Before opting for the same tires that were put on your vehicle at the factory, check out our breakdown on some of the core differences between a vehicle's original tires and the other options that are out there.
OE TIRE ADVANTAGES
There's a reason your car's manufacturer selected the tires that came with it.
Whether it's a Mustang on low-profile performance or competition tires or a Prius on low-rolling resistance tread designed to maximize fuel mileage, this choice is generally informed by the manufacturer's desire to accentuate the unique characteristics of the vehicle that might attract consumers in the first place.
OE Tires can also vary by vehicle trim level, especially between standard, sport, hybrid and diesel versions of the same car or truck.
Our recommendation? If you've been happy with the way your car or truck rides since you drove it off the lot, stick with what's on there.
But if you're looking for more grip and sportiness, a smoother ride, better MPG or off-road capability there's almost always going to be a tire out there that can enhance these characteristics.
OE TIRE CONS
Here's the other side of the coin. If you've put some mileage on your vehicle and you're looking for a little something more out of your car or truck, tires are a great way to pretty drastically alter its handling, road noise, comfort and fuel-saving characteristics. But OE tires will just maintain the status quo.
And before you reconsider the tires your vehicle came with, be sure to check them with a tire recall search tool so you know you're getting the safest and most recent version.
The moral of the story is that you should by no means feel pressured or compelled to replace the tires your vehicle came with for the same ones. So long as the new tires have the correct tire dimensions, speed rating and load-carrying capacity you’ll be fine.
NEW AFTERMARKET TIRE ADVANTAGES
There are some distinct advantages to swapping your OE tires for different ones. First of all, this offers a chance to customize your vehicle!
A performance enthusiast may take this opportunity to try different combinations of tire sizes and types on the front and rear wheels, AKA a staggered fitment.
And even if you don’t go with such a drastic size change, simply changing tire aspect ratio and width from the OE tire can also impact grip, acceleration and braking distance, as well as vehicle MPG and ride comfort.
In almost every application there's the opportunity to either upgrade or find a more affordable alternative to the tires that were originally equipped on the vehicle.
And don’t forget about your wheels! If you want to make your ride more of a personal style statement, there’s no better way than with a set of aftermarket rims!
Rest assured that when you book a tire installation with us, we’ll always take into account vehicle safety requirements before installing aftermarket tires (or wheels) that differ from the manufacturer’s specs.
NEW AFTERMARKET TIRE CONS
A different set of tires than what you've been driving on can be a bit of an unknown. Until they're installed and you try them for yourself, you can’t know for sure how they’ll perform for you, even with heaps of customer reviews and our comprehensive, independent Treadwell test data.
And normally if you buy new tires from competitors of ours, you're not able to return them after any amount of time ranging from 30 to 45 days, and especially not if they've been used or driven on at all.
But at Discount Tire, we mean it when we say: "If ever you're not satisfied, please feel free to bring it back".
That also means instead of having to arrange return shipping if you bought your new tires from us online, you can still stop in at any Discount Tire store and we'll get you taken care of!
As a bonus, when you buy and book online with us, you'll have a shorter wait time in the store! It’s easy! Just use Treadwell, our tire buying guide, to find the right tires for your needs, buy your tires online and book an appointment. We’ll take care of the rest!
Still not sure which tires are the best choice for you? We can help you out with that! Stop by any of our Discount Tire locations and we'll get you taken care of!