Your engine may be brimming with raw horsepower, but it’s ultimately the right set of tires that get that power down to the ground. Tires are the unsung performance heroes in any car upgrade. They support the weight of the car, enable it to accelerate, brake and keep the vehicle stable in turns. And they’re directly involved in ride quality and comfort, working with the suspension to smooth out road imperfections.
Changing tires that came with the car for different tread patterns and profiles, or tires suited to different seasons will also bring noticeable difference. Of course, those that have seen more miles, and are dangerously thin need to be replaced to ensure safety. But with all the available auto tire types, sizes and design differences, what do you choose as a worthy replacement for worn rubber?
Tire Basics
There are three basic types of auto tires – summer, winter and all-season. They consist of different tread types, are composed of different materials and design characteristics making them better as the weather and temperatures change. While the US states don’t mandate the use of winter tires as temperatures drop, Canadian provinces and territories do. With that said, let’s see what those difference mean.
Summer Tires
These are recognizable by the shallower grooves and treads aimed at more control and higher traction. Summer variants also have harder compounds leading to less wear, and reduced rolling resistance. This aids acceleration and braking, meaning a faster and safer car in warmer weather. Additional benefits are the direct steering feel, better cornering stability and improved performance in the rain.
Winter Tires
In colder weather and roads covered in snow or sleet, winter variants have deeper treads and more pronounced edges to flush out excess slush. The aim again is to improve grip. To do this they’re made of softer compounds, so driving with winter tires in moderate or high temperatures (above 50F) will also lead to faster wear. They’re also less responsive to driver input on dry roads, with longer braking distances and more work needed in turns.
All Season Types
These are probably what came with the car when new. They have more pronounced tread patterns than summer tires (but not as much as winter types), with somewhat deeper tread blocks to bite into the road, and a mix of moderate compounds slotting in overall wear and performance between winter and summer variants. As such, they provide good grip in areas with some snow or lower winter temperatures, but can’t match summer types for sheer performance, lifespan or comfort in warmer weather.
Choosing What’s Right
Where and how you drive, the vehicle and wheels you have, expected performance and longevity and your overall budget are all factors to consider when buying a new set of tires. Rubber on a small hatchback will be vastly different from a fully-fledged off-roader, or what you’ll see fitted to an SUV. Besides weather, also consider what you’re car is capable of. Performance tires will get more grip down, provide better handling and a livelier car, even before considering any engine or performance upgrades. Of course, sizes, widths and profiles make a difference, and the alloys they’re mounted on. But spending a few dollars more than what’s already on the car will bring vast improvements.
Demystifying Numbers
The sidewalls have all the info you need to get automotive tires that meet your needs and fit the car seamlessly. Tire codes have a series of numbers and letters. ISO or metric codes are the most widespread and include:
- Usage or vehicle type – P-passenger cars, LT-light trucks, ST-special trailers, T – temporary/space saver, C-commercial vehicles, M- motorcycles)
- Overall width (in millimeters)
- Aspect ratio or height, again in millimeters
- Construction type – R-radial, B- bias, D- diagonal
- Wheel diameter in inches
A P 225 65 R17 tires then is recommended for passenger cars, has a width of 225 millimeters, is 65mm high, in a radial construction (with cord plies set at 90 degrees to the direction of travel, or radially) and fits 17 inch wheels.
Additional info will inform of the seasonal type, with snowflake icons referring to a winter tire, the sun for summer variants or rain drops/ a three peaks and snowflake sign for all-season types. The latter can also have “M+S” or mud and snow markings. Other number and letter combinations refer to speed and loading ratings. Load or weight ratings on auto tires are expressed in numbers between 0 and 150, and speed ratings in letters from A to Z. These are often together, meaning a 94W tire will have a load rating of 1447 pounds and can safely sustain a speed of 168mph.
Besides the manufacturer names, tires will also include the production week and year (US laws forbid new tires older than 10 years) and/or info relating to DOT codes, such as plant number where the tire was made, or UTQG codes relating to tested metrics such as tread, temperature resistance and overall traction. Buy tires from reputed brands, within your budget and shop online for fast deliveries.