How to Pick the Right Wheels and Tires for Traction

Why Good Traction Is So Important

If you think about it, traction is really related to every single part of your vehicle’s performance. Traction is what allows your car to adhere to the road, which means that better traction makes for faster acceleration, quicker braking, and more grip through turns. Obviously, that makes your car perform better, but it also makes it safer and gives you more control while driving.

The Importance of Caring for Your Wheels and Tires

Equipping your vehicle with the right custom wheels and tires is essential for maximum traction, but it’s also vital that you take care of your wheels and tires, too. You should regularly check your tire pressure, to make sure that each tire is properly inflated. If tires are lacking in air pressure, they will decrease traction. Having your wheels regularly aligned and your tires rotated is also critical for maximizing traction. Alignments and rotations ensure that your tires are properly set up so that your car can get the most out of them. It’s also a good idea to regularly check your tires for damage and excessive wear and tear, which will hinder traction.

Picking the Right Wheels and Tires for Traction

When it comes to choosing which wheels and tires are right for you and your car or truck, it’s primarily a matter of considering what you use your vehicle for. Tires are not one size fits all car parts. Every car and every driver has different needs, and that determines which tires will offer you the traction that you need when you get on the road.

Consider the Terrain You’re Driving On

Traction is how well your car adheres to the road. And while tires are a pretty important part of that equation, so is the road that you’re driving on. If you primarily use your car for weekends at the track, then you probably want low-tread, high-performance tires, which maximize traction on slick tarmac.

But if you have a truck that you take off-roading, you’ll need large-tread, all-terrain tires to give your vehicle traction on uneven surfaces. Even if you just drive on normal city roads, the quality of the asphalt can determine what tires will have the most traction.

Always Take Note of Your Climate

Something that’s often overlooked when buying tires is the climate that you live and drive in. If you drive your car in the wet and slippery conditions of ice, snow, and rain, then you’ll get the most traction from all-weather tires. If you just have normal high-performance tires on your car, then you might notice great traction when it’s warm and dry out, but you’ll lose all that traction once the weather turns.

But rain and snow aren’t the only climate factors to consider; the temperature is also important. Temperatures can impact how well your tires grip the road. For maximum traction, you’ll want tires that are equipped for the extreme weather you have, whether that be sweltering hot summers or ice-cold winters.

Don’t Forget Your Wheels

Whenever you purchase tires, it’s important to start with your wheels. There’s no use buying tires that aren’t graded to fit your wheels. While it’s true that things such as increased width will make your tires have better traction, that only matters if the tires actually fit with your wheels, fenders, and your wheel wells. Accessories like tire spacers can help you modify your wheels to fit bigger tires, but you might run the risk of your tires being too big for your car. If that happens, the increased rubber might actually decrease the amount of traction you have.

Once you’ve taken all these factors into consideration, you’re ready to start shopping for tires to get the most traction on the road. Our sales techs are here to help you find the perfect pair of tires to match the needs of your car or truck.