Tires, like most things in life, are a trade-off. Performance tires tend to wear out faster, while tires that give a more comfortable ride may be less agile in the corners.

Most cars come with all-season tires. Imagine using the same pair of shoes for jogging, hiking, tramping through snow, and ballet dancing, and you'll understand the problem inherent with all-season tires.

If you live where it snows, buy a set of proper snow tires (also known as winter tires) and use them in the winter. All-season tires are designed to handle all weather conditions, but they aren't optimized for any particular one. Snow tires are designed for one thing and one thing only: Keeping your car going where you point it when temperatures are low and the roads are covered in snow and ice. By using snow tires in the winter, you can opt for a "summer" tire better suited to your tastes -- be that a quieter, more comfortable ride, better handling, improved rain performance or longer tread-life.

New tires generally grip the road better than tires that have some miles on them. It's best to replace all four tires at once, but if you must replace them in pairs, put the new tires on the back (regardless of whether the car is front- or rear-wheel-drive). This will help the car retain its stability and predictability in a panic swerve. (Older tires on the rear will make the car more likely to spin out.)

Rotating the tires every 5,000 to 7,000 miles will ensure that they wear at the same rate, allowing you to get the most return on your investment and ensure that all four tires will be ready for replacement at the same time.

NEVER replace a single tire -- if a tire is damaged and cannot be repaired, replace it as well as its mate on the other side of the car.

As with most things, a name brand on a tire costs more. Well-known name brands do tend to provide a consistently high level of quality, but there are lesser-known tire manufacturers that produce excellent products at lower prices. Recommendations from a tire dealer you trust are a great way to find good tires.

OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) tires are the ones fitted to your car at the factory, but buying the same type of tire as a replacement isn't always the best choice. Manufacturers look for a tire that will provide acceptable performance in all conditions from Arizona summers to Vermont winters. They may choose a tire that emphasizes comfort over handling or handling over tread life. As a consumer, you can do better by shopping around.

Tires are NOT maintenance free items! Tires lose about 1 psi of pressure per month and another 1 psi for every 10 degree drop in temperature. If you buy new tires in August, by January they could have lost as much as 20% of their inflation pressure. Underinflated tires decrease gas mileage and are more likely to suffer a blowout -- and with modern tires, you can't tell the pressure is low just by looking. Check your inflation pressures and inspect your tires monthly.