6 mistakes to avoid while buying tires for cars and trucks

Are the tires of your vehicle getting old and losing grip? If so, then it may be time to upgrade them. There are many things to remember when purchasing new tires for your car or truck. Missing out on some of them may leave you with the wrong tires or tires that don’t survive for too long. Here are some of the most common tire-buying mistakes and ways to avoid them.

Not knowing what you need
Based on your car or truck model, you may want your tires to have certain capabilities. Knowing your vehicle’s requirements and driving style is crucial when purchasing new tires. Look for an alphanumeric sequence on its sidewall to determine your current tire’s specifications. Let’s say the sequence on your tire reads “P225/70R1691T.” Here is a breakdown of its interpretation-

  • P – Tire type (Passenger tire)
  • 225 – Tire width (in millimeters)
  • 70 – Aspect ratio
  • R – Radial construction
  • 16 – Wheel diameter (inches)
  • 91 – Load index rating
  • T – Tire speed rating

Forgetting to consider speed ratings
All tires come with a Tire Speed Rating (TRS). It determines the intensity of speed a tire can handle before overheating, expanding, or exploding. In the example mentioned above, the last letter (T) indicates the tire’s speed rating. The current TRS system uses the letters A to Z to accord a rank to every tire, such that each letter corresponds to a specific speed. Here are the most common speed ratings you will find on tires across the country-

  • M – up to 81 mph
  • N – up to 87 mph
  • P – up to 93 mph
  • Q – up to 99 mph
  • R – up to 106 mph
  • S – up to 112 mph
  • T – up to 118 mph
  • H – up to 130 mph
  • V – up to 149 mph
  • W – up to 168 mph
  • Y – up to 186 mph

Therefore, a speed rating of ‘V’ implies that a tire can safely handle speeds up to 149 miles per hour. However, these are only testing speeds, and it is not advised to drive at this pace. Therefore, one must follow all traffic laws and observe all applicable speed limits to drive safely.

Not considering the

Are the tires of your vehicle getting old and losing grip? If so, then it may be time to upgrade them. There are many things to remember when purchasing new tires for your car or truck. Missing out on some of them may leave you with the wrong tires or tires that don’t survive for too long. Here are some of the most common tire-buying mistakes and ways to avoid them.

Not knowing what you need

Based on your car or truck model, you may want your tires to have certain capabilities. Knowing your vehicle’s requirements and driving style is crucial when purchasing new tires. Look for an alphanumeric sequence on its sidewall to determine your current tire’s specifications. Let’s say the sequence on your tire reads “P225/70R1691T.” Here is a breakdown of its interpretation-

  • P – Tire type (Passenger tire)
  • 225 – Tire width (in millimeters)
  • 70 – Aspect ratio
  • R – Radial construction
  • 16 – Wheel diameter (inches)
  • 91 – Load index rating
  • T – Tire speed rating

Forgetting to consider speed ratings 

All tires come with a Tire Speed Rating (TRS). It determines the intensity of speed a tire can handle before overheating, expanding, or exploding. In the example mentioned above, the last letter (T) indicates the tire’s speed rating. The current TRS system uses the letters A to Z to accord a rank to every tire, such that each letter corresponds to a specific speed. Here are the most common speed ratings you will find on tires across the country-

  • M – up to 81 mph
  • N – up to 87 mph
  • P – up to 93 mph
  • Q – up to 99 mph
  • R – up to 106 mph
  • S – up to 112 mph
  • T – up to 118 mph
  • H – up to 130 mph
  • V – up to 149 mph
  • W – up to 168 mph
  • Y – up to 186 mph

Therefore, a speed rating of ‘V’ implies that a tire can safely handle speeds up to 149 miles per hour. However, these are only testing speeds, and it is not advised to drive at this pace. Therefore, one must follow all traffic laws and observe all applicable speed limits to drive safely.

Not considering the Load Index Rating 

The tire specifications also include a load index rating. It determines how much weight the tires can hold before crumbling or exploding. The load index rating of each tire can be found on the specifications on the side wall.

