How to choose a tire?
 

Hi friends,

I will be purchasing 18x8.5 wheels and I'm wondering how I go about deciding which tires to purchase.

I know which size I need but how do I determine what tire will have characteristics similar to OEM. I know I could get Michelin PSS and call it a day but I'm looking for a tire that is affordable and one that has a decent tread wear rating. I don't track and I only drive quickly one night a week at most, the rest of the time is just commute.

What have your experiences with tires been and how did you choose?

I would go to TireRack.com / look at the tire size you want (225/40/18 is most common). You will see prices that vary from $125 to $300

Find something in your budget and a good treadwear rating.

With tires, you get what you pay for. Are you looking for more performance, comfort, low noise?

If you're not driving the car much, I'd recommend you get the tires that best matches your driving. Tread wear rating shouldn't be a huge issue if you're only putting on 4000 miles a year; street driven R-comps will easily last 10k, and likely over 20k if your alignment isn't out of whack.