Most car owners pay more attention to the engine because they believe it has the biggest influence on how their driving experience will be like. However, it is also just as useful to look at the car Tyres and its influence on how smooth and safe your ride will be. After all, the Tyres are the ones that actually touch the road you are driving on. Thus, understanding how to choose the best ones for your car can greatly improve your driving. Beyond identifying the type of Tyre and Tyre tread you need, you also need to know the right size. There are a few measurements necessary to know whether the Tyre fits your car model, and here is a short guide to converting what these numbers mean. The most important of these are the width and diameter, but other factors like speed rating will also be explained. The key is to look at the combination of letters and numbers on the Tyre itself. They stand for various measurements and other identifying markers that help you decide if you have the right Tyre.
The first identifier is one/two letters. Cars in the United
States state P, meaning it is a P-Metric Tyre manufactured for passenger
vehicles. This also means they uphold certain standards in the US. On the
other hand, if there is no letter, then it means it is a Euro-Metric Tyre,
which has different load capacities. There are also Tyres marked LT, which
means the Tyre was manufactured for light trucks. These Tyres need higher
pressure than passenger Tyres because of the load.
This refers to the measurement of the Tyre’s width in millimetres,
from one sidewall to another. These stand for the first 3 digits, which means
in a Tyre marked P215/65 R15 91S, it has a width of 215 millimetres.
The next two numbers after the slash mark refer to the
aspect ratio or the ratio of the Tyre cross-section’s height to the width. In
the example above, this means the Tyre’s height is about 65% of the width. When
the aspect ratio is bigger, then the sidewall is also bigger.
The next letter stands for the construction of the Tyre,
where the R in the example stands for Radial.
This number stands for the wheel size measured from one side
to another. It also determines which kind of wheel the Tyre is meant to fit. In
the example, this means the Tyre is manufactured for a wheel that has a 15-inch
diameter.
The next two numbers refer to the load index, of the maximum
load that the Tyre is able to support when it is inflated properly. The same
information is also found on the sidewall, both in pounds and kilos.
The last letter stands for the maximum speed capability of
the Tyre. Each letter stands for a certain driving speed, which manufacturers
recommend that owners do not exceed. This alphanumeric combination can be
found on the Tyre itself, as well as the door jamb on the driver’s side, inside
the door of the glove box, and within the hatch of the gas tank. You may also
read about it in the manual of your vehicle.
There is a large variety of car Tyres out there in the
market. It is not, however, as simple as just mounting any Tyre on your car,
because there are several factors you need to consider, like how you generally
use your car and the condition of the road you will be normally driving
on. Relaxed drivers would not require the same kind of Tyre as someone who
loves to speed down the road like an F1 racer. For example, one with treads
will only slow you down because of the small contact patch on the tarmac. The
purpose of your car (and Tyres) will dictate what Tyre you should buy. A
second factor is the driving condition when you are on the road. Snowy
conditions bring a lot of danger of slipping around the street, so you need
Tyres that have big tread blocks, deep grooves with minute metal studs embedded
in the tread that grip the ice and snow.
Third, driving comfort can be greatly influenced by your choice of
Tyres. The tread patterns generate noise, which is why you should choose the
right Tyre to minimize these vibrations.
This type is perfect for speeding down the highway, as it is
manufactured from soft rubber compounds and very little tread pattern to even
none. This means you can go fast but at the same time, have the necessary grip
to prevent you from sliding off the pavement. When you have performance Tyres,
though, you cannot expect a lot of mileage. Its top qualities are grip and
performance.
Cars that come out of the assembly line and most likely what
you end up buying comes with all-around or all-season Tyres. They have the
right combination of grip, performance, safety in wet weather conditions,
durability, and acceptable noise. These Tyres are made of rubber compounds that
are harder than the summer Tyres, which means it has worse performance and
grip. However, this is not necessary for the day-to-day driver, which is why 9
out of 10 motorists use this type of Tyres all the time. Moreover, it has the
right balance between a silent drive and still performing very well when there
are heavy downpour and wet road conditions. If you do not have particularly
special requirements, this kind of Tyre is perfect for you.
Wet weather Tyres are not that different from summer Tyres,
in the sense that they are also made of softer rubber compounds as opposed to
all-season ones. The major difference between wet weather Tyres and summer ones
is that they have more siping that work on channelling the water away from the
contact patch of the Tyre. During the rainy season, Tyres should quickly heat
up in order to ensure the contact with the road’s surface. This is the reason
why it comes with a contact patch wider than an all-season Tyre.
Difficult is an understatement when describing driving in
snowy conditions. In fact, having the wrong Tyres can definitely cause an
accident. This is the reason why there are winter Tyres, exactly for the
purpose of allowing you to drive safely in slippery, icy roads. There are two
kinds of winter Tyre compounds, suitable for different conditions. If you are
driving in snowy and muddy conditions, then M&S Tyres are the ones you
should install in your car. However, snowy and icy roads require bigger
block patterns that offer the best contact with the road’s surface. These are
the ones with the snowflake symbol, and many of them have embedded metal studs
to give the Tyres a better grip when the roads are covered in snow.
Unfortunately, this kind of Tyres has a noisy downside.
