Tires come in a lot of shapes and sizes and are designed for different uses. It’s important to select the correct tires, whether you drive a car, a pickup truck, or a sport utility vehicle. Yet, the choices can be overwhelming. We have put together a guide to simplify shopping for tires and help you make an educated choice.
What is Each Type of Tire?
All-Season Tires
These tires are designed for year-round usage in both wet and dry conditions. They handle well in warm weather. But they lack the extreme grip and performance characteristics of summer tires and all-terrain tires.
Summer Tires
Summer tires are known for their performance handling and responsiveness. They generally have higher speed ratings and are popular with people who enjoy driving. They are suitable for both dry and wet conditions.
Winter Tires
Winter tires have a special tread pattern that gives traction and enhanced grip in freezing rain, slushy, snowy, and icy conditions. The rubber used in winter tires is formulated to stay pliable in freezing weather. Winter tires should be replaced with summer or all-season tires in warmer months.
All-Terrain Tires
All-terrain tires have more rugged tread and are designed for use on paved surfaces and for off-road driving.
Which Tires are Best for my Driving Area?
The right tire depends on the type of vehicle you drive—car, SUV, or pickup truck—and where you drive it. You can find information about the size of the tires for your car or truck on the driver’s side door panel, in the owner’s manual, and on the sidewall of the tire.
If you are an average driver living in an area that has mild or warm weather most of the year, you may choose all-season tires.
If you live in an area that has predictable snow and ice each year, you may want a set of winter tires designed to handle these driving conditions.
If you drive your pickup truck off-road, you will want all-terrain tires.
How to Know if You Need New Tires?
As tires wear, they lose tread depth and traction.
Tread depth is measured in 32nds of an inch. A new tire typically has 10/32nds of tread depth or more. Truck tires may have even deeper tread.
Texas highway safety regulations require that all tires on a vehicle have at least 2/32nds of an inch of tread depth. If the tires have less depth than that or are close to 2/32nds, you should replace them.
Do Your Tires Pass the Penny Test?
A common way to check the tread depth on tires is the penny test.
Insert a penny into the groove of a tire tread. Turn the coin so Lincoln goes head first into the tread.
If you can see Old Abe’s entire head, the tread is shallow and the tire needs replacing.
It’s important to check the tread depth at multiple locations on the tire. You should replace the tire if the tread depth is less than 2/32nds of an inch at any location.
Even if there is plenty of tread, rubber breaks down over time. Tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires every six years, regardless of tread wear.
Tire Checking Tips
It’s important to inspect your tires and check their pressure regularly. Tires that are worn or not properly inflated can cause an accident.
Tires with worn tread may lose traction on wet pavement and can cause a car or truck to hydroplane, leading to a serious accident.
Underinflated tires tend to wear on the outer edges while overinflated tires generally wear in the center.
When you take your car or truck in for an oil change have the mechanic inspect the tires.
If you purchase new tires, be sure to fill out the forms provided by the dealer to register the tires with the manufacturer. That will enable the manufacturer to notify you in the event of a tire recall. If you receive a tire recall notice, you should have your tires replaced promptly.
Tire manufacturers recall many thousands of tires every year, due to manufacturing defects. Most people are unaware of tire recalls because the manufacturer did not know how to contact them.
CONTACT HERRMAN & HERRMAN IF YOU HAVE BEEN INJURED IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF ACCIDENTS:
We can help you if you have been harmed by the following:
- Car accidents – Our lawyers have extensive experience handling car accident cases. We will work to identify the party or parties at fault for the crash and build a case to demonstrate persuasively how the parties caused the accident and your injuries. We will seek fair and full compensation through a negotiated settlement or at trial if necessary.
- Truck accidents – Thousands of large commercial trucks travel the roads of Texas every single day. Unfortunately, careless truck drivers and trucking companies disregarding safety put innocent people at risk of serious injuries. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, let our experienced Texas personal injury lawyers stand up to the trucking companies and insurers on your behalf.
- Motorcycle accidents – Motorcycle riders often suffer grievous injuries in crashes caused by other motorists. Too many motorcycle accidents in Corpus Christi are caused by careless drivers who don’t look for motorcycle riders or violate their right of way. Our personal injury lawyers will work to cut through the bias and stigma against motorcycle riders. Our goal is to seek the financial compensation that you’ll need to recover from a serious motorcycle accident and injuries such as bone fractures, road rash, or traumatic brain injury.
- Product liability – Product manufacturers have a legal obligation to make products that are safe for their intended uses and to warn consumers of any risks that may come with the product. When products have design or manufacturing defects or undisclosed dangers, the product manufacturer may be legally responsible for injuries suffered by consumers. Our attorneys can help you evaluate whether you have a valid product liability claim.
- Brain injury – Brain injuries can leave accident victims with disabilities that leave them unable to work or perform many tasks of daily living. Seeking compensation for a brain injury in an accident often proves incredibly complex. The brain injury survivor may seek compensation for anticipated future medical care and the medical care already provided. Our personal injury lawyers can help you through the difficult recovery process following a brain injury and will fight to make sure you have the resources you need.
- Spinal injury – Spinal cord injuries could cost millions of dollars of care over the course of the victim’s lifetime, especially when those injuries result in partial or complete paralysis, such as paraplegia or quadriplegia. If you or your loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, you deserve compassionate legal representation. Our attorney can help you determine whether you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injury and expenses related to living with the disability, such as making a home more accessible.
- Wrongful death – If you have lost a loved one due to the negligent or reckless actions of another party, your family deserves to seek accountability and compensation from those at fault for the wrongful death. Our caring and dedicated attorneys can help guide you and your family through this difficult and painful time and seek justice for your loved one.
