How to Choose the Best Tires for Your Car: Use Free Internet Information

Without Leaving the Comfort of Your Home

Lori Wheat
Best General Overview for Choosing the Best Tires for Your Car: Consumer Search
Consumersearch.com is a good starting point for research on a variety of consumer goods. This website contains lots of general information about what to look for when buying new tires for your vehicle. This site also lists other websites that review tires and provides reviews of various sources that review tires. Reviews reviewed! The top listed sites that review tires are Car and Driver, The Tire Rack, and Consumer Reports. The Tire Rack is said to be the best authority on tire reviews. Car and Driver even enlists the help of The Tire Rack when reviewing tires.

Consumersearch.com lists specific tire recommendations in various categories. The estimated prices are based on the common 215/60TR16 tire size.

A Note on Consumer Reports
Some people are diehard Consumer Reports fans and get all the consumer product information available from that source. Note that Consumer Reports often provides general articles on its website for free. However, to view specific brand recommendations, Consumer Reports normally requires a paid membership. There is a way to obtain the information at no cost, although it will require leaving the comfort of your home. Your local library most likely has a supply of Consumer Reports magazines for you to read for free.

Fastest Information on Specific Tire Size, Brand, and Type for Your Car: The Tire Rack
On the home page of tirerack.com, you can enter the make, model, and year of your vehicle, and choose to search for tires that are appropriate for your particular vehicle. For those feeling overwhelmed with all the choices, this is a great way to narrow your tire search.

For example, if you search for tires for a 1996 Toyota Corolla, the results show that the original equipment for this vehicle were tire size 175/65-14. Another option listed is tire size 185/65-14.

Don't Forget to Verify the Tire Size in Your Owner's Manual or On Your Vehicle
Be sure to check your car's owner's manual to ensure you are shopping for the right tires. You may also want to physically check what type of tires are on your car right now. If you do not have the owner's manual and are uncertain whether the tires currently on your vehicle are the correct size, there is usually a place on your vehicle to verify the correct tire size. This information is most often found in the door jam or gas cap.

Published by Lori Wheat

Lori Wheat is a progressive, reformed attorney turned freelance writer, gardener, and property manager. She lives with her wonderful husband and adopted greyhound dog in Norman, Oklahoma.  View profile

8 Comments

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  • Branwen664/24/2008

    Thank you for this succinct and very informative guide!

  • Genie Walker12/15/2007

    It's time for me to get tires - okay, past time, but I've been putting it off because I didn't want to do my homework. Thanks for posting this great article full of the info I need.

  • Charlotte Kuchinsky12/3/2007

    Now why didn't I think of that?

  • Lisa Riggs11/22/2007

    Great info~Thanks Lori!

  • Jody11/21/2007

    Well written article with some really valuable information! Thanks for sharing!

  • Sophie11/21/2007

    I didn't know of Consumersearch.com. Thanks for this information, Lori. I'll have to mention it to my husband in case we need tyres ("tires").
    Sophie

  • Jack Oceano11/21/2007

    Very helpful information! (Great comment on my New Year's article, by the way. You're right. I can be such a guy sometimes! Except when it comes to cars!)

  • Lchaim11/21/2007

    Great info, Lori! I have been a CR fan for years, though sometimes their recommendations have not turned out to be the best! Tires are one of those consumer purchases that has always been tough for a lot of people (including me!) Hope you and your husband have a great Thanksgiving and holiday season. Dave

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