To most people, a tire is a tire is a tire. To the naked eye, that's absolutely correct: They are black and round. However, upon further inspection, tires are one of the most technologically advanced parts of a car, influencing the braking, steering, comfort, handling, safety and fuel efficiency. They are also the only parts actually touching the road.

Whether it's the daily commute, family road trip, cruise to the beach, off-road adventure or grocery run, tires absorb constant pounding over all sorts of surfaces in all kinds of weather conditions. Thanks to stout engineering and technology, they continue to perform with amazing effectiveness and last longer than ever.

However, no matter how long-lasting tires are, there's a time when you'll need to replace them, and picking the right one for your vehicle can be challenging. "Cornering, acceleration, wet road traction, tire wear, ride, styling and fuel economy can be modified by changing tires," says Alan Holtschneider of Yokohama Tire. "Knowing what types of tires are available is important because it can save money and fuel and vastly improve a vehicle's ride and handling."