Light trucks and SUVs would find this kind of Tyres most
suitable. They have sidewalls that are quite stiff, which allow these vehicles
to carry heavy loads and go over rocks and whatever obstacles lie in rough
roads. They also come equipped with bigger tread block patterns, which means
they have enough grip while driving on gravel, dirt, and loose sand. The
disadvantage is that these large tread blocks make the rollers noisier than
other Tyres. They also have less contact surface on roads that are paved. This
means you will not be able to speed up on highways without taking the risk of
slipping or even turning over. These Tyres are neither hard nor soft, they are
just right in the middle.
These Tyres are similar to all-terrain Tyres, in the sense
that their compound’s tread block patterns are huge and even chunky. These Tyres
are not at all suitable for driving on other surfaces unless it is muddy and
dirty. In some cases, these tread blocks do not resemble blocks at all and
instead, look like chunky paddles.
The tread pattern is a huge factor in choosing the right
Tyre for your vehicle. The tread pattern can have a great impact on traction,
as well as in durability and handling. If you also want a smooth, noise-free,
and comfortable ride that may also impact your car’s fuel efficiency, then you need
to understand more about the three available Tyre tread patterns to choose
from.
1. Symmetrical
This type of pattern normally has a uniform design. This
means if you make a lengthwise cut of the Tyre along the grain to have two
complete Tyres, both the right and the left would have an identical tread
design. This is the reason why it is named symmetrical tread pattern.
2. Asymmetrical
Now if you slice a Tyre with an asymmetrical pattern, then
you would not come up with similar designs. Moreover, this type of Tyre pattern
tends to have bigger tread blocks on the outer part of the compound. This is so
that the Tyres stay stable while cornering. On the other hand, the inner Tyre
section has blocks that are smaller and they also have water-channelling grooves,
which function as heat dispersion from the rubber compound.
3. Unidirectional
For cars that need acceleration in a straight direction,
this type of tread pattern is best. They look like symmetrical tread patterns
in the way that the Tyre halves look identical. However, it has a feature that
makes it stand out. These Tyres are specially designed to turn only in one
direction. This means you need to look for an arrow on the side of the Tyre to
see the correct direction when mounting them on your vehicle. This is very
important because if you install them in the wrong direction, you will face
very serious problems. In short, this tread pattern allows you to
accelerate better due to less rolling resistance. Some may also require a
shorter distance when stopping, making it ideal for performance cars that need
quick acceleration and short stopping distance.
Can You Install A Different Tyre
Size On Your Car?
Your car manufacturer states exactly what Tyre size is
suited for your vehicle. These markings make it easy for consumers like you to
find the right one and prevent making a wrong purchase. Some people are,
however, interested in converting to a different size. This is not specifically
what your car maker suggests, but if you follow very stringent criteria, it may
be possible. Without following these, you will suffer the consequences like
voiding the warranty and other risks. The key is to stick as close to your
original Tyre’s diameter as possible. This is the most important thing, because
various factors, like the gear settings, brakes, torque, speedometer, and
tractor control are based on the diameter, which dictates how far the Tyre must
travel to get a full rotation. If the time or the length it takes for a full
revolution is affected, your speedometer might show inaccurate readings, and
your gears will also be affected.
This is the reason why the overall diameter should always be
as close to the Tyre that your car was designed to run with. Unfortunately, it
is not as easy to compute the outside diameter because Tyre sizes only include
the inside diameter measurements. There are, however, online Tyre size
calculators that help you compute whether the Tyres have similar overall
diameters. The rule is, if you want to change your Tyre size, they should not
have a difference in diameter of more than 1%, ideally, it should be less than
that. Another tip is to consult an expert when considering a Tyre with a
different size. They will be better at advising you if you are increasing your
risk of getting an accident or damaging your car. Otherwise, it’s always a good
idea to just stick to your vehicle’s original Tyre size to avoid any unwanted
consequences that might affect your car’s performance.
Because your Tyres can determine your car’s performance and your driving experience, it is important to always get the right Tyres and to take necessary steps to maintain it. Here are some tips you can follow:
Even if you are not an expert, you can still check your
tyres every once in a while. You can do a visual inspection of any damage or
wear and tear, especially if you regularly look at your Tyres. If you see
something amiss, then you can bring your vehicle to an expert to have it looked
at. Better still, you can have a professional
inspect your tyres at least once a year.
Another habit you should develop is to check your Tyre’s air
pressure regularly. If you drive with not enough pressure, the vehicle’s
performance might be affected, especially when the weather is rainy or icy.
Moreover, cold weather will also cause the Tyre pressure to quickly fluctuate.
A good trick is to do a monthly check of your Tyre’s pressure, and adding just
a bit more air in.
The Tyres have a maximum weight they can withstand. Going
over will result to overheating and eventually lead to its destruction. If you
are not aware of the load index, you can check the manual and the numbers
listed on the sidewall.
As mentioned above, not only is the weight limit stated on
the Tyre but also the speed limit you are restricted to. Driving too fast or
over this limit, will ultimately shorten its lifespan not to mention
compromising your safety.
Another important step to prevent wear and tear is to rotate
them. This way, they will not wear down unevenly. This is a step that can be
done once or twice a year, pairing it with other regular maintenance steps like
an oil change.
If your Tyre is damaged in any way, do not take the risk in
driving with it. Instead, use your spare Tyre until it was inspected by a
professional.
We are committed to offering customers our most competitive and irresistible tyre prices in Australia.
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