by Biloxi Von Lutz

Created on: July 27, 2010

When it's time for you to purchase new tires for your vehicle, there are so many styles and brands that it can be difficult to decide which ones to are best. With tires, you really do get what you pay for. If you don't plan on taking care of your tires; rotating them regularly, checking the alignment, and maintaining proper air pressure, then it doesn't really matter what kind you purchase. But if you do intend on taking care of them, it makes sense to purchase the best tires you can afford for your car. So what brand of tires are the best?

Michelin manufactures far and away the best tires for your car. The only downside is, you'll pay for that luxury. Michelin concentrates more on manufacturing tires for the luxury touring market. They do make excellent tires for high-performance vehicles, but the vast majority of their tire line is dedicated to the touring segment. For touring tires, they use Primacy, Symmetry, and Harmony names primarily, and their high performance tires are marketed under the Pilot name.

Bridgestone also manufactures excellent tires at a slightly more palatable price. They, like Michelin, make a large assortment of touring tires, but Bridgestone also concentrates heavily in the premium truck and SUV tire markets. Bridgestone manufactures tires for ultra high-performance applications as well. They sell their tires under three product lines; Turanza for touring tires, Potenza for performance tires, and Dueler for SUV and light truck tires.

Continental is another quality tire manufacturer. Although they have a small influence in the SUV tire segment, the majority of their focus is in the passenger car and ultra high-performance segments. Their passenger car tires are marketed under the Pro Contact name and their performance tires under the Extreme Contact and Sport Contact names.

There are several other manufacturers that make excellent tires for nearly every application. Niche companies like Toyo and Falken make tires for large rim diameters that many of major manufacturers don't bother with. For off-road vehicles, companies like Pro Comp and Parnelli Jones make tires that provide maximum traction while still being street legal.

All of these manufacturers make quality tires and if you purchase the proper tires for your application, you should get excellent service out of them. It's important to remember, however, that no matter how good the tires you purchase are, they won't last long if you don't care for them properly.

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