What Type Of Tyres Do I Need?

What Type of Tyres Do I Need?

A Brisbane driver's guide to getting it right (without overthinking it)

Tyres aren't exciting until the wrong ones ruin your drive.

They're the only part of your car that actually touches the road, yet they're often chosen at the last minute or replaced only when something feels very wrong.

In Brisbane and South East Queensland, our heat, summer storms, and mix of city driving and weekend escapes mean tyre choice matters more than people realise.

If you've ever stood in a service reception wondering whether you really need new tyres - or which ones - this guide is for you.

First things first: when do tyres actually need replacing?

By law, tyres in Australia must have a minimum tread depth of 1.5 mm to be considered roadworthy. But in real life, that's the bare minimum, not the ideal.

In Brisbane conditions, tyres often age out before they completely wear out. Why?

Heat and UV exposure speed up rubber ageing
Summer downpours demand good wet-weather grip
Stop-start traffic wears tyres unevenly
Highway speeds heading north or south on weekends generate extra heat

Even if tread looks "okay", tyres that are old, hardened, or cracked won't perform the way they should - especially in wet conditions.

Good habit: have your tyres checked at every service and do a quick visual check yourself every few weeks. If they look worn, uneven, or cracked, it's worth a closer look.

Your manufacturer's handbook is a starting point - not the whole answer

Your vehicle handbook (or the placard inside the driver's door) tells you:

Correct tyre size
Load and speed ratings
Recommended pressures

That's the non-negotiable stuff. But it doesn't tell you which tyre suits your driving life.

Two identical cars can need very different tyres depending on how they're used: school runs vs motorway commuting, city driving vs regular road trips, or sealed roads vs gravel and camping tracks.

The real question: how do you drive?

There's no "best tyre" for everyone. The right tyre depends on how your car fits into your week.

Here are a few common Brisbane driving profiles:

Mostly city driving

Short trips, traffic lights, shopping centres, school drop-offs.

Priorities: comfort, low noise, wet grip, durability

You may not need a high-performance tyre - a quality everyday option often makes more sense.

Regular highway driving

Commuting or frequent trips out of town.

Priorities: stability at speed, heat resistance, and even wear

Cheap tyres can wear faster here, costing more long-term.

Wet-weather confidence matters

Brisbane storms don't mess around.

Priorities: Good water dispersion and grip.

The right tyre tread pattern can make a noticeable difference in heavy rain.

Weekend escapes & light off-road

Camping, gravel roads, beach access (where permitted).

Priorities: Shifted toward durability and versatility rather than pure comfort.

This is where a conversation with a service expert actually helps - not to upsell, but to match the tyre to your real-world use.

Budget vs performance: the honest trade-off

It's okay to say it out loud: tyres can be expensive.

The good news? Paying more doesn't automatically mean paying smart.

Budget tyres can be perfectly suitable for lower-mileage, urban driving
Mid-range tyres often offer the best balance of grip, comfort, and longevity
Performance tyres provide excellent handling, but usually wear faster

What matters is value over time, not just the upfront cost. A slightly more expensive tyre that lasts longer - or performs better in wet weather - can be the better choice overall.

Why mixing tyres is a bad idea (even if it's tempting)

It might seem fine to replace just one tyre at a time, but mixing tread patterns or wear levels on the same axle can affect:

Steering feel
Braking performance
Stability in the wet

For safety and predictability, tyres should always match across the same axle. In many cases, replacing tyres in pairs (or all four) is the safest option.