Tyres on Wheels Selecting the right tyres

“How many tyres do I need?” Since tyres affect the personality and performance of your vehicle, all four tires should be as identical as possible or handling problems may arise. If your tires don’t match, it is possible that one end of your vehicle won’t respond as quickly or completely as the other, making it […]

“How many tyres do I need?”

Since tyres affect the personality and performance of your vehicle, all four tires should be as identical as possible or handling problems may arise. If your tires don’t match, it is possible that one end of your vehicle won’t respond as quickly or completely as the other, making it more difficult to control.

Just one tyre?

If your tyres have a lot of remaining tread depth, but you need to replace just one that has been damaged by an accident, road hazard or a vandal, you should replace it with a tire that exactly matches the others. Select a replacement tire of the same brand, line, size and speed rating. While there may be a less expensive tire available, it wouldn’t be a bargain this time because it would be different than the other three tires on your vehicle. The same goes for changing two tires.

Speed rating: how often do you think you’re going to need a tire that’s speed rated for anything over 150 mph? Be honest and knock down your required speed rating to, say, and H-speed rated tire that’s still good for 130 mph. You’ll pay less and likely not notice the difference in the real world. Speed ratings signify the safe top speed of a tire under ideal conditions. For just about any street car, a V-rated tire will be more than adequate, unless the car will actually go faster than 150 mph. Usually, most ultra-high performance handling tires have a speed rating of at least V, so while you might want the ultimate handling of that type of tire, be aware that part of what you’re paying for (the speed rating) is something you’ll never use. For those who want tires that make a car really stick in the twisties, it ends up that many get the speed rating anyway, even though they don’t need it. That’s not a bad thing, but also be aware that tires with higher speed ratings are usually made from a softer rubber compound and generally will have shorter UTQG tread life ratings and, furthermore, will not actually last as long in the real world.

Q= 99 mph S= 112 mph T= 118 mph U= 124 mph H= 130 mph V= up to 149 mph Z= 149 mph and above W= 168 mph Y= 186 mph

Ride Quality: A low-profile tire such as a 50 or a 40-series looks great, but can be harsh over bumps or potholes when compared to a 55 or 60. In general, a lower profile tire also exposes the wheel to damage more easily. Lower profile tires also have stiffer sidewalls, which improve handling but increase rides harshness. It’s all about compromise and there’s no such thing as a free lunch.

Noise: Some tread designs are noisier than others and it varies significantly between tire brands and tread designs. If most of your driving is on lower-speed city streets, then this won’t be much of a factor. But for highway driving, you’ll want to consider your options, especially if you’re driving an SUV on pavement most of the time. A good salesperson will be able to tell you which tires are quieter among those you’re considering; even those of the same make that are in a different line can vary in road noise.