Selecting the right tyres

TYRES BY CAR	TYRES BY TYRE MANUFACTURER	TYRES BY TYPE

How to choose the right tyres for your car?

Your tyre is one of the most important parts of your vehicle, as it comes into direct contact with the road.  And while you may think that it is a complicated task to choose the right tyres for your car, requiring expert knowledge, it is in fact quite straightforward. This guide will help you understand what to consider when choosing tyres for your car.
And when it comes to fitting your new tyres, you do not have to worry. Hometyre will take special care fitting your new tyres and balancing your wheels, as our service vehicles are equipped with computerised wheel balancers designed for mobile use. We will also endeavour to repair your punctured tyres, in accordance with the UK tyre law.

Driving Habits and your Car

Do you live somewhere where it rains a lot? Are there significant changes in temperature throughout the year? Do you drive at high speeds? These are some of the questions you have to ask yourself when choosing a new tyre for your car. If you often need to drive on wet and muddy roads for example, you will need car tyres that can provide extra grip, which will greatly depend on the tyre's tread pattern. If you usually drive in the city, and have to brake a lot, you can choose car tyres that are better suited for this style of driving.

You also have to match the tyre with your car, and you can choose from a variety of  4x4 tyres, passenger car tyres, van tyres, and sports car tyres that are all designed to provide ideal performance and grip on the road.
You will also have to consider how much you are willing to spend on your new tyres. If you use your car every day, and it is your primary mode of transportation, it is worth investing in high quality and more expensive tyres. It is likewise advisable to buy very good quality tyres if you are planning a longer road trip. On the other hand, if you use your car only infrequently, budget tyres will be more than suitable for your needs. Depending on your requirements, you will also have to make up your mind about which tyre manufacturer to choose. Read our section on tyre manufacturers to get a better overview.
 

Car Tyre Types

There are not just different types of tyres for vans, passenger cars, and high performance cars, but you can also choose car tyres for a variety of different purposes. Here are a few common types:

All-Season Tyres

All-season tyres are a good compromise, and work well in the summer and winter as well, though they are not specialised for any particular weather condition. All-season tyres will not give an exceptionally good performance neither on dry road, neither on wet road. You will also have to keep them in excellent condition to perform well under all weather conditions.

Winter Tyres

You should use winter tyres from around November until early March, as they are designed to cope with bad weather, and more difficult driving conditions. The tread block pattern on winter tyres is larger than on standard tyres, to channel away rain and snow, while providing an excellent grip.

Summer Tyres

You can use summer tyres all year round, but they are designed to provide exceptional performance on dry roads. Take good care of your summer tyres, because if they are worn, they will perform poorly under bad weather conditions.

Run Flat Tyres

Run flat tyres are designed to operate without air, so that your car can continue running even after an accident. Read our guide to run flat tyres if you would like to learn more about how they are designed and how you can keep them in good condition.

Tyre characteristics, Maintenance, and Safety

After the initial consideration of your needs, you only have to match your requirements with a number of tyre characteristics. Our tyre sizing guide provides all the necessary information to help you choose the right tyre for your car.
Read our sections on tyre safety and tyre maintenance to learn more about checking the safety of your tyres and about maintaining your car tyre, so that it will always perform at its best.