When buying tyres for your vehicle, you don't want to choose just the cheapest brand you can find, as you may wind up replacing a cheap brand more often than something more durable; in turn, this costs you more money over the life of your vehicle. On the other hand, some very expensive tyres may not necessarily be right for your vehicle and driving habits. Note some seemingly minor but important differences between tyres, so you can make the best buying decision for your vehicle.

Tread depth

You might assume that the deeper the tread, the better the tyre; this is certainly true for driving in snow, mud, sand and the like, as deep tread will dig through those soft substances and offer better traction. Deeper tread will also grip the road better, which is good when you're driving on wet pavement, but not good for driving on dry roads in normal weather conditions. That added traction will actually add some resistance making your car work harder to move, and this can compromise your overall gas mileage. If you only drive in the city and don't face consistent inclement weather, opt for a tyre with a moderate tread depth for better fuel economy.

Tread direction

If you look at the tread of tyres, you'll note that there are different patterns for how that tread is cut into the rubber. A crisscross pattern offers more traction, whereas a pattern that resembles arrows pointing forward will mean less traction and less resistance on the road. As with tread depth, the crisscross pattern is good for driving in soft road conditions or on wet roads, but will slow down the car. Choose a pattern that resembles arrows, or slits in the tread that don't cross each other, for city and highway driving.

Brands

You may not give much thought as to the brand of tyres you choose, but premium or name brands will usually use more rubber on their tyres, and a higher quality of rubber as well. This can mean better handling on the road, a quieter ride, and a longer lifespan for the tyre.

A low-quality or off-brand of tyres may be cheaper, but these may quickly wear down and not offer as much control and stability. Lower quality brands may also split more easily and have less resistance to punctures, so you may suffer more flats and blowouts. Don't assume that all brands are alike, but research different tyre manufacturers and note their reviews and reputation, so you invest in quality tyres that last for years