worst).
All-Terrain Tires
Multipurpose marvels that balance off-road traction and durability with comfortable, responsive highway handling. Ideal for a mixture of street driving and moderate off-road use.
Mud Tires
Off-road specialists that power through mud, rocks, sand, dirt, and deep snow. Ideal for primarily off-road use (especially on challenging terrain).
Low Profile Tires
Enhanced cornering and handling thanks to wide treads and short sidewalls.
Performance Tires
Excellent traction, maneuverability and performance thanks to soft rubber compounds and stiff sidewalls.
HOW DO YOU KNOW IF YOU NEED NEW TIRES?
You should replace any tire that shows one or more of these signs of age, damage, or wear:
Low tread depth
Replace tires that have worn down below the recommended tread depth. The U.S. legal minimum tread depth is 2/32.” You may want to replace your tires at a higher tread depth depending on manufacturer recommendations, or your specific driving conditions.
Sidewall damage
Tires with cracks, punctures, blisters, or bulges in the sidewall are no longer structurally sound and cannot be repaired.
HonToy can help you identify these tire safety hazards, and help you select your perfect replacement tires.
AT WHAT TREAD DEPTH SHOULD TIRES BE REPLACED?
The legal minimum tire tread depth in the United States is 2/32” and many tire experts recommend replacing tires at 4/32”-6/32” tread depth or less, especially for tire types that benefit from a deeper tread (snow tires, all-terrain tires, or mud tires). Testing multiple winter tire brands at 5/32”-6/32” tread depth (or 50% of original tread depth), Consumer Reports saw a 14.5% decline in snow traction when accelerating, and a 7% increase in wet stopping distance compared to the tires’ original tread depth.
In Colorado, if Traction Law is called the minimum legal tread depth during this time is 3/16” (6/32”) as per CDOT. If your tires are at or near 6/32” during summer, by winter you will likely need new tires, or a winter tire set to be safe and legal on the road during our winters.
Check the wear bars
Tire wear bars are situated at 2/32” of tread depth, so if any wear bar is worn, replace the tire right away. It’s below the legal minimum tread depth.
Check tread depth on several parts of the tire, especially if you see uneven wear patterns. And talk to a HonToy Care Auto Repair tire expert to help you decide how low your tread depth can go.
DO YOU NEED AN ALIGNMENT WITH NEW TIRES?
It’s a good idea to have your wheel alignment checked when you buy new tires, to ensure that your new tires wear down evenly from the day you drive them home. We also recommend having your alignment checked regularly to extend the life of your tires -- it’s especially convenient to do this when your vehicle is in for services like tire rotation.
Do new tires need to be balanced?
While tire imbalance is a common side effect of bumpy roads and other driving hazards, new tires need to be balanced when mounting. Even new tires can have natural imbalance from the factory. Starting off with balanced tires and having the balanced checked as a regular part of tire service will help extend the life of your tires.
Do I need a new TPMS with new tires?
TPMS sensor to ensure it’s measuring your tire pressure correctly. Maintaining proper tire pressure extends the life of your tires by preventing premature edge wear and other damage. And your TPMS system is there to alert you to dangerously low tire pressure -- and the blowout risk it brings. You don’t want to miss this warning due to incorrect pressure measurements or a malfunction in your TPMS’s alert function. At HonToy Care we check to see if your TPMS are operating properly when mounting and balancing tires and will advise if a new sensor is needed, sending you and estimate to complete your tire service safely and worry free.
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