These car tire buying tips can help you maintain your car with a degree of confidence, especially if you don’t have a lot of knowledge about them.

The most important thing to do when shopping for tires is to make sure you are the correct size. Getting them in a size that is not made for your specific car can cause tire pattern tracks to wear out much faster and cost you money. Also, there are tires made specifically for almost all car models.

Information for tire size is also in the owner’s manual and is located on the side of existing tires. If all else fails, ask the person changing your tires what size they are so you know. Then check it yourself to make sure it matches the car tires.

If you can, always buy five new tires at a time. The reason for this is that as tires are rotated, the spare can be worked on to extend the life of all your tires, help them wear evenly, and save you money in the long run. Many times, tire stores have kits for sale when you buy them all together. These are considerable savings. But shop around because a good sale can save you a good deal of change.

It’s also good to know what type of tires originally came with your car. This way, if you change them, it will be easier to back up if your driving experience is adversely affected.

Most cars come with all-season tires. They are good overall tires because they are designed to withstand all types of weather. Of course. If you live in a hot climate like South Florida, year-round summer tires may be better suited to your needs as they have a higher tolerance for heat. But they won’t do well in the winter if you find yourself taking a road trip to Boston in January.

The same principle applies if you live in Maine, for example. It’s okay to get all-season tires made primarily for driving on snow and ice.

If you drive your vehicle off-road, the off-road may be better for you. If you drive more at high speeds, in a sleek sports car, then all-season high performance tires may be more suitable as they are made for that purpose.

Also, keep in mind that tires wear at different rates. For example, high-performance tires, like the ones you see on a Corvette, tend to have a smoother ride to cope with speed and grip requirements. This also results in much faster wear and tear. It’s not uncommon for all-season tires to last twice as long as high-performance tires.

There are several different tires for different styles and riding conditions. So knowing your driving style before buying tires can help you quickly determine what you need.