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 their 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.
Using a tyre size calculator can help you determine the correct tyre dimensions based on tyre codes and compare alternative tyres compatible with your specific wheel size.
What Kind Of Tires Are Out There?
There is a wide variety of car tyres on the market. However, mounting any tyre on your car is not as simple as it seems because several factors need to be considered, like how you generally use your car and the condition of the road you will normally be 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 conditions. Snowy conditions can make slipping around the street dangerous, so you need tyres with big tread blocks, deep grooves, and minute metal studs embedded in the tread that grip the ice and snow.
Third, your choice of tyres can greatly influence your driving comfort. The tread patterns generate noise, which is why you should choose the right tyre to minimise these vibrations. Additionally, the tread width affects driving comfort and noise levels, as a wider tread can provide a smoother ride and reduce road noise.
Now that you know how to differentiate car tyres, here is a list of tyres you can choose from:
Summer or Performance Tires
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. Tire width is crucial in performance tyres as it affects both grip and handling. When you have performance tyres, though, you cannot expect a lot of mileage. Its top qualities are grip and performance.
All-Season or All-Around Tyres
Cars that come out of the assembly line and most likely what you end up buying come 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 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 tyre all the time. Moreover, it has the right balance between a silent drive and still performing very well when there are heavy downpours and wet road conditions. Tire size also plays a crucial role in the performance and suitability of all-season tyres, affecting aspects like grip and handling. If you do not have particular special requirements, this kind of tyre is perfect for you.
Wet Weather Tyres
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 works 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 contact with the road’s surface. This is the reason why it comes with a contact patch wider than an all-season tyre.
Winter Tyres
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 on 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 tyre has a noisy downside.
All-Terrain Tyres
Light trucks and SUVs would find this kind of tyre 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 tires are neither hard nor soft, they are just right in the middle.
Mud Tyres
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 suitable for driving on other surfaces unless they are muddy and dirty. In some cases, these tread blocks do not resemble blocks at all and instead look like chunky paddles.
The Different Tread Patterns and Tread Width
The tread pattern is a huge factor in choosing the right tyre for your vehicle. It can have a great impact on traction, durability, and handling. Understanding tyre construction is crucial as it determines the design and performance of different tread patterns. 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 that 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 why it is named a symmetrical tread pattern.
2. Asymmetrical
Now if you slice a tire 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 it 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 stopping distance, making it ideal for performance cars that need quick acceleration and a short stopping distance.
Knowing Which Tire Size To Buy
Beyond identifying the type of tyre and tyre tread you need, you also need to know the right size. A few measurements are necessary to determine 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. It is crucial to consider the rim diameter when changing tyre sizes, as different rim sizes can affect driving characteristics and car parts. Additionally, understanding how the tyre diameter is calculated from the tyre code is essential for determining the correct size. Knowing the correct tyre sizes for your vehicle is important to avoid potential damage and ensure optimal performance.
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.
Tyre Type
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, 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. Because of the load, these tyres need higher pressure than passenger tyres.
Tyre Width
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 that a tyre marked P215/65 R15 91S, has a width of 215 millimetres.
Aspect Ratio
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.
Construction
The next letter stands for the tyre’s construction, and the R in the example stands for Radial.
Wheel Diameter
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.
Load Index
The next two numbers refer to the load index, which is the maximum load that the tire can support when it is inflated properly. The same information is also found on the sidewall, both in pounds and kilos.
Speed Rating
The last letter stands for the tyre’s maximum speed capability. 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.
The following information is also found on the sidewall of the tire.
DOT Symbol
If these letters are found on the tire’s side, it means it complies with the Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards.
Tire Identification Number
The TIN, or the Tire Identification Number, follows the DOT and contains 12 numbers and letters that indicate where and when the tire was manufactured.
UTQG
These letters stand for Uniform Tire Quality Grading, which is set by the Department of Transportation of the US as a rating system to inform consumers on specific factors. First is the traction grade, stating how the tyre performs in wet conditions. If it has an AA rating, then it means it has outstanding traction when the roads are wet. Second, temperature grades will determine the tyre’s ability to withstand heat, meaning a tyre with a higher temperature grade can still perform at higher speeds. Lastly, treadwear grades stand for the tyre’s performance on standardized government tests that foretell how long the tyre can last. For example, a tire that has a 200 treadwear grade will last two times as long as one with only a 100 treadwear grade.
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 carmaker 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. Changing tyre size can also affect the actual speed reading on your speedometer, causing it to show either lower or higher than the real speed.
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 has to 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 tire 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. Using a tyre calculator can help determine the suitability of different tyre sizes. Additionally, a tyre diameter calculator can be used for comparing tyre sizes and ensuring they fall within acceptable limits. 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 into an accident or damaging your car. Otherwise, it is always a good idea to just stick to your vehicle’s original tyre size in order to avoid any unwanted consequences that might affect your car’s performance.
Taking Care Of Your Tyres
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 the necessary steps to maintain them. Here are some tips you can follow:
Regular Inspection
Even if you are not an expert, you can still check it 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. Still, you can have a professional inspect it at least once a year.
Keep The Right Air Pressure
Another habit you should develop is checking 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. Cold weather will also cause the tyre pressure to fluctuate quickly. A good trick is to do a monthly check of your tyre’s pressure and add just a bit more air.
Keep The Load Index In Mind
The tyres have the maximum weight they can withstand. Going over this will result in overheating and eventually lead to their destruction. If you are not aware of the load index, you can check the manual and the numbers listed on the sidewall.
Avoid Speeding
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.
Rotate Your tyres
Another important step to prevent wear and tear is to rotate them. This way, they will not wear down unevenly. This step can be done once or twice a year, pairing it with other regular maintenance steps like an oil change.
Use The Spare Tyre
If your tyre is damaged in any way, do not take the risk of driving with it. Instead, use your spare tyre until it is inspected by a professional.
This article broadly discusses the most important factors in choosing the right tyre for your vehicle and how to maintain your car’s tyres. Because of the tyre’s role in your driving experience, it is vital to gain this knowledge to make the right choice and enhance your comfort and your car’s performance.