How do you know when to replace tires? One way is to check the tire tread with the penny test: stick a penny (Lincoln’s head facing down) into the tread groove. If the top of his head is visible, it’s probably time to replace your tires.
New cars have an array of high-tech safety features, from advanced anti-skid systems to automatic braking, but these are less effective without quality tires.3 Well-maintained tires are so important to staying safe on the roads, that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has designed an entire campaign around the theme ‘Tire Safety: Everything Rides on It’.4 Make sure to educate yourself on which tire goes on your wheels before purchasing new tires. In order to fit the right tire to your wheel, you must first identify the correct tire size, plus the load index and the speed rating.5 You can learn a lot about a tire by looking at the measurement numbers on its sidewall. They include tire width, aspect ratio, radial design, tire diameter, tire load rating, and tire speed rating.
Need new tires? Read this Tire Comparison Guide.
Here's a typical example:
Tip: High-performance tires are wider than all-season tires and have a lower aspect ratio, which looks good on your vehicle, but can result in a stiffer ride.
One more option to know about before you replace your tires is called plus sizing. Plus sizing is when you replace both the wheels and tires at the same time—going with larger diameter alloy wheels and low profile tires to boost performance, handling and the overall look of the vehicle. Use an online tire size calculator to determine the optimum wheel and tire size for your vehicle.2 Skipping or skimping on this purchase is a risky proposition. Fortunately, tire financing may be an option.
When tire repairs or replacements aren't in the budget, or you don’t want to max out high-rate credit cards, choose an auto shop that partners with a reputable financing company. These businesses offer financing to their customers and make it possible to pay for large auto repair bills, such as new tires, over an extended period of time.4 Instead of a large initial cash purchase, you have manageable monthly payments that slide right into your budget. For example, the Synchrony Car Care credit card has promotional financing available* to help finance tires. With nationwide acceptance**, you can find locations that offer service for tires, transmissions, oil changes, and collision repair, so you can find a car care professional for all of your car care needs. It can be tempting to choose the least expensive solution, such as patching a small leak, but gambling with safety on the road is never a smart decision.
By financing a new set of tires (or a major repair), you free-up your existing credit cards for other purchases. Promotional financing is available on purchases of $199 or more* and can make your tire purchase more manageable.
In addition to financing your tire purchase, you can also use the Synchrony Car Care credit card on other car-related purchases—like major repairs, wheel alignments, maintenance, parts, and even gas.
When it’s time to replace your tires, Synchrony Car Care can help. Learn more about the Synchrony Car Care credit card.
