Choose the Right Tires for Your Vehicle

Jeff S. Bartlett, Consumer Reports Managing Editor, Autos.

By Jeff S. Bartlett
Managing Editor, Autos

Updated April 30, 2025

Top Tires Questions

When should I buy new tires?
How to read a tire sidewall and what can it tell me?
What are the different tire types?

How to read your tire’s treadwear
How to choose EV replacement tires
Have more tire questions? We have you covered.

When should I buy new tires?

Join Jen Stockburger, director of operations at CR’s Auto Test Center, to learn when and why you should consider replacing your car's tires. And if you're ready to shop, use our handy tire selector to search by car type and tire size.

How to read a tire sidewall and what can it tell me?

Tires have a lot of information on their sidewall. When replacing yours, stay with the size and speed rating of your car’s original tires. If you bought a used car, check the owner's manual or driver's doorjamb placard for this information, because improper replacement tires could have been installed.

Size:

On this tire, 235 is the cross-section width in millimeters; 65 is the ratio of sidewall height to width (65 percent); R indicates radial-ply construction; and 17 is the wheel rim diameter in inches.
Load index:

Shorthand for the maximum weight each tire can safely carry when properly inflated. This converts to a scale, with cars typically ranging from 75 to 100. The 94 here means 1,477 pounds per tire, typical of a midsized car tire.
Speed rating:

This is a tire’s maximum speed when carrying a load defined by the load index. All-season tires are usually rated T (118 mph), H (130 mph), or V (149 mph). Winter tires may have the letter R (106 mph) or higher.
Treadwear, traction, and temperature scores:

Required grades on all tires and assigned by manufacturers to convey a tire's performance for wet traction, heat dissipation, and treadwear. For more info, read Understanding the UTQG System for Tires.
Manufacture date code:

This Department of Transportation number comes after the letters on the sidewall. The last four digits are the week and year the tire was made. A tire made the 4th week of 2024 will read 0424.

What are the different tire types?

When it comes time to replace your tires, it pays to know what’s currently on your vehicle. In most cases, you’ll want similar replacements, matching the size and speed rating. Use our ratings to find tires that excel in the areas that matter most to you, like braking, handling, or noise. See our full tire ratings for more.

All-Season Tires

speed rating T (118 mph), H (130 mph), or V (149 mph)
what to know
- All-season tires come in sizes to fit small cars to light-duty SUVs and pickups.
- They offer year-round traction, long treadwear, and a comfortable ride.
- But all-season tires typically lack the precise handling and grip of performance tires.
All-Season Tires Ratings
All-Season SUV Tires

Speed rating H (130 mph) or V (149 mph)
what to know
- All-season SUV tires are designed for modern SUVs, splitting the difference between car and truck tires.
- They’re tuned for the performance, comfortable ride, and light-duty towing capabilities of those vehicles.
All-Season SUV Tires Ratings
All-Season Truck Tires

Speed rating S (112 mph), T (118 mph), or H (130 mph)
what to know
- All-season truck tires are designed for the heavy loads of SUVs or pickups.
- These are well-rounded tires designed to perform well in most conditions.
All-Season Truck Tires Ratings
Ultra-High-Performance Tires

Speed rating ZR (149-plus mph), W (168 mph), or Y (186 mph)
what to know
- All-season and summer UHP tires are often fit to upscale and sporty vehicles.
- Designed to provide good handling and responsive steering in wet and dry conditions, but treadwear and ride comfort are common compromises.
- Summer UHP tires aren’t meant for cold weather and won’t grip in snow or ice.
Ultra-High-Performance Tires Ratings
All-Terrain Truck Tires

Speed rating S (112 mph) or T (118 mph)
what to know
- Engineered for more heavy-duty applications, all-terrain truck tires are suitable for use on paved roads and for light off-road use.
- The more rugged tread is designed to provide added traction on unpaved and snowy roads.
All-Terrain Truck Tires Ratings
Winter/Snow Tires

Speed rating Q (99 mph), R (106 mph), S (112 mph), T (118 mph), H (130 mph), or V (149 mph)
what to know
- Winter/snow tires offer superior grip to go, stop, and corner in cold, inclement weather.
- Rubber is formulated to stay pliable at freezing temperatures.
- Intended just for seasonal use, to be removed when spring arrives.
- Generally take longer to stop than all-season tires on cleared roads.
Winter/Snow Tires Ratings
Performance Winter/Snow Tires

Speed rating H (130 mph) or higher
what to know
- These tires come in sizes to fit cars using UHP all-season and summer tires.
- Designed to be seasonal replacements for those vehicles, providing improved cold-weather grip.
Performance Winter/Snow Tires Ratings
Winter/Snow Truck Tires

Speed rating R (106 mph), S (112 mph), or T (118 mph)
what to know
- Truck winter/snow tires are specifically designed for pickups and SUVs.
- As with car winter/snow tires, always use truck winter/snow tires in a set of four for optimum grip to go, stop, and corner.
Winter/Snow Truck Tires Ratings

Tire Selector

Our Tire Selector tool provides two quick ways to find the right tire for your needs. Search by vehicle (year, make, model) or by tire size (width, aspect ratio, wheel size), and we'll list the best tested tires that fit.

Find Your Tires

How to read your tire’s treadwear

Most new tires have a treadwear grade, but this is a comparative tool—it can't tell how many more miles a tire will last. Also, manufacturers use different methodologies for their treadwear mileage claims, making comparisons across brands challenging.

Overinflation: Evidence: Fast center wear
Underinflation: Evidence: Fast shoulder wear
Misalignment: Evidence: Fast wear on one side of the tire
Properly Maintained: Evidence: Even wear across the tire

How to choose EV replacement tires

The tires that came on your electric vehicle may not be the best for your needs. In fact, choosing a conventional, not EV-specific all-season tire can provide improved poor weather performance and longer tread life, and cost less than the original equipment (OE) tires. Our tests once again show that tires are all about compromises. See highlights from our EV tire test and full EV tire ratings.

Tesla Model 3 in EV tire testing, hydroplaning resistance

Have more tire questions? We have you covered.

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