Building a Tire Fitment Recommendation Engine with the Tire API (Expanded Guide, New Attempt)

Introduction

Helping customers find the right tires for their vehicle is a proven way to increase sales and reduce returns. In this tutorial, you'll learn how to build a tire fitment recommendation engine using the Tire API, complete with code samples, UX best practices, and business insights. This solution is ideal for e-commerce stores, tire retailers, and automotive platforms looking to enhance their user experience and streamline tire selection.

Prerequisites

• Basic knowledge of JavaScript and Node.js
• Access to the Tire API (with an API key)
• A simple web or backend project to integrate with

Step 1: Set Up Your Project

Start by creating a new project directory and initializing it with npm. Install the required dependencies, such as axios for HTTP requests and dotenv for managing environment variables.

mkdir tire-fitment-recommender
cd tire-fitment-recommender
npm init -y
npm install axios dotenv

Create a .env file in your project root and add your Tire API key:

TIRE_API_KEY=your_api_key_here

This setup ensures your API key is kept secure and not hard-coded in your source files.

Step 2: Collect Vehicle Data

To recommend the right tires, you need to know the customer’s vehicle details. Prompt the user to select or enter their vehicle’s make, model, and year. You can use dropdowns, autocomplete, or a simple form.

Once you have the vehicle data, use the Tire API’s fitment endpoint to fetch compatible tire sizes:

require('dotenv').config();
const axios = require('axios');

async function getRecommendedTireSizes(make, model, year) {
  const response = await axios.get('https://api.tiresize.com/v1/fitment', {
    params: { make, model, year },
    headers: { 'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.TIRE_API_KEY}` }
  });
  return response.data.sizes;
}

// Example usage:
getRecommendedTireSizes('Toyota', 'Camry', 2020)
  .then(sizes => console.log('Recommended sizes:', sizes));

Display the recommended tire sizes to the user, and consider showing additional info such as load index, speed rating, or seasonal suitability.

Step 3: Recommend Tires

With the recommended sizes, you can now query your product database or the Tire API for available tires. Present the user with a list of matching products, including brand, price, performance ratings, and customer reviews.

Allow users to filter or sort results by:

• Brand
• Price
• Speed Rating
• Seasonal Suitability

Example code to fetch available tires for a size:

async function getTiresBySize(size) {
  const response = await axios.get('https://api.tiresize.com/v1/tires', {
    params: { size },
    headers: { 'Authorization': `Bearer ${process.env.TIRE_API_KEY}` }
  });
  return response.data.tires;
}

// Example usage:
getTiresBySize('225/45R17')
  .then(tires => console.log('Available tires:', tires));

Show product images, specs, and a clear “Add to Cart” or “Buy Now” button for each tire.

Step 4: UX Best Practices

• Use guided forms or wizards for vehicle selection
• Include tire comparison features (side-by-side specs)
• Display customer reviews and ratings
• Allow filtering by use case (e.g., all-season, performance)
• Ensure the interface is responsive and mobile-friendly

Step 5: Business Benefits

• Reduced return rates due to better fit recommendations
• Higher conversion rates from confident buyers
• Improved customer satisfaction and brand trust
• Time savings for support and sales teams

Conclusion

With the Tire API, you can deliver a seamless, intelligent tire shopping experience that delights customers and drives business results. Start building your fitment recommendation engine today and set your store apart from the competition!