Tires
Thanks to the Columbiana Ford tire center, staying safe as you make your way around Columbiana has never been easier or more convenient. By providing you with a host of premium benefits, including access to seasoned tire experts and a wealth of top tier tire offerings, our team is more than capable of getting you prepped and ready to ride with confidence no matter where the road or highway leads you.
Are you excited to learn more about how we can make outfitting your favorite car, truck, or sport utility vehicle (SUV) with a great set of new tires a breeze? Then make it a point to dive into this handy guide we've provided here that covers everything you need to know about this important – and exciting – process.
Understanding the Need to Invest in Quality Tires
Investing in tires that will last and protect you and your family is always a good idea. To prove this concept, think about these few straightforward truths:
- Your tires stand as the initial defender between you and unsafe road conditions, making them one of the most vital assets in your daily commuting routine.
- Handling cleanly and maneuvering about congested roads or hazards within your path requires tires that are able to deliver a responsive driving experience.
- The portion of your tire that actually interfaces with the asphalt or concrete is only about the size of your hand, so it is imperative that you make the most out of this limited contact point with a quality tire.
When you put all of these together, a recurring theme starts to become crystal clear: Savvy shoppers who take the act of selecting the right tire seriously reap a wealth of rewards long after the Columbiana Ford team installs these vital components at our state-of-the-art tire center.
The Signs That Replacing Your Tires Is a Good Idea
Knowing when to upgrade into a great new set of affordable tires at Columbiana Ford is easy. All it takes is keeping an eye out for the most common signs of tire wear and damage. To give you a leg up on this front, here is a quick rundown of everything your tires are trying to tell you as they age and take on the rigors of your daily commute:
Wear in Center via Overinflated Tires
- Bumpy ride
- Tread wears exceptionally fast
- Your car takes longer to stop
- Increased risk of damage from potholes
Underinflated Tires Showing Wear on Each Edge
- Tread wears exceptionally fast
- Reduced fuel efficiency
- Increased risk of damage via friction
Too Much Camber Resulting in Wear on One Edge
- Wear on the inside edge suggests negative camber
- Wear on the exterior edge suggests positive camber
Feathered Tread From Excessive Toe
- If the wheel points out, your tire will be feathered from the inside
- If you wheel points in, your tire will be feathered from the outside
Diagonal Wear Caused by a Misaligned Rear
- Tire shows a recurring angular wear pattern
- Usually found on automobiles with front-wheel drive
- Routine tire rotations can fix this problem
Spot or Path Wearing
- Comes from tires that are not balanced
- Weak suspension may also play a role
- Routine tire rotations can fix this problem
Side Wall Bubbling
- Formed by a rip in the inner liner or when something forces the tire to pinch against the wheel rim
- Requires professional attention immediately and is not repairable
Picking out the Right Tire for You
Choosing the right tire for your vehicle starts with considering the types of road conditions you expect to face here in Columbiana. From sunny summer afternoons to chilly winter mornings featuring frigid winds and hefty amounts of snow, the type of tire you need can change dramatically based on the weather. To ensure you always make a smart call on this front, here is a handy and helpful look at everything you need to know about the three most common types of tires sold here at Columbiana Ford:
All-Season Tires
Advantages
- Built to accommodate warm, dry, and wet conditions
- Capable of handling light snowfall
- Designed for year-round use
- Provides an extended useful tread life
- Sold in multiple configurations
As a true jack of all trades, all-season tires hold a special spot as the most common type of tire employed here in Columbiana. By offering a design and rubber compound combination that works well in moderate climates and standard road conditions, these tires are able to work in a variety of hot, rainy, cold, and snowy situations.
However, leveraging a "one size fits all" design approach over increased specialization does limit the level of traction and performance offered up by all-season tires. In other words, summer/performance tires will excel in wet and warm conditions, while winter tires will equip you with increased control as the temperatures drop and the snow begins to fall.
Summer/Performance Tires
Advantages
- Enhanced cornering, traction, and braking in warmer conditions
- Increased performance and improved traction when facing rainy or wet conditions
- Available premium upgraded versions complement the speed and agility of performance cars
Summer/performance tires utilize a tread design and rubber compound that creates a larger amount of contact surface area and better grips the road when conditions are warm and dry. On top of this, these tires also enhance your vehicle's ability to manage corners, accelerate, and brake abruptly. It is important to note that switching to a winter set of tires that are better suited to colder conditions and inclement weather is a smart idea when lower temperatures and snow begin to enter the picture.
Winter Tires
Advantages
- Engineered with lower temperatures, ice, slush, and snow in mind
- Leverages a soft rubber compound to raise traction
- Lowers the risk of sliding during turns
Winter tires are the perfect remedy when dealing with snow and wintry weather conditions. In contrast to all-season and summer/performance tires that leverage rubber compounds that harden when subjected to dropping temperatures, winter tires opt for softer rubber and a unique tread design. Doing so ensures that you can stop and turn with confidence while navigating through snow, ice, and slush on your daily commute.
Frequently Asked Tire Shopping Questions
Q: Are winter tires necessary if I have all-wheel drive?
A: All-wheel drive is definitely a great asset to have when facing winter road conditions, but nothing can replace the value of proper winter tires. Your tires are still your only point of contact with the asphalt or pavement, so making sure you have the proper tread and rubber combination for these inclement conditions is a truly irreplaceable asset.
Q: Do I really need to own two sets of tires?
A: Yes. The benefits of buying winter tires far outweigh the upfront cost, especially when you consider the risk of accidents and other issues related to snow and slick winter driving conditions. Experienced and knowledgeable drivers understand this, and also realize that having winter tires increases the lifespan of both sets of tires by minimizing the miles traveled per year on your all-season or summer/performance tires.
Q: Can I use winter tires year-round?
A: The soft rubber compound found in winter tires does not last in warmer months, which can diminish the useful life of these essential assets. The best way to save money on your tires is to only use each set you own with its corresponding season.
Q: What is a four-wheel alignment?
A: A four-wheel alignment utilizes lasers and sensors to measure – and correct – the angles of the wheels on your automobile. If you have recently experienced vibrations in your daily commute or notice that you are driving in poor road conditions regularly, making use of this service is a great way to extend the useful life of your tires and safeguard this crucial investment.
Q: What should I do if my tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) light comes on?
A: Having your TPMS light pop on and stay lit up as you drive about Columbiana, means that low pressure has been detected in one or more of your tires. While shifts in weather can lead to internal tire pressure fluctuations, it is always a smart call to drop your vehicle off at Columbiana Ford and have our experts inspect your tires when your TPMS light activates.
Riding Safer and Saving More on Tires Starts Today
Now that you are a seasoned tire buying expert, the only thing left to do is stop by Columbiana Ford's tire center and secure the right set for your unique needs today. To get the ball rolling on this front, go ahead and give us a call at 330-427-3002 today and we will be more than happy to assist you in any way that we can as you pick out your next great set of tires for your favorite car, truck, or SUV.