For most people, tyres aren’t exactly the most interesting aspect of their car. Indeed, they’re often little more than an afterthought, an occasional expense of car ownership that’s minimised as much as possible. Yet tyres are arguably the single most important part of a car. They’re all that connect the car to the road and, for that reason, having decent tyres in good condition is absolutely crucial to staying safe.
It doesn’t help that tyres are one of the most confusing car parts you can buy. There are so many different brands and price points, there are various codes on them to decipher and performance labels to interpret. Then there’s the whole question of whether you get summer, winter or all-season tyres.
In this guide, Parkers will help you navigate through the weird – and often wonderful – world of car tyres to help you make the best choice when the time comes to get a new set for your car.
Keep scrolling or click any of the links below to find out about:
- Getting to grips with the basics
- Understanding your car’s tyres better
- Managing the cost of car tyres
- Tyre maintenance and cleaning
- Tyres tested and reviewed by Parkers
Getting to grips with the basics
The Ultimate Guide to Tyres
We’ve put together a handy guide that covers all the key questions about tyres that you’ll probably have before buying a set. It covers everything from the best brands, to understanding tyre sizes and how to measure tread depth. Think of it as a Tyres 101 that provides enlightenment and guidance.
Understanding tyres better
Once you’ve got a handle on the basics, you may want to dig deeper into the different tyre designs and technologies. Remember that tyres are designed to work pretty much anywhere in a huge range of conditions, from blazing heat to biting cold, from bone dry to monsoon rains. Most tyres cover all the bases well enough, but there are some that are better for extremes of cold and wet.
What is a winter tyre?
Find out how a winter tyre is different to a summer tyre and when you need to think about having some fitted to your car.
What are tyre sizes?
A simple guide that helps you understand the rather baffling codes used to describe a tyre’s size and why it’s important to get the correct size of tyre for your car.
Understanding eco tyres
Tyre technology can help improve a car’s fuel economy which could be an important consideration for you at a time when fuel prices are so high. Find out how they work and whether or not you should consider getting some.
What is a run-flat tyre?
It used to be that every car had a spare wheel. But the need to save space and weight has seen some manufacturers replace spares with run-flat tyres. Our guide explains what a run-flat tyre does and whether they’re really necessary.
How to manage the expense of tyres
At a time when household budgets are being squeezed harder than ever before, it’s entirely understandable if you’re looking for ways to reduce the cost of running your car as much as possible. But make sure you’re fully informed before making any decisions.
Should I buy part-worn tyres?
Used, part-worn tyres cost a lot less than brand-new ones and can seem like a great deal. But there’s a lot of things to bear in mind if you go shopping for them. Our guide explains everything you need to know.
Check out Parkers guide to Motoring Jargon
Tyre maintenance and cleaning
Just like any other part of a car, tyres need some maintenance to ensure they perform at their best for as long as possible. Tyres in poor condition can ruin the look of an otherwise tidy car and can even devalue it. And that’s before you get into the safety implications.
How to check your tyres
You can learn a lot about the condition of a tyre just by looking at it. Giving it a once-over periodically will help make sure it’s safe and legal to be used. Our guide explains what to check for.
How to make your tyre look better
Tyre dressing makes your car’s rubber shine and is an easy way of making it look showroom fresh – especially helpful when selling your motor. Our guide highlights the best tyre dressings available to buy right now.
Keep an eye on tyre pressure
Tyres wear out more quickly if they’re not up to the right pressure. Loss of pressure can also be a clue that there’s puncture or damage that’s letting air escape. Our guide recommends the best, most user-friendly tyre pressure gauges on the market.
Keep your tyres inflated
Having checked your car’s tyre pressures, you may need to inflate them. Fortunately, you don’t have to head off to the nearest fuel station and use its air line to do so. They are loads of air compressors that can do the job at home. Our guide picks out the ones we think are best.
Tyre inflator triple test: Sealey vs. Ring vs. Worx
We test three of the best electric tyre inflators to find out which one makes the best investment and should sit on your shelf for those occasions your car’s tyres need pumping up.
How to fix a puncture
If your car doesn’t have a spare wheel or run-flat tyres, you’re going to need a tyre repair kit. They’re really useful for effecting a temporary repair that allows you to continue your journey. Our guide recommends the ones that are most effective and easiest to use.
How to change the wheel on a pick-up truck
Swapping the spare wheel onto a car can be tricky enough, but it can be even more difficult with a pick-up truck. That’s because the truck has a lot of ground clearance, which makes jacking it up more difficult, and the wheel itself can weigh an absolute ton. Our guide details the tips and tricks that will make the process as quick and easy as possible.
Tyres tested and reviewed by Parkers
At Parkers, we test hundreds of cars every year and have learned that having the right tyres on your car can make a big difference to the driving experience, especially when the weather turns nasty. That’s why we regularly put different types of tyres through their paces, so we can tell you which ones are best.
All season tyres tested
All season tyres are Jacks of all trades, suitable for use in a wide range of temperatures and weather conditions. Our guide picks out the best buys.
Summer tyres tested
Summer tyres are designed to cope with hotter temperatures that would cause other types of tyre to overheat and fail. But they’re not ideal in winter. Our guide chooses the best ones you can currently get.
Winter tyres tested
If you live somewhere that gets really cold and snowy during winter, it’s wise to invest in a set of winter tyres for your car. They’re made from rubber that keeps gripping the road in temperatures that would cause a summer tyre to become too hard, and their tread is designed to cut through snow and standing water. Our guide highlights the ones that perform best.
