Tips To buy Tyre

What Tyre Means

tyre

Your tyre provide the interface between your car and the road. Clearly they play an extremely important part not only in performance, but also in overall safety. Without the right tyres, or tyres that are worn, your car’s ability to maximise traction with the road is compromised, and that can have serious consequences. 

So when looking for new tyres it is best to go to experts. It also pays to have a little knowledge of the basics as well, so you can feel assured you are getting the right tyres for your car.

So how do you choose the "Right" tyre?

Choosing the right tyre is first of all dependent on making sure you comply with the vehicle manufacturer's and state requirements. This may limit the range and choice of the wide range of fitments.

Large global tyre companies manufacturer their products to offer greater durability due to their use of high quality rubber compounds and computerised tyre construction design. The results delivered, in addition to durability, are high levels of wet and dry grip, as well as high levels of ride comfort (plastic comfort and low noise). 

Tyres made by leading brand manufacturers, may well cost a little extra, but will prove to be a better longer-term investment and offer increased levels of safety than less expensive or cheaper options. More economical options may appear cheaper initially, but will wear faster, might compromise stopping distances during sudden braking and produce more tyre generated noise. 

So these options may not be as advantageous in the longer run. Don’t be afraid to do some research upfront and see what tyres get good reviews in car magazines and on professional websites. Your tyre expert will also have some recommendations. When expertly fitted and aligned, a good set of tyres is pivotal in providing efficient performance and safety, just as the maker intended, and will be one of the most important purchases you make for your car.


What are some key considerations when buying tyres?

Since tyres are so very important, the first thing to be aware of is the specifications your car’s manufacturer has outlined for your car. You don’t have to stick to a particular brand, but the tyres you buy must fit the wheel properly, and be of a size and type recommended by the manufacturer. It is also important that both tyres on one axle have the same tread pattern & tread depth, or braking, steering and handling could be compromised, and this could be dangerous.

You may notice on the side of tyres there is a complex looking code. This provides all of the information you need to know about that tyre. For example, if a tyre has a code like this on its side - P205/65R15 94H – here’s what each part means:

• ‘P’ means it is a passenger tyre
• 205’ refers to the section width of the tyre when it is properly inflated. The section width is the distance between the tyre’s exterior sidewalls.
• ‘65’ is a percentage describing the tyre’s ‘aspect ratio’. This ratio relates to the comparison between the tyre’s section height and width.
• ‘R’ stands for radial, which is a common tyre type and relates to its construction type.
• ‘15’ is the wheel’s diameter in inches
• ‘94’ describes the tyre's load rating, which in this case is 670 kg. This is an index and relates to the maximum load that a tyre can carry at its maximum speed capability
• ‘H’ is a code for the speed rating and in this case it means it is rated to travel at 210 km/h, when carrying a maximum load of 670 kg

This may all seem quite complex but in essence it is just a very simple way of conveying all the information you need to know when the times comes to replacing your tyres.
 

Reading a Tyre

You can find out all the basics about a tyre simply by reading the information on the side (or sidewall).

Sidewall tyre

Tyre Width Width of the tyre measured in millimetres from sidewall to sidewall. The tyre in the diagram below is 185 millimeters wide
 

Aspect Ratio Ratio of the height of the tyre's cross-section to its width. 65 means that the height of the sidewall is equal to 65% of the tyre's section width.
 

Wheel Diameter The width of the wheel from one end to the other. The diameter of the wheel in the diagram above is 15 inches.
 

Construction This tells you how the tyre was put together. The "R" stands for radial, which means that the body ply cords. These cords are layers of fabric that make up the body of the tyre, and run radially across the tyre from bead to bead. A "B" indicates the tyre is of bias construction, meaning that the body ply cords run diagonally across the tyre from bead to bead, with the ply layers alternating in direction to reinforce one another.
 

Load Index Indicates the maximum load in kilograms that a tyre can support when properly inflated and run at its maximum speed. You will also find the maximum load in pounds and in kilograms elsewhere on the tyre sidewall.
 

Speed Rating Shows the maximum service speed for a tyre. "H" for example means that the tyre has a maximum service speed of 130 miles in one hour. Please note that this rating relates only to tyre speed capability, and is NOT a recommendation to exceed legally posted speed limits; always drive within the legal speed limit.
 

DOT Means the tyre is compliant with all applicable safety standards established by the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT). Adjacent to this is a tyre identification or serial number; a combination of numbers and letters with up to 12 digits.
 

Tyre Type American markings define the proper use of the tyre. "P" means this is a passenger car tyre. "LT" means it is for a light truck.
 

UTQG Stands for Uniform Tyre Quality Grading, a quality rating system developed by the US Department of Transportation (DOT).