Tire Buying Advice, All-Season vs All-Weather, and the Best Time to Buy New Tires

Consumer Reports tests dozens of tire models every year across all types of weather and road conditions. Our expert evaluations cover key performance factors like grip, handling, braking, comfort, and tread life. In this episode, we explain everything you need to know before buying new tires—when to replace them, how to choose the best tires, and whether electric vehicles need special tires. You'll learn how climate and driving style affect tire performance, and get insider insight into how our engineers test tires for safety and durability. We'll also answer your top tire questions, from whether small rocks in the tread really matter to how all-wheel drive impacts winter traction.

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SHOW NOTES
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00:00 - Introduction
00:36 - When to Buy Tires
02:29 - How to Inspect Tires
04:10 - All-Weather vs. All-Season Tires
08:47 - EV Tires
12:19 - Best Tire Shopping Advice
17:36 - How CR Works With Tire Manufacturers
18:31 - How We Test and Rate Tires
23:15 - 2026 Tire Top Picks
24:31 - What Are We Testing Next?
26:54 - Question #1: Do small rocks lodged in tire treads affect performance?
29:52 - Question #2: How do AWD systems affect tire performance?

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