How to choose tires

Tires are considered one of the main elements of any car in terms of safety. If you choose them correctly, then the movement on any road will be comfortable and trouble-free. The correct choice of wheels makes it possible to reduce fuel consumption, as well as certain costs for vehicle maintenance. There are several basic rules on how to choose tires for a car, they are all presented in the article.

Types of tires for cars

In order to choose the right tires for a car, it is important to understand that they are all separated by season. Therefore, there are summer, winter and all-season. This is a standard classification, but they can also differ in profile, pattern.

Summer tires

This type is considered light in weight, but with more rigid components. The pattern is often done in such a way that, in rain or on wet road surfaces, the maximum amount of water is diverted from the point of contact of rubber with asphalt. In summer, the main danger is loss of control due to falling on a wet road. With the help of rubber, you can achieve better handling on hot asphalt, as well as on wet surfaces. In addition, there are options on sale that are made for driving on a dirt road or highway at high speed. It is recommended to use this type when the temperature rises more than 5-8 degrees. There are universal models that are characterized by the A / T marking. They provide better handling in muddy and clean asphalt conditions. The main disadvantage is noise while driving at high speed. Road models are the most common, they are marked with H / T and N / R marks. They are characterized by low noise level, excellent grip on the track, but when driving off-road, they will show poor results. Summer mud wheels are best suited for off-road use, they are marked with M / T markings. Driving on clean asphalt with minimal comfort as there is a lot of noise. pros:

• Low weight.
• Softness in warm conditions, which affects handling.
• Minimal noise.
• High degree of comfort for the summer.

Minuses:

• In conditions of use at temperatures less than +5 degrees, all characteristics and controllability are significantly reduced.
• In winter and in cold weather, the tires will be very hard.
• Poor adhesion to the track in the cold, which causes slipping, drifts.

Winter tires

For people who care about safety in the winter, special rubber should be used, even if there is a minimum amount of snow during the season. Winter tires are made not only for driving on snow and ice, their task is to provide stability and controllability in frosty conditions. It is not recommended to use such wheels in summer, because at +10 degrees the composition loses its basic properties and the cars begin to “float” on the road, the tires become too soft, wear accelerates, and the grip decreases. In addition, additional noise appears while driving. Winter tires can be without or with studs.In the second case, it is recommended to use the wheels in conditions of frequent icing of roads or heavy snow on the track. Models include small metal studs that are placed on the surface of the tire. They allow the wheels to penetrate ice and other surfaces for maximum traction. It is worth noting that they will be completely useless on regular asphalt. This accelerates wear, noise and fuel consumption. Models without studs are called frictional, they are considered universal. Understanding which winter tires to choose, you need to understand that it is better to choose a smaller grip surface than the grip surface. Narrow options allow better penetration into the snow, and wide tires give less pressure on the surface and cause slipping, slipping. The smaller the spot, the better the handling in winter. All winter models are divided into categories, including European, Arctic and Scandinavian studded models. European wheels are recommended to be used in mild climates, where in winter it is more often wet snow or rain, and frosts are not strong. Their design is well-made for water drainage. Arctic variants (Velcro) are great for harsh winters and severe frosts. They are characterized by the density of the pattern, softness, and also retain their qualities at the lowest temperature. Scandinavian versions are recommended for use on ice. Pros:

• Rubber retains its softness even in sub-zero temperatures.
• They work great on a snowy road or icy road.

Minuses:

• Excellent handling in dry weather can relax the driver and can be hazardous in case of precipitation.
• Noisy when driving.
• Increased tire weight, which affects fuel consumption and load on the chassis.

All season tires

Some drivers try to replace good winter tires or summer models with all-season wheels. It should be noted that these tires are not considered universal, they are made as a compromise for summer and winter. There are several features of this rubber. For example, in the heat of summer, all-season models will cope worse with the road surface than summer wheels, and in winter they are worse than winter ones. On the other hand, they are more efficient in winter than summer tires and vice versa. The use of such rubber is better carried out in summer and winter, exclusively in regions with a warm climate, where the ambient temperature does not drop by more than -5 degrees. In other conditions, all-season options can become dangerous for the driver and his passengers. It is recommended to buy and operate this option with a minimum load on transport and movement over short distances. The cost of the product is small, but the service life is small. Pros:

• Optimal tire weight.
• Can be used all year round without changing summer tires to winter tires and vice versa.
• Suitable for regions with mild winter climates.
• The cost of 4 tires is always lower than a couple of sets for winter and summer.

Minuses:

• All-season models will perform worse all year round than rubber designed for certain weather conditions.
• Wear is carried out faster all year round.
• In frosty and snowy conditions, the car's handling will be slightly better than when using summer wheels.

