Choosing Tires For Your Next Summer Road Trip

Hitting the open road is one of life’s true pleasures. Having the right summer tires for your adventure can make that road trip safer and more enjoyable. Especially when the weather and road conditions can change in an instant. Let’s take a look at the right tires for your next summertime drive.

Factors to Consider When Shopping for Road Trip Tires

You wouldn’t want to face an icy, snow-covered mountain pass without a set of snow tires, right? The same can be said for summertime driving. Choosing the right all-season tires, all-weather tires, or summer tires can impact overall performance, comfort, fuel efficiency, and safety. If you’re towing a trailer, the right tread and load rating can have a big impact on your trip.

Things to consider when shopping for your summer tires include:

Your Vehicle

What you drive impacts the types of tires you can choose. Light truck and SUV tires are different from CUV and passenger car tires. The difference is in the size, tread, and load rating.

Travel and Driving Plans

The weather and roads you’ll need to navigate are important. Will you stay on the highway amid summertime temperatures? Summer, performance or highway tires could be the best option. If you plan to go off-road or down long dirt roads, all-season tires or a set of tires with deep grooves and large tread blocks will help get you there and back again.

Tire Size

The right size tires are a must. Get the wrong size, and the tires won’t fit your wheels. They might also scrape against your wheel well when you make a turn or hit a bump. You’ll find the tire size on your vehicle’s door placard or in the owner’s manual. Les Schwab has all of that information as well. We’ll make sure you get the right size tires for your vehicle.

Tread Type

There are three types of tread for most of today’s vehicles. They include symmetric, asymmetric, and directional. Symmetric tread tires are among the most versatile and often the most affordable, but they can create some additional road noise along with average traction. Directional tread tires are quieter and offer additional traction on wet roads. However, they are not great for anything other than highway driving. In most cases, asymmetrical tread patterns offer the best of both worlds, with a quiet ride and excellent traction.

Tire Type

Choosing between SUV, light truck, passenger, and EV tires also includes narrow and wide options. A wide tire will have a larger contact patch for better performance most of the year. That includes acceleration, stopping, and steering. A narrower tire will perform better in harsher winter conditions.

Load Rating

Will you be towing a trailer or packing the SUV with a lot of passengers? The load index and load range matter. Look for tires marked with XL, indicating an increased load-carrying capacity. This added durability means they are more wear-resistant and can handle heavier loads. However, what you add in durability you’ll lose in fuel efficiency and range. That’s because lighter tires are designed to go the distance rather than haul heavy loads. The professionals at Les Schwab can show you all of your options.

Types of Tires Suitable for Road Trips

Your summer road trip should be memorable for all the right reasons. Stopping to change a flat tire or worrying about the load index as you haul a trailer 1,000 miles isn’t ideal. Les Schwab has the expertise to help you hit the road with the right tires for your summer adventure.

All-Season Tires

If you’re facing rain, sun, and possible snow all on the same trip, all-season tires are a good choice. These tires offer a nice mix of summer and winter tire features. However, because they are not designed specifically for summer or winter driving, they may not be the perfect option for all driving needs.

 

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Summer Tires

These tires are optimized for grip in temperatures above 40ºF. That includes cornering, braking, and acceleration. It’s all thanks to the shallow, straight grooves and solid, continuous ribs in the tread pattern that keep more of the rubber in contact with the road.

 

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Highway Tires

Specially designed for SUVs, light trucks, and some crossovers, highway tires are exceptionally durable, are built to haul heavy loads, and offer an all-season rating to keep you in control in plenty of weather conditions. When you’re facing hundreds or even thousands of miles with or without a trailer, highway tires may be the right option.

 

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All-Weather Tires

These tires handle better than all-season tires on the highway and are rated for measurable performance on snow and ice. Plus, they can chew up mud and dirt and still perform like a set of summer tires on a long stretch of blacktop.

 

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All-Terrain Tires

Follow your summer road trip adventure anywhere it leads, including dirt and gravel roads. As the name implies, All-terrain tires are built to get you to the perfect campsite while also tackling miles of highway like a champ.

 

Our Top Tire Picks for Road Trips

With the right set of tires from Les Schwab, you’ll be good to go for your next summer road trip.

Go The Distance This Summer: Shop Tires At Your Local Les Schwab

Before you head out on your summer adventure, book an appointment at Les Schwab. Or stop by any location. We’ll recommend the right tires for your vehicle, driving style, and performance needs.