Tires are the most important—but least appreciated—part of your car. Good tires can make a car ride and handle like a dream. Mediocre or worn-out tires can make it feel as though you're constantly on a rocky unpaved trail. The condition and quality of your tires has a direct effect on your vehicle's braking performance, so taking the time to educate yourself may save you more than just your hard earned cash!

All tires look pretty much the same, so it can be a challenge to choose the right ones. Here are some tips to help you make a confident choice:

Never Buy Used Tires
Enough said!

Where to Buy
Use the internet to check prices and tire reviews. Online sites like TireMonkey will even ship your tires to the shop of your choice! Make sure you include all out-the-door costs, including mounting, balancing, new valve stems, recycling charges, and road hazard warranties. Next, call around to local tire stores to see if they can match the internet prices. Bargains can be found at warehouse clubs as well.

When to Buy
You probably need to replace your tires more often than you think. When the tread wears down, tires can't grip the road properly, putting you at risk. To determine tread depth, stick a penny with Lincoln's head top-down into the shallowest groove between treads. If you can see the top of Lincoln's hair, it's time to replace the tire. In areas with a lot of rain, you should use the same "hair" rule with a nickel instead of a penny.

Regardless of tread depth, replace your tires if they are more than five years old. To discover your tires' age, find the alphanumeric code that begins with DOT (it may be on the inside sidewall). The two numbers or letters following DOT are the code of plant where the tire was manufactured. The last four numbers tell you the month and year the tire was made. For example, "DOTB71002" means the tire was manufactured in October 2002 in Michelin's Dothan, Alabama plant and is ready for the recycler.

Also replace tires that show hairline cracks or have been damaged.

How Many to Buy
It's best to replace all four tires at the same time. If that's not possible, exactly match the tires you're keeping, right down to the part number. Put the new tires on the rear axle. Having new tires on the front and worn tires on the rear can cause you to spin out if you hit a patch of deep water. When buying snow tires, get four or none.

Do You Like Your Car's Handling and Ride?
If so, buy exactly the same tires that are on your car now. A different tire will almost certainly make the car feel and perform differently. If there's something about your car's handling or ride you don't like, you may be able to fix it with an educated change of rubber. Talk to your tire dealer.

All-Season ... Isn't
Don't mistakenly assume that an all-season tire has more wet grip than a summer tire. In reality, all-season tires give up grip on both damp and dry roads to get some increased mobility in the snow. If you live where it rarely or never snows, purchase summer tires.

Big Wheels Keep on Turnin'
Did you buy a car with large-diameter wheels and ultra high-performance tires? If so, the car may have a harsh ride, the tires a short tread life, and the wheels may be susceptible to bending. It's possible that a smaller diameter wheel will fit on your car. Go to a wheel store and ask a technician to try one. With a smaller-diameter wheel, you can buy tires with a taller sidewall. Taller sidewalls should provide a softer, but less precise, ride.

They Aren't All the Same
Michelin owns the Uniroyal and BFGoodrich brands. Goodyear owns Kelly-Springfield and Dunlop. Bridgestone owns Firestone. Even if you buy an off-brand tire, it's possible that a quality company produced it—but maybe not. It's best to stick with the most well-known brands. Or you can check a tire's origin by checking the first two letters or numbers behind DOT on the tire sidewall on Wikipedia.