When To Buy Tires

Tires don’t last forever. The two main reasons one may buy new tires are tire wear and tire damage. (For information on how to diagnose an issue with your tires, click here.) Another reason is if you choose to upsize your tires, which some drivers do for improved traction and cosmetics. Some vehicles may also require (or prefer) seasonal tires and need to change them to match the season.

TIRE WEAR & DAMAGE
Helpful tips on how to check your tires for wear and diagnose tire damage.

• IF YOUR TIRE IS WORN
  How worn is too worn? There are several ways to check for wear without even getting your hands dirty: You can either look for visible, excessive wear, you can perform the Penny Test to check proper tread depth, or you can check if the tread is worn down to the wear bar indicators (typically located in the circumferential grooves of the tread).
• IF YOUR TIRE IS DAMAGED 
  If you find any tire damage be sure to ask an authorized tire retailer to inspect your tire. There could be some unseen damage on the inside.

TIRE UPGRADE
Thinking of going bigger or wider? The performance driver’s guide to tire upgrading.

Tire upgrading, or plus-sizing, is a practice where performance-minded drivers upgrade their original equipment wheels with wider, bigger wheels. Why? It can make the vehicle look sportier. Plus, it offers better handling when done properly. There are two ways to plus-size:
Plus 1, 2, Etc.
Plus Zero

• PLUS 1, 2, ETC.
  The most popular form of plus-sizing is increasing your vehicle’s wheel diameter and your tire’s rim diameter. An example is changing from a 14” wheel to a 15” wheel. This is called “plus 1.” (Going from 14” to 16” is plus 2, etc.) To make plus-sizing work, the tire’s aspect ratio decreases while the wheel diameter increases. (Note: The overall diameter of the tire never changes, just the wheel diameter.)
• PLUS ZERO
  If you want to leave your wheel diameter the same, you can still change to a wider tire. (Note: You may need a wider wheel as well.) An example is going from a P195/75R14 tire to P215/65R14 tire. What this means is that your tire width will be wider (195 millimeters to 215), your aspect ratio will be smaller (75 to 65) but the wheel diameter stays the same (14 and 14). Why do this? A larger contact patch on the road can mean better grip and handling.
• WHAT IS STAGGERING? 
  A staggered fitment is when you put larger wheels on the back of your vehicle than the front. This specification comes from the vehicle’s manufacturer, and is designed to improve performance on vehicles with rear-wheel-drive. A dramatic example of staggering is a drag race car.
• VERY IMPORTANT PLUS-SIZING LEGAL:
  We do not recommend up-sizing due to safety reasons. If wheel diameter is increased too much, (from 14” to 17”, for example), or if a staggered fitment is used, then your anti-lock brakes, speedometer and stability system may not work properly. Some manufacturers have already tested and approved multiple wheel diameters, so be sure to ask First Choice Wheels and Tires on any sizing needs. 

Read this and more at First Choice Wheels and Tires
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