Most tire decisions come down to size, season and budget. The size is printed on your sidewall and on the sticker inside the driver's door. For the season, the choice is a dedicated winter set or one tire all year. We'll write up a couple of options and you pick.
Each new tire is mounted, balanced and fitted with a new valve stem, or a service kit if your car has pressure sensors. We clean any corrosion off the wheel where the tire seals, set pressures to the door-placard spec and torque the wheel nuts to the manufacturer's number.
If you're only replacing two, the newer pair usually goes on the rear axle. That's where grip matters most for keeping the back end from sliding out on a wet or icy curve.
Why it matters
Tread is your wet and snow grip
The grooves move water and slush out from under the tire. As they get shallower, stopping distances on wet roads grow, well before the tire looks bald. We usually suggest replacing around 4 mm.
Age matters too
Rubber hardens and cracks with time, even on a car that barely moves. The four-digit code on the sidewall gives the week and year the tire was made. Anything over six years old needs a close look regardless of tread.
Matched tires protect the drivetrain
Many all-wheel-drive systems need all four tires close in size and tread depth. A mismatch can strain the centre differential or transfer case. Your owner's manual will say how strict your car is.
Signs it's time
- Tread at about 4 mm, or worn down to the wear bars
- Cracks in the sidewall or between tread blocks
- A bulge or bubble on the sidewall
- Faster wear on the inner or outer edge
- Tires six or more years old
- Pressure loss you can't trace to a puncture
What's included
- Size and type recommendation based on how you drive
- Written quote before anything is ordered
- Mounting and balancing
- New valve stems, or TPMS service kits where fitted
- Corroded bead seats cleaned
- Pressures set to the door-placard spec
- Wheel nuts torqued to manufacturer spec
- Old tires taken for recycling
How often
When tread reaches about 4 mm
Most new passenger tires start with 8–10 mm of tread. Check the depth each season and replace sooner if you see cracking, a bulge or other damage. Winter tires lose snow grip quickly as they wear.
