Buying tires for your SUV is no different than buying tires for a car. As always you need to consider what kind of driving you will be doing as well as what kind of weather conditions you will be confronted with. Obviously, the SUV tires are made especially for SUVs, taking in account the larger size and weight of the SUV. When considering the kind of driving you will be doing you need to take in account if you mainly are going to be driving on city roads, freeways or even off road or in rough terrain. Depending on where in the United States you live depends on what kind of tires to get because if the area you live has severe winters then you need you to decide if you want to invest in either SUV all-weather tires or SUV winter tires. This is because only these two types of tires hold the “Three Peak Mountain Snowflake” emblem which signifies they have met required performance criteria in snow testing. This is important especially since SUV’s are larger and heavier than regular passenger cars so therefore things like grip and traction are important.
Alternatively, if living in an area with mild weather year-round then SUV all-season tires would suffice. This is because they have less aggressive tread than either winter or all-weather tires which minimizes rolling resistance and thereby allows for better fuel economy. Another thing that can affect fuel efficiency is tire dimensions. It is always best to follow the manufacture’s recommended tire dimensions for your make and model SUV to assure proper braking and handling of the SUV. Dimensions of the tires also play a role in traction and hydroplaning protection. Narrower tires being better at redirecting water then wider tires whereas wider tires offer more traction. This however only holds true if your tires are of good quality and allow for a good grip on the road. If in the market for SUV all-weather tires and the recommended tire dimensions are 275/55R20 then you would need 275/55R20 all-weather tires as this assures the best handling of your SUV. All-weather tires are great for all year round driving by offering excellent handling and excellent grip and traction.
Whether you decide to invest in SUV all-weather tires, SUV all-season tires or SUV winter tires. It is important to invest in good quality tires and to maintain the tires and keep them properly inflated. Since the SUV is a larger and heavier vehicle than a regular passenger car it is important to keep tires properly inflated and always make sure that the brakes are maintained. Keep in mind the fact that the SUV has 4-wheel drive which only is an advantage in acceleration and not in braking so if you will be driving in severe winter weather it is still important to use tires that are severe snow service-rated.
For more information on which SUV tires to choose, visit www.nokiantires.com