The US tire market is set to reach a staggering $78 billion by 2023. With such a large market there is fierce competition for consumers’ business among tire manufacturers.
The question for us is when is the best time to buy tires? How do you know when the best deals are going to be offered?
You need to consider the condition of your current tires. How do you know when the best time to replace them is?
Follow our guide, so you know what time is the best time to buy tires.
The Best Time to Buy Tires
The short answer is that the best time of year to buy tires is in April and October. If you want the best price for your tires, you are likely to find it during these two months.
Many tire manufacturers will offer deals in April because it is right before the warm season. People are starting to think about traveling and taking road trips.
October is a good time to buy because this is when tire manufacturers want to entice you to buy right before the winter season.
When to Replace Your Tires
It isn’t only about buying your tires during the right time of year though. You need to replace your tires when they wear down in the tread. If the tread on your tires is less than 2/32 of an inch, you need to replace your tires.
Trying to drive on worn tires until the sale months puts you and anyone else in your car in danger. So if you see your tires starting to get low, replace them sooner rather than later.
You should also replace your tires when the expire, regardless of current wear. Take a look at the side of your tire, and you will see a code.
This code will tell you the age of your tire. Like anything else that is made of rubber, it ages and becomes brittle over time.
Online Sales
Instead of heading to your local tire shop, you can find a larger selection online. You may also find that online-based retailers offer discounts and promotions more often than twice a year.
If you keep an eye out for the tire you want, you can time your purchase with a promo code or sale. Then you can wait until you are ready to have them put on your vehicle.
Just remember that you will need a place to store them and a way to transport them to the tire shop when you are ready.
Buying Tires in October
Tire manufacturers produce winter tires during the summer months in preparation for the coming season. So it is better to buy them early in the season when you have plenty of options.
The further you wait into winter the lower the inventory and the fewer options you have to choose from. You may even get stuck with tires you aren’t thrilled about or are not within your budget.
Buy Four
When you go to buy your winter tires, buy four. Do not believe the myth that you only need two on the car’s driving wheels.
All four wheels touch the road, and so you need traction on all four wheels. This will maximize handling in inclement conditions.
Mountain Symbol
Look for tires that have a three peak mountain and snowflake symbol on them. These tires have passed special traction testing.
Just keep in mind that some all season tires have this symbol. It doesn’t mean that they will perform as well as true winter tires.
The Tread
Look at the tread on your new tires. You want tires that have a tread pattern that will give you the most amount of traction in low traction driving conditions. You also want the tread to be deep enough to clear snow and slush.
Buying Tires in April
When you buy tires in April, you need to consider what the coming months of driving conditions will bring. Do you live in a cooler climate? Or do you live in an area where it gets blazing hot?
Buy Four
The best thing to do is to buy four new tires at the same time. This way they all wear the same, handle the same, and improve the performance of your vehicle.
If you buy tires at different times, then you constantly have to track each tire’s wear and replacement timeline. You have better thing to do, like live your life.
The Tread
Unlike winter tires, you want a moderate tread depth. You also want a channel system in the tread to direct water out and away from the tires.
If you live in an especially rainy area, look for summer tire tread. This will have a lot less intricate tread. The large channels will give you the maximum amount of road grip.
Performance Tires
Standard all-season tires work fine for most of us doing daily driving. You’ll know you’re looking at these tires because they have a rating of S or T for speed.
But if you have a newer car or upgraded wheels, you may want to buy performance all season tires. These have a speed rating of H or V.
You will get better handling and grip through the corners. Just keep in mind that You won’t get the same useful life out of them like you will standard all-season tires.
All Season vs. Winter Tires
One thing you will notice when tire shopping is that there are a few different types of tires. So we are going to help you compare all season vs winter tires, so you buy the right tires for your driving conditions.
All-Season Tires
All season tires are going to work well in a variety of weather conditions. So if your area gets hot and cold weather, rain, and light snow you should be good to go.
The tread in these tires gives you a stable connection with the road. You will also enjoy slower tread wear in both dry and wet conditions.
You should also enjoy better gas mileage because there is less resistance to rolling. Finally, you should notice that your ride is quieter with these tires.
The downside of all-season tires is that they are designed to work in a variety of conditions. This means it performs well but doesn’t perform outstandingly in any one particular condition. Specialized tires are what you want if you are looking for that.
Winter Tires
If you live in an area that gets a lot of snow, then all-season tires are going to fall short of your needs. This is where specialized winter tires will outperform.
when properly inflated, you will get better traction out of winter tires. They have a unique rubber compound that keeps the rubber flexible and pliable even as the temperatures drop.
You will also notice that the tread pattern is different on these tires. This will give you better control of your vehicle during braking, accelerating, and turning while on snow and ice.
The downside of these tires is that they won’t work well on pavement that is warm and dry. That special rubber compound we mentioned doesn’t work with this type of driving condition.
That means you’ll notice faster wear, reduced handling, and a noisy ride.
Dealing with Defective Tires
Before you buy any set of tires, ask if there is a warranty. Almost all tire seller today will give you some form of warranty.
You can typically get them replaced if you discover a defect or the tires wear away prematurely. If it has been a while since you bought the tires, you may get a pro-rated price on your new set.
You can’t do anything without your paperwork though. So always save your receipt or proof of purchase and the warranty information.
If you buy local, ask about the shop’s repair policy. Many shops will repair tires for free if they are ought from them.
This will save you money in both repair and replacement of your tires in the long run.
Plan Your Tire Purchase
Knowing the best time to buy tires can mean multiple things to people, so we’ve tried to cover the different ways you can define this question. For some, it is all about finding the best deal.
For others, they are wisely concerned about safety. With a little bit of planning, you can accomplish both the best deal and the highest safety precautions.
Now that you know how to buy your new tires, check out this article on caring for them so they last and stay in the best of shape.
