You've come to realize you need new tires. Either your treads are very low, you have a nail or glass stuck in your tire, or they're just extremely old and brittle and you just need a new set of shoes. There's a lot of choices out there for tires. Your tire type depends on your climate and driving style. If you live in a very humid and wet area, you'll want something with good water dispersion. If you live in a very dry hot area, you may want a sportier stickier tire. You may live in NYC like I do and have all four seasons to deal with, then you should go with all season tires. All are great for certain specific applications but not every climate type. All weather tires are simply put, all weather. They're great for a snow, rain but may be a little noisy on dry roads. Summer tires are stickier and perform great. They're usually a little stiffer and may be a slight harsher ride. Tires with good water dispersion handle excellently in the rain and snow, but you'll suffer from an annoying drone like road noise on dry roads. It's a tough decision so make the right choice. There's nothing better than driving on a new set of properly aligned tires.

Here are a few tips to help you determine the condition of your tires.

Tire Depth:

There are several simple ways to check tire tread depth. The first way is to measure tread depth with a tread depth gauge. The second method involves the use of a penny inserted into the grooves of the tread. Tire wear bars are also used on today?s tires as a hands-off visual indication that a tire needs replacement.

Why Check Tread Depth:

Regular tread depth checks are important to ensure that your car?s tires are safe. Excessive wear can result in a loss of traction, especially on wet and slippery roads. Tires are regular wear items and staying on top of their condition not only ensures your safety, but also gives you the opportunity to plan ahead and budget for inevitable tire replacement.

Maintenance Tips/Suggestions:

When using a tread depth gauge, tires need to have at least 1/16-in. of tread or more (this is the minimum amount of tread allowed by law). By using a penny as a quick reference, insert the penny into the tread groove with Lincoln?s face showing, but with his head upside-down. If you are able to see all of Lincoln?s head, the tire needs replacement. If you see a wear bar across the width of the tread while facing it, it?s time to replace the tire. Generally, it?s best to replace tires in sets of four. If your car?s tires show signs of abnormal or unequal wear, have this looked into by a professional technician. Excessive wear on both outer edges generally indicates under-inflation. Excessive wear in the center of the tread generally indicates over-inflation. Cupping or dipping of certain tread sections may indicate worn suspension parts or a wheel balance problem. Saw-toothed or feathered tread edges may indicate wheel misalignment. If your car needs alignment or suspension work, have it done before you drive off with a new set of tires. Taking a ?big picture? approach to protecting your tire investment will reap many rewards for miles to come.