Fitment on a new tire is set by the size code stamped on the sidewall, not by the vehicle's year or trim. Oklahoma City Tire Shop in Oklahoma City stocks Continental, Bridgestone, General, and Hankook lines and checks that code before quoting, so the tire that goes on the car is the one that actually fits it.
The code stamped into the sidewall — not the make, model, or year — is what actually decides which tire fits. Two trims of the same car can leave the factory on different sizes, and a compact "space-saver" spare in the trunk says nothing about what's supposed to go on the road wheels. Oklahoma City Tire Shop reads that code off the tire before quoting anything, rather than working backward from the vehicle.
Continental and Bridgestone cover the sizes that move fastest and sit in stock; General and Hankook round out the rest of the lineup. A size that isn't already on the shelf isn't a dead end — it gets ordered in, not swapped for something close enough that technically bolts up.
Does a new tire have to match the exact size already on the car?
Usually, yes — unless there's a specific reason to change it, like stepping up to a wider tire on a wheel upgrade or moving to a taller sidewall to correct a speedometer that's read wrong since the last set went on. Outside of a deliberate change like that, keeping the original size keeps the speedometer and anti-lock system reading the rolling diameter they were calibrated against.
Mixing sizes across an axle, even by a little, is where most of the odd complaints start afterward — a pull to one side, or a traction-control light that won't clear.
What's actually different between the brands you carry?
Continental and Bridgestone sit at the tighter-tolerance end — quieter and more refined, usually the tire a new car left the factory wearing. General and Hankook cost less up front and give up some of that ride refinement and wet-weather feel, not durability. Neither is the wrong call; it comes down to whether the car is a daily commuter or something that gets driven hard and traded in a couple years later.
How do you know a 'new' tire hasn't just been sitting in a warehouse?
Every tire carries a DOT date code baked into the sidewall — the week and year it was built. Oklahoma City Tire Shop checks that code on anything going out the door, not just at the wholesale end. A tire that's been sitting since before the current model year is still that old once it's mounted, whatever the tread looks like.
Do all four tires need to match?
Not always. A front-wheel-drive car with even wear across the front pair can usually run two matching replacements without touching the rear two. AWD is the exception — most manufacturers want all four tires within a close tread-depth range of each other, since a mismatch can strain the drivetrain. Worth asking about before assuming either way.
Is a cheaper tire actually worse?
Different, not worse. General and Hankook trade away some of the ride refinement and tread-wear rating that Continental and Bridgestone charge more for, but they're not unsafe or short-lived tires — they're a different price point for a different priority. The honest answer depends on how the car actually gets driven.
Can you order a size that's not in stock?
Yes. Continental, Bridgestone, General, and Hankook each cover far more sizes than what's sitting on the shelf at any given time. If the exact size isn't in stock, it gets ordered in rather than substituted for something close.
Can new tires go on the same day?
If the size is already in stock, yes — it's mounted and balanced the same visit. If it has to be ordered in, the tire itself is what determines the wait, not the shop's schedule.