It's probably the most important part of the vehicle but how many of us really understand what to look out for when choosing the right tyre for our ride?
Tyres are the most direct part of a vehicle that comes into contact with the road. However when it comes to shopping for them, the library of confusing terminologies, specifications and brands to consider usually puts drivers not too familiar with tyres out of interest relatively quickly. With this article, we'll try to keep things as simple and as direct as possible to spare you all that unnecessary brain activity. Whether or not you're
driving a Toyota Altis or a 500 plus horsepower track warrior, tyres are very important.
First, determine the purpose for the use of your tyres. Do you need it to last for several thousand kilometers before changing without compromising your safety and comfort? Or do you need it to tame all the horsepower gained from installing all the go-fast after market tuning parts? Once you've decided, you can start scouting the tyre market.
Some consumers tend to buy tyres based on the brand. Some choose based on the price and some, just want the best that money can buy. To help you along the way in understanding the world of tyres so you know what you're looking out for the next time around it's time for replacements, we'll analyse the numbers and figures marked on the wall of your tyres:
Variation
On your tyre's label, the figure normally starts with a letter.
Example: P195/55/R15 84V - P being the highlighted spec corresponds to the tire type, for this case it's for passenger cars
Size
Make sure you know what size your wheels are for a proper fit. If you get this wrong the tyre won't sit properly on the wheel and could be either too stressed, come off while driving or even both!
Example: P195/55/R15 84V - R15 being the highlighted spec corresponds to the tire size
Width
Tire width is one thing to consider especially if you want more grip. The wider the tire, the more contact area it has with the road. It's determined by the first three numbers after the tyre type. The higher the figure the wider the tire, the smaller the figure, the narrower it is.
Example: P195/55/R15 84V - 195 being the highlighted spec corresponds to the tire width
Tread pattern
The tread determines a lot of your tyre grip and comfort characteristics. Nicely spaced treads normally give a decent amount of grip levels for everyday driving. This also gives it a low decibel rating meaning the tire is quiet enough for everyday road use.
Aggressive V pattern treads tend to be high grip and performance related. The trade-off is the increased in road noise with this pattern. Since Malaysia tends to get a lot of rain, you might want to consider a tire with a tread pattern that works well in dissipating water in wet conditions. This will give you much needed control over your car especially when you're in the wet and called to make sudden changes in your driving.
Speed rating
This is one area consumers tend to overlook. Personally, I think this matter is more for high performance cars. If you are going to do any high speed driving in your car, make sure your tyres can cope with the speed and the heat that it generates.
Listed below are the different speed ratings for tyres:
Example: P195/55/R15 84V - V being the highlighted spec corresponds to the speed rating
Q - 160 kph
S - 180 kph
T - 190 kph
U - 200 kph
H - 210 kph
V - 240 kph
W - 270 kph
Y - 300 kph
(Y) - Above 300 kph
Profile
Tyres with a low profile such as a 40 or 50 series will look good on your car but you get to feel more of the roads' imperfections. It exposes your wheels also to a lot of curb side damage not unless the tyre has a rim guard.
Higher profile tires are more comfortable to use thus you see them more on OEM applications because they feel more comfortable to drive and is a lot forgiving on the wheels.
Example: P195/55/R15 84V - 55 being the highlighted spec corresponds to the tire profile
Tyre Rotation
Because each tyre on your car typically supports a different amount of weight, and your driving patterns will typically wear out one tyre faster than the others, it's important to rotate your tyres every 8000 to 10000 kilometres. Rotation patterns differ depending on what kind of vehicle you drive.
The best place to check is in your vehicle's owners manual. If you can not find what you are looking for, below are some diagrams showing you the most common patterns.
Of course, if your vehicle has different sizes of tyres from front to back, or if your tyres are directional, these may not work. Consult a professional if you are still not sure.
Alignment
Vehicle alignment is one of the most important factors in not only vehicle care, but tyre care. Improper alignment on either the front or rear wheels can result in unusual tread wear, damage to your suspension, and unusual handling for the car. Wheel alignments should be performed every time you install a new set of tyres, and any time you experience an impact such as a large pot hole, curb, or other obstacle. For maintenance purposes, alignment should be checked every 20,000 km.
There are several alignment types, including both two and four wheel alignment. Four wheel alignment is always recommended, but some vehicles are not able to have the rear alignment adjusted. Consult with an alignment specialist you trust to find out what's best for your car.
Warning signs that you might need an alignment are your car pulling to one side or another, and irregular tyre wear.
Maintenance
Tyre car and maintenance is a pretty straightforward thing to do. Make sure you inflate the tires with air according to the general recommendations of the tyre manufacturer. It's been proven that loading your tyres with nitrogen air does wonders for its life and the ability to keep tyre temperatures more constant.
Regularly check your tyres' air pressure and make sure it doesn't have any punctures from road debris. Always check your air pressure and make adjustments when the tyres are cold (tyres have not been driven for 2 hours). Air pressure should be checked at alternate week at the very least. This is because over time, the tyre loses its pressure and you could have lost several psi, thus decreasing fuel mileage and causing pre-mature tyre wear. Also remember to check your spare tire for loss of air.
You can't go wrong in choosing the right tyre if you're a smart consumer. Understand your car's needs and yours as a driver. With the plethora of tyre manufacturers in the market, one is sure to find the right set of tyres for ones budget and demands.
Happy motoring!