When it comes to choosing tyres, you shouldn’t base your decision on price alone.

Your tyres influence the way your car steers, accelerates and the way it drives in different weather conditions.

Pick the right tyre for your vehicle

First, you’ll need to establish the right tyre spec for your make and model of vehicle. This is easy to do, and you can either look at your current tyres or go online and use your reg number to check.

When you know which tyre size you need for your vehicle, you can look at the range of tyres on the market.

Check out premium through to budget tyres

Often budget is the deciding factor when purchasing new tyres. But try to go for the best quality tyre you can afford. The difference between premium and budget tyres is performance and longevity.

Premium tyres are manufactured by well-known names including Michelin, Bridgestone, Pirelli, Continental and Goodyear. They provide premium tyres that will last for approximately 20,000 miles, and that will give an enhanced driving experience. Many drivers feel that a premium tyre is a worthwhile investment because of their longevity.

The average mileage before a budget tyre needs to be replaced is much lower, generally around 7,000 to 8,000 miles. This is fine if you have a standard car and don’t have a high annual mileage. But If you rack up the miles and have a high-performance car, then you’re going to need a better-quality tyre.

Another consideration is traffic conditions. If you frequently drive in conditions that require constant braking, a premium tyre may be better value as it will withstand the wear and tear.

Do you need seasonal tyres?

In the UK, most drivers keep the same tyres on their car all year round as we don’t tend to experience extreme weather conditions. But for optimum performance, you may consider having two sets of tyres.

The tread on summer tyres is designed to perform best at temperatures above 7°c on wet or dry roads. They’re made from a softer compound that gives reduced resistance, and as a result, they provide greater fuel economy.

In parts of the UK, such as Scotland and the north of England, where you can experience more severe weather conditions, winter tyres offer more stability and better road handling. Winter tyres have deeper tread grooves that improve road traction. The design of the tread helps to collect snow, and this will give greater traction on ice and snow.

In this country, there’s no legal requirement to fit winter tyres during the colder months. However, if you’re driving abroad, you should check the laws in that country. In some European countries, it’s compulsory to fit winter or all-weather tyres in specific weather conditions.

All-season tyres are generally the best option in this country. They’re made from a compound that doesn’t harden as much in cold conditions as summer tyres do. All-season tyres also have a tread pattern that’s designed to prevent aquaplaning on wet roads.

Would you like us to take a look at your vehicle’s tyres?

Foster & Heanes offers car servicing, maintenance and repair for all makes and models of vehicles including classic and vintage cars. We can arrange free collection and delivery if you live near our Fleet or Dogmersfield service centres.  Find out more at www.fosterandheanesltd.co.uk