When thinking about car safety, we usually think about the people inside the car taking the precautions. But making sure your car is safe to drive extends to the car itself too. In fact, making sure your car is in tip top shape should be something you do before travelling – especially if it’s a long journey.
Tires are four of the most important things to check on your car. In fact, if one of your tires fails, it could be disastrous for the rest of your vehicle. This makes finding the right tires, like these ones from TireAgent, imperative – but it can be an arduous and expensive task.
Why choosing the right tires is important
Tires are the four things that keep you in contact with the road and are vital part of your driving experience. There are a range of reasons why you need to make sure you’re choosing the right tires for you:
- Support – tires support, not only the weight of the car, but the people and any goods that are inside of it. This means that making sure your tires have enough air in them is vitally The air in your tires acts as a spring to absorb any road shocks you encounter on your journey which is attributed to your comfort and support.
- Braking – braking is done by stopping the wheels, not the car as a whole. This makes choosing the right tires vital for braking safety as your braking distance increases with subpar tires. Braking distance is the distance it takes for your brakes to take effect so you want that to be as short as possible.
- Steering – tires are the only things on your car that actually come into contact with the ground. And the surface area of your tire that is in contact with the ground is about the size of the palm of your hand. This isn’t a lot to work with so making sure your tires are in the best condition is paramount.
- Gas consumption & emissions – tires are responsible for (on average) a huge 20% of your gas consumption. This is because of something called rolling resistance – the effort required to keep your vehicle moving. Therefore, the less effort your car needs to put into moving forward, the less energy it will use up. So, if you’re looking to cut back on your gas costs, the best place to start is with your tires.
Choosing the right tyres for you
There is no one size fits all when it comes to choosing the right tires for your car. Let’s take a look at some of the things to keep in mind when choosing your tires.
- Tread depth – it’s illegal to drive on tires with a tread depth of below 1.6mm as it’s dangerous for you and other drivers. But don’t wait until the last minute to change your tires! The performance of your car will drop dramatically the less tread depth you have so it’s better to be safe than sorry.
- Tire size – you need to make sure the tires you’re buying will actually fit your car! You need to know the measurements of: the overall width of the tires, the wall thickness, whether they’re type R or type P, the rim diameter, the load rating index and the speed rating index. But don’t worry if you can’t find your tape measure – you should be able to find all of this information on your tire’s sidewall. If you can’t locate the information there, it should be easy to find in your cars handbook.
- Wet weather/snow tires – if you drive a lot in wet weather or snow, it could be beneficial to consider using winter or wet weather tires. They are a lot more durable and will be able to withstand tough conditions.
There are a lot of variables to consider when purchasing tires. From practical matters such as the actual size of your tires to more personal preferences such as tire noise control, finding the right tires for you will make a huge difference to your journey. It’s also important to be aware of potential tire issues like a broken tire belt, which can cause uneven wear and affect your vehicle’s performance. Therefore, staying informed about common tire problems and regularly checking for any signs of a broken tire belt is crucial for maintaining a smooth and safe ride.
Types of Tires
When choosing, you need to be able to decide which type does suit you the best. There are plenty of options to pick from, and we’re going to suggest that the chances are you’re going to either want or need. The first type is regular tires, which can be dubbed mainstream. Here, we’re talking about tires that are suited for everyone’s pocket. If you’re driving a Honda Accord this would be your choice. Don’t get us wrong, we’re not bashing them. These tires are of good quality, durable and available in many sizes. But, their first trait is affordability. If you want something better you need to pay more, or deal with a little bit more noise, and lower quality.
The next type in line is the eco tires. If you’re economical, you’ll shoot at these. They are made in such a manner that the traction between the tire and road is lowered thus resulting in better fuel economy. If you’re already overly economic, and already possess an electric car, you’ll be glad that people are already working on making these tires even better in this department. They come with many benefits such as fuel economy, good traction, and excellent silent properties, but can get expensive depending on the manufacturer of your choice. They’re better than mainstream tires but also more expensive.
If you’re not into either of the two groups listed above there might be plenty of reasons. There are also plenty of other options. For example, if you’re an SUV owner this paragraph is for you. There’s a section of tires made especially for your terrain vehicle. The reasons for this are simple. They’re bigger, heavier, and with a different purpose than regular cars. It’s no wonder you’ll need different tires. But, don’t worry, you still can get them at a good price despite being bigger. It all depends on the type of vehicle you have. Even the cheaper version doesn’t guarantee too much noise or lousier performance. They’re built for larger vehicles, to last longer due to the weight they take on, and some off-road activities, and also to provide adequate silence and comfort. On the downside, they can be quite expensive, especially compared to the standard version. Also, due to their size, they tend to have a limited range. There isn’t an abundance of choices.
If nothing from above suits what you desire, maybe we can introduce you to comfort tires? Most luxury cars come with this type, but you can put them on your Toyota Yaris too. These are quite amazing on any car. Comfort, silence, lifespan, and range of types can’t be compared to anything from above. It’s much better. But, of course, you have to face the hefty price tag. This is a small price to pay for comfort, many would claim so.
If none of the above fits what you need, it must be that you, my friend love to drive fast and be safe. Performance tires are your choice, right? They are. This is what you need if a better grip and a nicer level of steering are what you need. But performance costs, so despite the immense quality, this is the most expensive type. Anyway, you have plenty of options to choose from, so the choice is up to you. Suit your passion and your wallet.
