New & Used: 9673 Kings Auto Mall Road, Cincinnati, OH 45249
Used: 435 E Galbraith Rd. Cincinnati, OH 45215
Sales:
(513) 741-1111
Service:
(513) 697-5200
Tires have a very important job: they grip the road, providing the traction necessary to keep drivers in control. While some people might need specialty tires for off-roading or racing, most drivers in Ohio probably use all-season tires most of the time, if not year-round. These tires perform well in a wide variety of conditions and provide a smooth, quiet ride that drivers and passengers alike will appreciate. McCluskey Chevrolet is your all-season tire dealer, and we can get you the right set of wheels whether you’re a seasoned enthusiast or a first-time car owner.
Within the broad category of all-season tires, there are plenty of different sizes, brands, and other choices. Which one is right for you depends on a few factors, like what type of vehicle you have and what your budget is. To make this guide applicable to as many people as possible, we’re not going to get too granular and will be talking more generally about all-season tires and what sets them apart from other kinds of tires. If you have any questions that aren’t answered here, don’t hesitate to reach out to our service department. Our certified experts will be able to get you the help you need with any tire-related issue.
All-season tires are designed to work well in a wide variety of road and weather conditions, providing good traction, making minimal noise, and lasting a long time. The term “all-season” can be misleading. While some modern “all-weather tires” have been designed to provide decent traction in the winter, many others focus on delivering great performance for spring, summer, and fall but don’t do well on snow or ice. Those in milder climates like California or Florida can get away with using them all year, but here in Ohio, it’s generally better to think of them as three-season tires.
All-season tires can be divided into a few sub-categories. High-performance tires are designed to provide more responsive handling and a sporty feel, but because they use a softer rubber that grips the road better, they don’t last as long. Touring tires may not be as sporty, but they offer a smoother ride, higher winter traction, and a nice, long tread life. Grand touring all-season tires strike a balance between solid traction year-round, a comfortable ride, handling well at high speeds, and lasting reasonably long. These are often the original tires that a new vehicle comes with.
To understand the advantages of all-season tires, we’ll need to take a look at some of the shortcomings of more specified types of tires. While all-season tires may not be the right fit for some specific situations, they are good at handling the things that most people will run into in their day-to-day driving. Since they’re well-rounded, they don’t have too many major drawbacks, unlike tires that are meant to do a specific task and underperform outside of their specialty.
Snow tires, or winter tires, offer improved traction on roads that are covered in ice or snow because they have a more open tread pattern with rubber compounds that are designed to provide lots of grip. However, you’ll want to change them out during the warmer months because those compounds will wear out quickly in the heat of summer or even spring. They can also make driving louder and more turbulent on dry roads. So while snow tires are very important during icy midwestern winters, they can’t do it all by themselves. You’ll need another set to cover the other three seasons.
High-performance summer tires are most often found on sports cars, especially when the driver can afford to have a hotrod second car that doesn’t get much practical use. While they are faster and great for zooming around the track, they can be dangerous to use in the snow. So they need to be switched out before any ice starts to form on the roads.
All-terrain tires are usually used on SUVs and trucks that are tough enough for off-roading. Their deeper treads are able to grip uneven terrain and even mud, making them essential for driving away from paved roads and onto rough and tumble OHV trails. If you’re not interested in off-roading, or if your car isn’t built to handle it, then you can simply disregard these tires. They’re extra noisy, and if you’re driving on smooth, paved roads, then you’re in for a bumpy ride.
Most drivers should stick to buying all-season tires for at least three seasons out of the year. If you don’t have a specific and compelling reason to get all-terrain or summer tires, then it would probably be a waste of money to do so. People who need these types of specialized tires tend to be dedicated enthusiasts who know a lot about cars and are well-informed enough to stray from all-season tires. But most people who aren’t sure which tires are best for them should stick to the basics.
Here in the midwest, snow tires are also part of “the basics.” While you might be able to get away with all-season tires year-round in places with moderate winters, here in Cincinnati, it’s much safer to switch to snow tires for a few months when the weather gets cold. But once spring has sprung and the risk of icy and snow-covered roads has passed, you’ll want to be sure to have those all-season tires to put back on for the rest of the year.
Remember, snow tires aren’t designed for warmer weather, and they can wear out quickly and make driving less comfortable if you let them overstay their welcome. If you have a little mechanical know-how, you can change the tires yourself. Or you can save some time and effort by bringing your vehicle to us, so we can switch your tires out for you. This is also a great reminder to come in regularly for other routine maintenance, and our certified technicians will be able to help you out with all of your service needs.
Here at McCluskey Chevrolet, we have certified service experts who know their way around a set of tires. Even the best tires will wear out eventually, but we offer a range of services that can help yours last longer. Like getting your oil changed, getting your tires rotated is an important service that needs to be done regularly in order to keep your vehicle in good working order. Each tire has a different position, and they wear at different rates. Getting a tire rotation every 7,500 miles prevents irregular tire wear and prolongs the life of your tires.
On top of routine maintenance, there are other times when you might need to get your tires serviced. If you notice that your tires are wearing down in a strange way or that your vehicle is pulling to one side or the other, you should come in for a wheel alignment and balance. And if your tires get punctured or wear down too much, we can get you a great deal on a replacement set. So give us a call or drop by today, and we can help you out with all of your tire needs.
