Consider what kind of weather you live in. Winter tires for those of you who live in cold climates are a must.

Step 3 What Kind of Weather Do you Live In?

Tire America Admin

4 Steps on How to Choose the Right Tire - Tire Academy

Summer/performance tires for those enthusiasts. Touring tires for casual everyday driver.

Step 2 Consider Your Driving Style

First consider your car, driving style and local climate. Then narrow down your choices by answering a few questions about your priorities.

Step 1 What KInd of Car Do You Drive?

Finally, consider what you did — or didn’t — like about your current set of tires. Did they wear out too soon? Look for a tire with a more durable treadwear rating. Were they too noisy? Today you can find tires specifically designed for a quieter ride. Want something with more traction in the curves? Consider a summer or high-performance tire.

Buying new tires doesn’t need to be overwhelming. Simply answer a few questions about your priorities, driving style and local climate, and you can quickly narrow down your choices.

Step 4 Evaluate Your Current Set of Tires

Second generation NT555 tire features numerous improvements over the first generation model. Whitest tires in the lineup, twin center ribs, increase straight line stability and traction. Good news for when you just want to go straight and fast.

Second Generation NT555 G2 Features Numerous Improvements

Nitto NT555 G2 Review - Tire Academy

I think Nitto NT 555 G two is a great tire for a high performance car. It's a great value when you want to modify your car and improve handling.

Nitto NT 555 G2 Jen's Review

Nitto NT 555 high performance street tire. Designed for street or track use. Good stability in the corners, feels pretty nice under acceleration too.

Nitto NT 555GT High Performance Tire Designed for Street and Track

Summer tires are more expensive than all-seasons, so they’re not the best option if you’re on a tight tire budget. 

A summer tire’s softer rubber compound also wears faster than an all-season, which means you’ll be replacing them more often. 

As mentioned, summer tires need to heat up to certain temperatures to be effective. This can be as low as 45 degrees Fahrenheit in some cases, so you don’t need to drive in the desert to enjoy the benefit of a summer tire. 

But you do need to be careful in low temperatures. A spirited drive on a cold morning in a car with summer tires can easily lead to losing control. 

If you live where it never snows and temperatures are typically around 40 to 45°F or warmer during your regular drive times, summer tires may be a good choice. These tires are ideal for high performance cars, and especially in urban areas with warm climates that get some rain, as summer tires help prevent hydroplaning at highway speeds better than all-season tires.

Summer Tires More Expensive Than All Seasons But Better Performance

Summer vs All-Season Tires What's the Difference? Tire Academy

Summer tires are one of the easiest ways to upgrade your car’s handling performance, but bear in mind that some cars will benefit more than others. Cars that already have lively steering and tight suspensions will gain more from summer tires than a typical family sedan.

Summer Tires are Easiest Ways to Upgrade Car Performance

How do I know when it is time to replace my tires?

How do I know when it is time to replace my tires? Tire Tread Depth - Tire Academy

A tread depth gauge is a handy tool to keep in the glovebox. Stick it in the grooves next to a tread block and check the height. These are cheap, easy to read and a more accurate way to measure tread depth than a simple eyeball measurement.

How to use a Tread Depth Gauge

If you don’t have a tread depth gauge, you can use a penny. Simply place a penny upside down in the shallowest groove of the tire. If all of Lincoln’s head is visible, your tire has 2/32nds, or less, of tread life remaining, and it’s time to order replacements.

How to Penny Test for Tire Tread Depth

Michelin Cross climate tire, very soft and pliable in the dry, good stopping distance and good in snow and icy conditions.

Michelin Cross climate tire, very soft and pliable in the dry,

Michelin Cross Climate 2 A/W - Tire Academy

Michelin Cross Climate two tire is rated for speeds up to 149 MPH and can last up to 15,000 more miles than similar competitors. The tire is backed by a 60 mile warranty.

Michelin Cross Climate is a versatile tire

Michelin Cross Climate tire rated with the three peak mountain snowflake symbol. This tire is all season all weather and has unique directional tread design that allows it to perform in all weather conditions.

Michelin Cross Climate tire rated with the three peak mountain

How do the BFGoodrich K02 Perform?

BFGoodrich All Terrain T/A K02 Review - Tire Academy

Key Moments

Choosing new tires can seem overwhelming. So many brands, sizes, choices and prices! And if you’re a performance or off-road enthusiast, you can get deep into the weeds of tire specifications.

This second-generation NT555 tire features several improvements over the first generation model. It still has the same characteristics that made it a favorite with muscle car and sport compact drivers, but now offers other enhancements.

Most experts recommend replacing your tires before the tread depth reaches 2/32nds of an inch, which is 1.59mm. Once your tires reach 2/32nds of an inch, they become a safety hazard. At this shallow depth, the grooves in the tread are so worn that they can no longer effectively push away water on a wet road, which can lead to potential handling resistance, traction loss, increased stopping distances and hydroplaning.

This is the third-generation Michelin Cross Climate 2.
It’s an all-season, all-weather tire rated with the “3-Peak Mountain Snowflake” symbol. That means it meets certain performance criteria for traction in severe winter weather. 
It's not a substitute for a dedicated winter tire, but it's about as close as you can get for something you can drive year-round. 
The unique directional tread design is marked by interlocking grooves that come together in a "V" pattern. 
Michelin says this summer-style tread, combined with a winter-style rubber compound - that is, a compound that remains pliable and gripping even as temperatures drop below freezing - gives the CrossClimate2 its versatility. 
While this design DOES sacrifice some overall grip and handling when you feel like attacking a fun, fast corner, the trade-off is impressive traction even in severe conditions.

Uploads

Key Moments

Tire America Advantage

Customer Service

Knowledge Center

National Installer Program

Financing Options