There are five main elements you have to consider when
choosing the right set of tyres for your vehicle -
1. Tube-type or tubeless
2. Size of tyre
3. Tread pattern
4. Rubber Compound
5. Overall quality of the tyre
1. Tube-type or tubeless
The answer to this question is very simple. Opt for tubeless tyres. They are
safer, more advanced and have a few other small advantages too. You do NOT
need to have alloy wheels in order to use tubeless tyres. However, for the best
results your steel wheels should be rust free (or just buy a new set as they
are very cheap) and preferably have the insides coated with an anti-rust
coating.
2. Size
Size is probably the most talked about and controversial part of buying tyres
if you are going for an upsize. Tyre sizes are represented in a standard
format. For eg. 205/55 R 15, which can be read as follows:
205 (mm) - or 20.5cm is the width of the tread on the tyre.
55 (%) - is the height of the sidewall represented as a percentage of
the tread width.
R (Radial) - Radial construction, as almost all tyres are nowadays.
15 (inches) - Is the rim diameter of the wheel on which this tyre is
designed to fit.
3. Tread Pattern
The tread pattern of a tyre has a major effect on the tyres wet weather
performance, which depends on its ability to channel water away from the
contact patch between the tyre and the road. The tread pattern also plays a
part in how much road noise is generated by the tyre due to air getting trapped
and expelled from those channels during running. Tests have shown that the
tread pattern of a tyre does not have as much of an effect as the compound of
the tyre when it comes to traction, but nonetheless it plays a part. (Unless
ofcourse you are looking at a tyre for mud, snow or sand, in which case the
tread pattern plays a vital role.). Never buy re-treaded tyres; they are
dangerous and not worth the little money you save.
4. Rubber
Compound
The rubber compound used to manufacture the tyre is probably the most important
factor in determining a tyre's traction and treadwear characteristics.
Generally, the quality ("softness") of the rubber is proportional to
the amount of traction you will get and the speed rating of the tyre, and
inversely proportional to the treadlife of the tyre. Therefore the higher the
speed rating of a tyre, the better the grippyness of the tyre is likely to be.
Also, the way the tyre is marketed is an indicator - the
"ultra-sport" will usually have a grippier compound than the
"sport" or the "comfort" tyres from the same manufacturer.
The compound also plays a part in the behavior of a tyre in little ways, for
example, some tyres will screech and wail when approaching the limits of
traction, whereas others might just let out the faintest chirp and then begin
to slide.
5. Overall Quality Of The Tyre
Things to
consider are -
i. Reputation of manufacturer - Ask around, read reviews, do
research or just go with a well known and trusted manufacturer. It does
make a difference as they have more modern facilities, better quality standards
and newer equipment at their manufacturing plants.
ii. Warranty - Read the fine print. There
always is fine print.
iii. Date of Manufacture - Every tyre is stamped with a
four digit DOT code on its sidewall which denotes the week (first 2 digits) and
year (last 2 digits) of manufacture (eg. 2104 = 21st week of 2004). The fresher
the tyre you buy, the better. Try not to buy tyres that are older than 6
months, and definitely nothing older than a year.
iv. Added Technologies - Each manufacturer has
different little technologies and tricks that they apply to their tyres, and
named something unique and cute; don't pay too much attention to these unless
it is actually something revolutionary. Search your
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