Top Car Tire Manufacturers

When deciding which summer tires to choose or a set of winter wheels, you should focus on many indicators, but purchasing a product by manufacturer would also be a great idea. To find the right tires, you can use models from the best brands that are popular all over the world. Among the best manufacturers of tires for vehicles are:

• Pirelli;
• Michelin;
• Dunlop;
• Goodyear;

Products of the described manufacturers will delight their user for more than one season. Of course, it is better to make a choice on more important characteristics than brand reputation.Seasonality and size will affect handling and safety. In addition, the firms described provide costly options that many drivers may not be able to afford. To choose good options at the best cost, you can focus on domestic brands that are also in demand:

• Cordiant;
• Matador;
• Nordman;

The companies described produce quality products with excellent characteristics. In addition, in stores you can find no less quality options, but from little-known manufacturers. Among them are Lassa, Superia. These are inexpensive imported brands that are on par with more popular companies. Experts advise avoiding the use of unknown brands, as well as models from Chinese companies, since savings can negatively affect safety. When operating tires, experts and manufacturers advise using some rules to preserve the properties and quality of tires:

• Operate the tires according to seasonality, taking into account the air pressure from the manufacturer, without using the advice of other drivers.
• Do not allow significant wear of rubber and pattern, and also do not use tires that are more than 5 years old.
• Use for the vehicle only those dimensions that are allowed for the vehicle.

Using the described recommendations and approach, even budget options can serve for years with maintaining manageability at the proper level. Any deviations can shorten the service life, as well as affect safety and control quality. The rules are very important, even when using the best rubber.

Cost of tires for cars

The cost of car tires depends on several factors:

• Fame and popularity of the manufacturer. If the tires will be used for driving in the city for short distances, and the car itself is inexpensive, then you can abandon the eminent companies so as not to overpay for the brand.
• Manufacturer country. Domestic tire options are always cheaper, but among them there are very high-quality models that are distinguished by safety, reliability and excellent control.
• Tire size. The larger the diameter and other dimensions, the higher the pricing policy. The cheapest products will be for small vehicles.
• Seasonality of sale. This parameter also affects the cost, for example, the cost of a winter kit increases before the season and vice versa, but imported models will depend not only on seasonality, but also on the ruble exchange rate.

Which tires are better to choose - basic parameters

It will be possible to decide which tires to choose if you know the markings, sizes and the rules for reading such values.

The size

The main characteristic when choosing a rubber is the selection of the correct size, which will be suitable for a particular vehicle. The main dimensions and their variations are indicated in the manual for the car or on the website of the automaker. All deviations from the standards can cause certain irregularities in the operation of the machine and affect safety. This is due to a number of reasons:

• A non-standard size can significantly load the chassis and vehicle shock absorbers.
• During turns and when the steering wheel is fully everted, there is a risk of the wheels touching the wings or other parts of the body.
• The dashboard indicators begin to show incorrect information, even with a minimal deviation in dimensions, the speed can be 5-10 km / h more or less.
• Mileage counter gives false information.
• It has a negative impact on the transmission.

The size of tires is always indicated by numbers (indices), which can be 195/65 / R15 types. In such indicators, the presence of the letter "R" indicates the radial type of tire, and the number after that indicates the diameter of the rubber and rim in inches. Size 15 wheels cannot be fitted with 14 or 16 tires or other diameters. A similar rule applies for other values.The very first number indicates the width, which is measured in millimeters. Wide tire options are often used for powerful vehicles, while small vehicles are used for the narrowest options. The larger the parameter, the stronger the contact patch with the surface, which affects acceleration and braking. For winter operation, it is preferable to use narrow options, since they will better hold the track. The second numerical indicator after the fraction indicates the height of the profile. This is the percentage applied to the width. To simplify the selection and analysis of parameters, you should visually evaluate the parameters:

• > 55% - considered a low profile rubber that is often used for light vehicles. It is characterized by excellent handling, but the stability will be weak on poor surface quality. Recommended for city driving with asphalt.
• 60-75% is the most common option for light vehicles. Such models are considered high profile, are characterized by high stability in off-road conditions, but this can affect handling.
• <80% - full-profile wheels, which are used for off-road vehicles. They are characterized by a large and pronounced tread, have a high level of cross-country ability, as well as excellent handling at low speeds. Not suitable for light vehicles. Best of all, they show themselves off-road, sand, clay.

In addition, there are variants on sale with the Run Flat designation. These wheels are used for pressure controlled transport. People call them "armored". When punctured by rubber, they make it possible to drive about 100-150 km more. When choosing and using tires, it is always necessary to follow the recommendations of the car and rubber manufacturers, taking into account the required parameters. This is important for handling and safety.

