Buying Tires in Kansas City

Tires. One of the things in life we typically don’t give much thought unless something goes wrong. A flat-tire can ruin a good day in no time, and a tire blowout on the highway can be a life altering event. In a Kansas City, MO winter, good tires can mean the difference between stopping in time on a slick road or skidding into a fire hydrant. Here’s some information that will help you to make a tire purchase in Kansas City.

But to begin, a a few tire facts. The initial tires to be made were created out of iron and mostly used with wooden wheels, nothing like the tires we think of today. The first tire that we moderns would recognize as a tire was manufactured by John Boyd Dunlop (heard that name before...) in 1887 for his son’s bicycle. In time, tires were being used on things from cars to airplanes, and the tire industry exploded to generate over 1 billion tires a year! In 2010 the tire business sector was worth over $140 billion dollars.

Tires may look like and seem easy to understand, but actually today’s tires are incredibly intricate. The parts of the tire include: tread, sipe, wear bar, contact patch, bead, sidewall, shoulder, and inner tube. Make sure you look at the treadwear grade when selecting tires. This rating will tell you how long the manufacturer feels the tire’s tread to last. Also, the “rain groove.” This part of the tire determines where water goes when it contacts the tire. A tire with a good rain groove will send the water away from the tire and your car. You'll need it this summer when you get stuck in a Kansas City thunderstorm.

When you’re picking out tires don't forget to consider all the factors. If you’re an average person you want a tire that will keep you safe in all weather without emptying your wallet. That's definitely doable, make sure you know about these things: tread wear, dry traction, wet traction, force variation, balance and stopping distance. Speak about these aspects with your tire shop. Keep in mind, Kansas City has all four seaons. You'll want to purchase an “all-season” type of tire that will grip the road well in of conditions. You’ll want to avoid low-cost discount tires in Kansas City as these are not generally high-quality.

A couple of the most favorite tire brands in Kansas City: Hankook, Firestone, and Cooper.

Learn more about Tires Kansas City.