Tires & Wheels
Which tire is right for you
That depends on how much you drive, where you drive and what you want to spend. We talk this through with you before we make an offer.
Summer, winter or all-season
Easter–October
Summer tires
The harder rubber compound stops shorter on warm roads, wears more slowly and runs quieter than a winter tire.
October–Easter
Winter tires
The rubber compound stays soft even below about 7 °C (45 °F), when a summer tire is already getting hard. Winter tires carry the alpine symbol, a mountain with a snowflake.
All year
All-season tires
You drive with one set all year, no changing and no storage. That works if you drive little and mostly in the city. On the highway, with a trailer or in the Alps, summer and winter tires have the advantage.
Open: one photo per tire type (summer, winter, all-season), landscape 4:3, at least 800 px. Until then, the icons are shown on a blue background.
Tire size
What 205/55 R16 91V means
- 205
- Width in millimeters
- 55
- Sidewall height as a percentage of the width, here about 112 mm
- R
- Radial tire
- 16
- Wheel diameter in inches
- 91
- Load index: 615 kg (1,356 lb) per tire
- V
- Speed rating: up to 240 km/h (149 mph)
The vehicle registration certificate (Fahrzeugschein) only lists one of several approved sizes. For a quote, what counts is the size on the tires on your car.
Tread depth
When a tire needs to come off
The legal minimum is 1.6 millimeters. By then, the braking distance on wet roads is already much longer. That is why we recommend replacing them earlier: summer tires at 3 millimeters and winter tires at 4.
During every wheel change, we measure the tread of each tire with a laser. This is free of charge.
Tire age
A tire with tread can still be too old
Rubber hardens over time, even if there is still enough tread. That is why we recommend new tires after eight years, and after ten years they should be replaced. The last four digits of the DOT number show how old your tires are.
- DOT
- followed by codes for the plant and tire type
- 36
- Week 36, so early September
- 23
- Year 2023
The DOT number is often on one sidewall only, sometimes on the inner side.
What else is part of it
Your second set stays with us
Your wheels are stored on our premises. Before that, we wash them by hand and in the ultrasonic washer. At the next change everything is ready, and we already know your tire size.
More about storage → Complete wheelsTire and rim
Tire and rim come mounted and balanced. Then changing them only takes a few minutes.
See wheels → BalancingSo nothing vibrates
Every wheel is balanced after mounting. Over time, an imbalance wears out tires and wheel bearings.
Book tire appointment → After the changeHave the wheel bolts retightened
After a change, the wheel bolts settle a little. After 50 to 100 kilometers (30 to 60 miles) they need to be retightened. Just stop by, we do it with a torque wrench. It takes five minutes and is free of charge.
Call →Our brands
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Questions
Frequently asked questions
When do I need new tires?
The legal minimum is 1.6 millimeters of tread. We recommend replacing them earlier: summer tires at 3 millimeters, winter tires at 4. After eight years we recommend new tires, and after ten years they should be replaced even with enough tread, because the rubber hardens.
Summer, winter or all-season tires?
All-season tires are a good fit if you drive little and mostly in the city. If you drive a lot on the highway, with a trailer or in the Alps, summer and winter tires are the better choice. We are happy to advise you before we make an offer.