Let’s reconsider the earlier example with the tire specification “P225/70R1691T.” The load index rating is mentioned just before the tire speed rating; in this case, it is 91. Each load index rating (0-150) corresponds to a particular weight. In this case, a load index of 91 means that each tire can handle up to 1356 lbs of weight. It is multiplied by four tires in a car to reach a maximum overall load capacity of 5424 lbs. When calculating the load rating you need, consider the weight of an entire car and a loaded trunk. It is best to overestimate this number to travel comfortably without damaging your tires.

Buying the wrong size

The specification on your tires also mentions its width from wall to wall and its rim size so that you can buy the right tire size for your vehicle. Every car has its wheel specification based on its make and model. Buying the wrong size will give you fitting issues and cause the tires to run down faster than usual.

For instance, for the tire specification “P225/70R1691T,” you can infer that the nominal section width of the tire is 225 mm, and the diameter of the tire’s inner rim is 16 inches. Having these measurements in hand when shopping for new tires will help you find the best fit for your vehicle.

Buying for the wrong season 

Some tires are meant to be used in certain seasons alone. This general distinction is offered between all-season, summer, and winter tires. Due to decreased traction during winters in snowy regions, cars and trucks may need special tires to find the correct grip. However, these need to be replaced during the summers, as they will run down faster when they hit the pavement.

Buying based on the price only 

All tires are not designed in the same way. Shopping by price alone is not a guarantee for a quality tire. At the same time, going for the cheapest tire may also prove counterproductive, as the tires may wear out quickly and need to be replaced sooner. Instead, consider the manufacturer’s tire size and type recommendation when choosing a tire, as alternatives may impact the car’s handling. Additionally, look up reviews and find information about how the tire can help improve fuel economy, how well it handles, how long it has lasted for others, and so on. It will give you a realistic estimate of what to expect from your tire and bring to light any potential problems to steer clear of.

Once you have chosen and replaced your tires, take good care of them to help them last longer. It includes regular rotations to prevent uneven wear and inflating them with the right amount of air to increase fuel economy and decrease tire wear.


The tire specifications also include a load index rating. It determines how much weight the tires can hold before crumbling or exploding. The load index rating of each tire can be found on the specifications on the side wall.

Let’s reconsider the earlier example with the tire specification “P225/70R1691T.” The load index rating is mentioned just before the tire speed rating; in this case, it is 91. Each load index rating (0-150) corresponds to a particular weight. In this case, a load index of 91 means that each tire can handle up to 1356 lbs of weight. It is multiplied by four tires in a car to reach a maximum overall load capacity of 5424 lbs. When calculating the load rating you need, consider the weight of an entire car and a loaded trunk. It is best to overestimate this number to travel comfortably without damaging your tires.

Purchasing the wrong size
The specification on your tires also mentions its width from wall to wall and its rim size so that you can buy the right tire size for your vehicle. Every car has its wheel specification based on its make and model. Buying the wrong size will give you fitting issues and cause the tires to run down faster than usual.

For instance, for the tire specification “P225/70R1691T,” you can infer that the nominal section width of the tire is 225 mm, and the diameter of the tire’s inner rim is 16 inches. Having these measurements in hand when shopping for new tires will help you find the best fit for your vehicle.

Buying for the wrong season
Some tires are meant to be used in certain seasons alone. This general distinction is offered between all-season, summer, and winter tires. Due to decreased traction during winters in snowy regions, cars and trucks may need special tires to find the correct grip. However, these need to be replaced during the summers, as they will run down faster when they hit the pavement.

Going by price alone
All tires are not designed in the same way. Shopping by price alone is not a guarantee for a quality tire. At the same time, going for the cheapest tire may also prove counterproductive, as the tires may wear out quickly and need to be replaced sooner. Instead, consider the manufacturer’s tire size and type recommendation when choosing a tire, as alternatives may impact the car’s handling. Additionally, look up reviews and find information about how the tire can help improve fuel economy, how well it handles, how long it has lasted for others, and so on. It will give you a realistic estimate of what to expect from your tire and bring to light any potential problems to steer clear of.

Once you have chosen and replaced your tires, take good care of them to help them last longer. It includes regular rotations to prevent uneven wear and inflating them with the right amount of air to increase fuel economy and decrease tire wear.