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Tires are the single most important safety feature on your car. They are the only thing that connects the car to the road, and life-saving technologies like antilock brakes and electronic stability control cannot do their job if the tires don’t have a good grip on the pavement. And yet tires are one of the least-understood components of our cars — mostly because there are so many different kinds and so little information about them.

No a man fatigue is best, as everyone’s needs are different. This list of simple do’s and don’ts will help you descry informed decisions when it comes on occasion to buy new tires.

DON’T spend too little on your tires.
Cheap, poorly-designed tires can make for longer stopping distances and less control in an predicament maneuver. All tires have traction ratings (AA, A, B or C) stamped right on the tire itself — buy tires with an A or AA rating.

DON’T spend too much on your tires.
As with most things, a name brand on a tire costs more. Well-known reputation brands do tend to get ready for a consistently high level of quality, but there are lesser-known fatigue manufacturers that produce excellent products at lower prices. Recommendations from a tire exchange you trust or from a site breed Tire Rack (www.tirerack.com) are a Brobdingnagian way to find good tires.

DON’T assume OEM is worst.
OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) tires are the ones fitted to your car at the factory, but buying the same type of tire as a replacement isn’t always the best choice. Manufacturers look for a tire that will provide OK performance in all conditions from Arizona summers to Vermont winters. They may choose a weaken that emphasizes comfort over handling or handling for tread life. As a consumer, you can do better by shopping around. Replacement OEM tires to go to my helpmeet’s car were enclosing $130 apiece; I found a tire greater suited to our hot and dry California out of sorts that cost significantly less. Not only did they rehabilitate the way the car drove, they saved me quite a bit of monied.

DO pick the nobility tire dealer.
When the time comes to against respecting tires, many people depend to the dealership or their townsman mechanic — but these businesses often carry a limited number of brands or tire models. A full-service tire dealer will disseminate a ample roam of brand names and will be familiar with local weather and road conditions. Talk to your dealer about the type of driving you do and get her recommendations. If you’re comfortable buying tires online, Tire Rack (www.tirerack.com) has an excellent interactive system that will staff you find a tire well suited to your needs.

DO have realistic expectations.
Tires, like most things in life, are a trade-off. Performance tires tend to wear out faster, while tires that give a more comfortable lie may be less agile in the corners. Talk to your tire dealer about the possible trade-offs of any tires you are considering.

DO buy two sets of tires.
Most cars come with all-season tires. Imagine using the same up of shoes for the purpose jogging, hiking, tramping through snow, and ballet dancing, and you’ll understand the problem inherent with all-season tires.

If you live where it snows, buy a set of proper snow tires (also known as winter tires) and use them in the winter. All-season tires are designed to handle all weather conditions, but they aren’t optimized for any exactly one. Snow tires are designed for one possessions and one gear purely: Keeping your car going where you point it when temperatures are d‚collet‚ and the roads are covered in snow and ice. By using snow tires in the winter, you can opt for a "summer" tire improve suited to your tastes — be that a quieter, more self-satisfied ride, better handling, improved deluge appearance or longer tread-life.

DO buy four tires at once.
New tires generally grip the road better than tires that must some miles on them. It’s best to replace all four tires at once, but if you necessity replace them in pairs, put the untrodden tires on the back (regardless of whether the car is front- or rear-wheel-drive). This will help the car contain its perseverance and predictability in a panic swerve. (Older tires on the rear will make the car more likely to jaunt out.)

Rotating the tires every 5,000 to 7,000 miles will ensure that they wear at the same rate, allowing you to get the most return on your investment and ensure that all four tires will be ready for replacement at the same time.

NEVER replace a single tire — if a tire is damaged and cannot be repaired, replace it as well as its mate on the other side of the motor.

DON’T ignore your mod tires.
Tires are NOT maintenance free items! Tires lose about 1 psi of arm-twisting per month and another 1 psi for every 10 degree forsake in temperature. If you buy new tires in August, by January they could have ruined as much as 20% of their inflation pressure. Underinflated tires curtailment gas mileage and are more likely to suffer a blowout — and with modern tires, you can’t publish the pressurize is low just by looking. Check your inflation pressures and inspect your tires monthly as outlined in our Tire Safety Tips.