How to Buy New Tires for a Toyota Vehicle

Buy New Tires for a Toyota Vehicle

Tires play a critical part in both your car's performance and its safe operation. Toyota owners who need to put a new set of tires on their vehicle should resist any temptation to just buy the least-expensive tire available. It is important to take the steps necessary to find the right tires for your Toyota and the type of driving you do.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. • 1

     Find out what the proper size of tire is for your vehicle. Look in the Toyota owner's manual for your vehicle first. You may also read the information located on the sidewall of the tires on your vehicle, if they are the tires that originally came on the vehicle from the factory. You may also call a tire shop and ask a professional there to look up the recommended tire size for your vehicle. Knowing the tire size will point you to a specific group of tires and simplify your choices.

   • 2

     Determine the type of tire you need based on the type of Toyota vehicle you have. Passenger cars have tire codes that begin with the letter "P," and light trucks and sport/utility vehicles have tire codes that start with the letters "LT."

   • 3

     Narrow your choices for tires down further by focusing on the tires that match the type of driving conditions you will most often encounter. Take into consideration the occasional extreme conditions; this is when tire performance is most critical. If mud and snow are something you need to prepare for, pick tires that have a tire code that include the letters "M+S." You will then have a manageable short list of tire choices.

   • 4

     Shop around at the local tire shops for prices on the tires on your list. Compare the prices of the tires and their reported durability. For example, see if the tires are rated to last for 30,000 miles, 40,000 miles, 50,000 miles and so on.

   • 5

     Make a choice based on which model gives you the best value. It does not have to be the least or most expensive tire, but the one that gives you the best combination of price, durability and performance.

Tips & Warnings

• Write a reminder to rotate your new tires on the vinyl decal that comes on your windshield when you change your oil.