Tires are the only part of your car that actually touch the road. Choose wisely and you’ll gain grip, comfort, and fuel economy—choose poorly and you’ll feel every pothole. This quick guide decodes the sidewall and helps you match rubber to your real-world driving.
1 · Read the Code: 235/45R18 97W
235 mm width · 45 % aspect · Radial · 18 inch wheel · 97 load index · W speed rating (168 mph). Keep width & diameter stock; you can tweak aspect and load for comfort vs. cornering.
2 · Match Compound to Climate
- All-season: balanced grip, three-season use.
- Summer performance: sticky above 40 °F, useless in snow.
- Winter/snow: softer rubber plus siping for sub-freezing traction.
3 · Tread-Wear Trade-off
A UTQG rating of 400 lasts roughly twice as long as 200, but sacrifices grip. Daily commuters often choose 500-600 for longevity; weekend track fans stick to 200-300.
4 · Noise & Comfort Ratings
Look for the EU three-wave symbol or the dB icon on spec sheets. Touring tires score 68-70 dB; aggressive summer rubber 72 dB+.
5 · Age Matters—Even Unused
DOT code ends with 2319 = week 23, 2019.
Replace anything older than six years—even if tread looks fine—rubber hardens and cracks.
Pro tip: rotate every 6 k miles and keep pressures within 2 psi of the door-jamb sticker to maximize life and even wear.