Let’s look at selecting new tires in light of three factors: Function, Fit, and Value.
Function: This gets at what your needs are for new tires: KS weather conditions, Kansas City terrain, Olathe temperatures, etc.
Most new family vehicles in KS come with all-season tires. They can be used all year long and do pretty well in most KS road conditions – but they aren’t ideal at the extremes.
Winter tires have a more aggressive tread for handling snow and ice on roads and they have a rubber compound that helps them have better traction as temperatures drop below 45 degrees Fahrenheit. Definitely better stopping and road-holding characteristics for Olathe vehicles than all-season tires in winter weather. Dedicated summer tires enhance warm KS weather performance driving for Olathe.
If you drive off-road around Kansas City , there is a wide spectrum of tires from all-terrain (a good mix of highway and off-road capability) to dedicated off-road tires.
The key is to ask your Bret’s Autoworks tire professional and the function you need to get the type of tire, load rating, speed rating and wear rating you need.
Fit: The easiest thing is to purchase tires in the same size that were installed by the manufacturer. If you want a different size wheel or tire profile, be sure to work with your Bret’s Autoworks service advisor so you can make sure that your new wheels and tires fit properly and don’t rub in bumps or turns. It’s also to make sure that important safety systems like anti-lock brakes, stability control and traction control aren’t adversely affected by the new tire size (the computer may need to be recalibrated to make necessary adjustments).
Value: Note, I didn’t say price. The tire that meets all your needs AND has the warranty and tread life you expect will not be the least option – but it may well return the best value for your tire dollar.