Features of marking

When buying tires in a specialized store, it is recommended to pay attention to the markings that indicate the purpose of the wheels:

• If the surface has an umbrella badge or the Rain / Aqua inscription, then the type of tires is rain, copes well with wet surfaces, but on dry roads it will be less effective.
• With a drawn snowflake or Frost inscription, you can be sure that winter wheels are in front of your eyes.
• The M + S (clay + snow) designation can be applied to winter or all-season models. These tires are recommended for off-road driving, but some people are mistaken in thinking that the model is suitable for winter.
• A four-digit number indicates when the tires were manufactured. For example, with a value of 2320, the wheels were produced on the 23rd week of 2020. The fresher the tire, the better. On average, the shelf life is up to 5 years, you need to count from the date of manufacture, and not the start of using the tire.

Tread pattern

Tire design is equally important as it helps to improve performance under certain conditions. The following models are distinguished:

• Symmetrical direction is a great choice for fast driving, wet trails.
• Symmetrical Omnidirectional Pattern - Affordable, great for urban use, but not good for fast winter driving.
• An asymmetric directional pattern is the most expensive type of tire that allows you to move quickly at high speed on a wet track. The main disadvantage is that careful installation is needed.
• The asymmetric non-directional pattern is a popular model for wet pavement and is characterized by a high degree of handling.

Speed ​​limit and tire weight

Regardless of the seasonality of tires, they may include special qualities that may indicate their narrow use. Among such values, speed limits are distinguished. With the help of a special designation, you can find out the maximum tire limit. Marking is carried out with letters from M to Y, which is equivalent to 130-300 km / h.Many good products have a W designation of 270 km / h. Expensive products with a high speed class provide excellent traction with an increase in speed performance. In any case, it is not recommended to drive at peak limits as this is the main cause of accidents. There are also tires, which indicate the possible load on 1 wheel. Such parameters are more often important for SUVs, commercial vehicles. Ordinary drivers who drive in the city may be oblivious to the meaning.

Tire Manufacturer Tricks

It has already been said about special tires made using a special technology that increases puncture resistance - Run Flat. Such models are made more for SUVs, often this kind of addition affects the cost, as well as a decrease in versatility. For example, off-road tires do not perform well in urban conditions, since they are very noisy, the degree of comfort decreases, the fuel consumption increases, and also the handling decreases. It is recommended to choose tires with special additions only when it is planned to use the vehicle in non-standard conditions, including high speed, off-road conditions. Also, do not strongly believe that certain tire models can reduce fuel consumption or that the rubber has increased resistance to wear. These factors exist, but they are insignificant. Some manufacturers do offer options that can reduce fuel consumption, but these are minimal fractions of a percent. If we consider this in numerical value, then the savings will be up to 200 grams of gasoline per 100 liters.

Expert advice

There are some useful tips from experts that you need to take into account before choosing and buying:

• It is always recommended to choose tires from several options and opt for those with the lowest weight. This will not only help to save a little fuel, but significantly affect the vehicle's suspension. The lower the mass, the better for the car, the wear of the main units of the chassis will not be so fast.
• The higher the tread height, the higher the level of noise while driving, this is especially noticeable on winter tires. There is a rule that a good and safe tire is always a little noisier than analogs, but manufacturers use modern compounds that provide optimal sound range and comfort.
• During operation, soft wheels are more comfortable, but they increase the stopping distance. It is recommended to use these tires for quiet driving, which gives a high degree of reliability.
• Asymmetric treads are considered safer in wet weather, but they are not as practical in daily use. This is due to the fact that in the event of damage it is difficult to find a replacement, and in case of punctures, the "spare tire" may not fit a certain side.
• For the winter version, it is recommended to choose only narrow dimensions, since they will have a positive effect on handling in snow and ice conditions.

Final conclusions

When choosing, it is important not to be led by the tire manufacturers and their gimmicks. It is worth following the basic rules for choosing rubber, including:

• The use of only those dimensions indicated by the automaker, they are prescribed in the instruction manual.
• The use of all-season tires is possible, but only if you live in regions with a mild climate. They are not universal, so it would be better to spend money, buy summer and winter models that will provide the desired level of comfort, safety and reliability.
• In recent years, the quality of domestic tires has improved significantly, so they are rarely inferior to imported analogues.

Any tires require proper use and care, careful handling. In this case, they will be able to serve the required time, walk 50,000 km.To do this, the driver needs to constantly monitor the pressure, balancing, go through regular camber / toe and monitor the chassis. In this case, the tires can serve for a long time, and the driving will be comfortable.