SELECTING TYRES

SELECTING THE BEST TYRES FOR YOUR VEHICLE

Choosing a tyre can be difficult. Tyres look similar and until you get them on the car, you don’t know how they are going to perform out on the road. Watch this wet braking test to see the difference between a set of premium tyres and a set of cheaper budget tyres that look similar but perform very differently on the road. Talk to Sam or Michael Clarke at Camberwell Tyrepower for free advice.

READING YOUR TYRE LABEL

Car tyres use a string of digits to represent their technical specifications and capabilities. These are clearly marked on the side walls and provide important data of the size, type of construction, load carrying capacity and speed rating. If you have any doubts, please call Sam or Michael Clarke at Tyrepower Camberwell on (03) 9819 1500.

Tyres sold in Australia typically carry markings in the form shown in the example above:

185/75R14 82S

185 denotes nominal section width of the tyre in mm

75 denotes aspect ratio, i.e. the ratio of section height and nominal section expressed as percentage

R denotes construction type, i.e. R means it is a radial tyre

82 denotes load rating – see below for the corresponding maximum load carrying capacity of one tyre in kg

S denotes the maximum speed rating of the tyre – see below for details

Load Index table – Maximum load per tyre

Speed Rating Table – Maximum rated speed

The budget tyre took an average of 14 metres or 3 and 1/2 car lengths extra to stop. When the premium tyre had come to a stop, the car on budget tyres was still travelling at 45 kph.

DRY CONDITIONS

• Driving stability
• Handling
• Braking

WET CONDITIONS

• Braking
• Aquaplaning – longitude
• Aquaplaning – latitude
• Handling
• Cornering grip

NOISE

• Noise inside
• Noise outside
• Rolling resistance
• Wear
• High speed

Automotive manufacturers require the very highest standard across all these performance
factors before they approve tyres for their new vehicles.

Furthermore, widely published tyre tests also take these performance factors into account
and therefore continue to be an excellent source of independent information regarding the total performance of a tyre.

Appearance

While tyres have traditionally been engineered for performance, modern tyres know how to strut their stuff in style. Unique tread designs that are both functional and flashy can add that extra edge to your vehicle and really make it stand out from the crowd. With everything from space-age directional treads to the sleek edges of an ultra-high-performance model, now you can have amazing tyres that look and feel good.

Braking

The ability to stop quickly is an important safety aspect of any vehicle’s performance. How fast your car responds when you press on the brake is in large part related to the tyres you choose. Like handling, tyres that have excellent braking feature solid traction and high-grip treads. Consider the kinds of conditions that you normally drive in when determining which tyre will give you the best braking capabilities since rain, snow and ice all require different characteristics.

• Tyres react differently in various types of conditions, so consider if you need to improve braking on dry, wet, or snowy roads before making your selection.
• The UTQGS traction rating measures how easily a tyre comes to a complete stop on wet pavement.

Handling

Handling is a term used to describe how your vehicle performs when taking sharp corners and performing sudden maneuvers. Tyres that are designed to improve how your car handles feature improved traction with treads that are designed to provide a more solid grip on the road. They are often made from softer rubber compounds and are a common characteristic of all types of performance tyres. Tyres with good handling are also more responsive to acceleration and braking.

• Tyres designed to improve vehicle handling feature treads with above average traction.
• Handling not only gives you better control, it allows you to more actively avoid roadway hazards.

Noise

If you want to enjoy your car ride in peace and quiet, look for tyres designed to eliminate undesirable road noise. The quietest tyres are generally constructed of soft rubbers and are typically designed for seasonal use on dry roads. Tyres with more rigid tread compounds, such as all-terrain or off-road tyres, tend to be noisier. Some wheels are equipped with sound cancellation technologies that help cancel out some of the noise generated by louder tyres.

• Various types of touring tyres deliver smooth, fluid motion with an emphasis on a quieter ride.
• Softer tread compounds eliminate road noise, but also usually wear down more quickly.

Wet Road Conditions

Hydroplaning is what happens when a thin layer of water is allowed to form between your tyres and the road. This loss of contact can send your car into an uncontrolled slide where it is impossible to stop the car or control its direction. While the tread on most all-weather tyres is designed to provide some protection on wet roads, if you live in a particularly rainy area you may want to consider purchasing tyres that are engineered to move water up and away from your wheels, reducing the chances of a hydroplaning accident. Many unidirectional tyres are designed to better channel water away from your tyres