Having the right tyres on your car can make the difference between a safe drive and a bad experience. Tyres are what connects your car to the road and are, without a doubt, the most important component. Prices, availability and designs vary brand to brand, tyre shop to tyre shop. 

In this guide, we outline what’s important when you’re shopping for tyres, what you should pay, maintenance tips and more. We’ve listed ten trusted Auckland tyre retailers to help you make an informed purchase. 

Our Auckland tyres guide covers:​​​

• How Much do Tyres Cost?
• 10 Reliable Auckland Tyre Service Companies Available Right Now
• Tyre Maintenance Tips​

Know this first - Wheel Alignment and Punctures

1. If you've taken your car for a wheel alignment and been told you need new tyres, you are not obligated to buy tyres from the garage. If you have tyres at home, you can arrange for those to be fitted. You can shop around (as we outline below) until you find tyres that are right for your vehicle.
2. Punctures can often be repaired, so there's no need to automatically get a new tyre. If you're told it can't be repaired, you have the right to ask another company for their opinion. Puncture repairs cost up to $50 for a standard tyre, which can easily save you 2/3 or 3/4 the cost of a new tyre. 

Like most things, what you pay for a tyre depends on size, brand, warranty, fitting and any promotion or special.

1. Tyre-only costs: Generally, an individual tyre for a standard car can cost anywhere from around $75-100 to around $200. High-end brands like Pirelli and Michelin will usually cost more than middle-market brands such as Dunlop and Goodyear. 
2. Fitting costs: If your quote doesn't include fitting, then budget for around $25 to $40 per tyre.

The size of a tyre is printed onto its side, and is made up of a series of numbers and letters. In the example below, you can see that:

• P = It's a passenger seat tyre
• 225 - Width of the tyre in millimetres.
• 75 - Height of the tyre sidewall as a percentage of the width. In this case, 55%. Also known as the aspect ratio.
• R16 - The diameter of the tyres inner rim in inches.

There are four main considerations to make when looking for a new tyre:

1. The weather and climate of where you live in - Auckland gets a lot of rain, so tyres that provide good wet grip is suggested.
2. The type of vehicle you own - a tyre for a car is different for a van, and even for as 4WD.
3. Your driving needs - do you cruise the motorway each day, or drive for work? Your tyre needs to match your needs.
4. Your budget - it's tempting to go for the cheapest, but keep in mind your tyres connect you with the road, so sometimes paying for the most appropriate tyre is better than getting the lowest price. 

We believe buying tyres should be a straight forward process without any mystery. We like tyres companies that avoid mucking customers around with quotes and putting in hidden charges. Before agreeing to any tyre quote, make sure to ask the following questions:

1. Does the price include labour/fitting? If no, ask how much it is. We estimate around $40 including GST is reasonable
2. Does the price include balancing? If no, ask them why, and how much? It should be included in the fitting, so be wary of anyone trying to charge you twice. 
3. Does the price include old tyre disposal? We hear that some companies try to charge this - if they do, ask how much it is.
4. Is GST included? 15% adds up, so make sure the final price you hear and agree to is GST-inclusive. For example, $400 becomes $460 with GST included. 
5. What is the guarantee period? Most tyres should come with 5-years, but check this first and get it in writing. 

We've outlined five important tips to help your tyres last longer and save you money every year: 

1. When checking the pressure, remove any objects embedded in the tread – pebbles, road seal, small stones, glass and other objects which are direct causes of punctures 
2. Check for uneven wear – if you see your tread isn’t symmetrical, it could mean your car’s steering or suspension needs an alignment. Having to replace tyres because of an imbalanced car is unnecessarily expensive and unsafe. 
3. Watch the tyre tread wear – the minimum tread by law is 1.5mm, but the more you have, the better. You must replace your tyres when the tread level reaches the 1.5mm limit (at the latest).
4. Ask for tyres to be rotated every time you get a car service – this equalizes the tyres and helps extend their life, as front tyres always experience more wear. 
5. When fitting new tyres, have them balanced and ask for a wheel alignment – the cost is marginal and doing so will assure you that your tyres are set correctly in place.