Tire and wheel brands

How to choose between tire types

The brand matters less than picking the right kind of tire for how you drive. Start with the type, then compare brands that make it in your size.

Touring and all-season

Built for daily commuting, with a quiet ride, even wear and light-snow ability. They suit most sedans, crossovers and minivans that see mixed weather.

Performance

Wider, with a stiffer sidewall and a tread made for grip and steering response. The trade-off is usually faster wear and weaker traction in cold or snow.

All-terrain

A more open tread and tougher sidewall for trucks and SUVs that split time between pavement, gravel and trails. Expect more road noise than a touring tire.

Commercial and fleet

Medium-truck, trailer and work-van tires built around load capacity, durability and retreading. Match the load range and ply rating to the job, not the look.

Not sure which size you need? Try the tire size finder or search by vehicle.

How to read a tire sidewall

The code molded into the sidewall tells you the size and what the tire can carry. Take P245/45R18 100W as an example:

• P: tire type: P is passenger, LT is light truck, ST is special trailer
• 245: section width in millimeters
• 45: aspect ratio: sidewall height as a percent of width
• R: radial construction
• 18: wheel diameter in inches
• 100W: load index (carrying capacity) and speed rating letter

Nearby on the sidewall you will also find the DOT code, which ends in the week and year the tire was made, and treadwear, traction and temperature grades on many passenger tires. Your vehicle's door-jamb placard lists the size the maker specified.

How wheel construction differs

Cast

Molten aluminum poured into a mold. The most common method for street wheels and offers the widest choice of styles.

Forged

Aluminum pressed from a solid billet under heat and force, giving a dense grain structure. Forged wheels are often lighter for a given strength.

Off-road

Built heavier for rock and trail use, often with deeper offsets or beadlock-style rings. Check the load rating before you buy.

Whatever the build, the wheel still has to match your bolt pattern, offset and center bore. Our wheel fitment guide explains each one.