Tuesday 3 December 2024
LIFESTYLE

Why your choice of tyre is important for your car

There are lots of things that we have on our cars which are of importance. It’s them fitted all together that keep the whole vehicle moving, ticking along and getting us from A to B. So why should tyres stand out as something that you really need to keep your eye on? Well, apart from being the one thing that actually puts you in motion, they count for a lot more besides. Your choice of tyre could determine how much fuel you use, how able you are to get across different terrain and the comfort of your drive amongst other things.

Pick of the bunch

There are thousands of different tyres that are available for your car. You need to work out what the tyre size is before you are able to take your pick, which for some people is quite straightforward – others may need a helping hand. You have your section width/aspect ratio, rim diameter, load rating and speed rating, which will be put into a diagram such as 175/65 R14 T. If you don’t know what you need, just giving over the numbers to somebody who is experienced in tyre fitting will do the job – you don’t need to know the ins and outs of what the numbers mean. They will then be able to provide you a selection to choose from depending on your needs and budget.

Quality vs. quantity

Generally speaking, all tyres do the same job. They must all meet specific safety standards, so it’s not like you will be purchasing something that is going to be putting you in danger. However, doing the same basic job isn’t the same as being of the same quality. Premium tyres tend to last a lot longer than your budget tyres, and as such the cheaper tyres will need replacing a lot faster than those which have had a bit more money spent on them. Brands like Dunlop, Michelin and Goodyear are all experienced sellers of premium tyres, and you can expect to get 15,000-20,000 miles worth of usage out of them. For the average driver, that’s around two years before your tyres will need checking. There has been so much scientific research put into the better quality tyres which corresponds to your stopping distance, the noise levels from your vehicle as a whole and how much fuel you are using when driving on them. It may just be worth the investment.

Performance

Budget tyres last for an average of 8,000 miles compared to their more expensive counterparts, and although they are registered as safe as previously mentioned, they don’t offer the same benefits that you will be getting out of a premium tyre. If you are buying the same budget tyre three times over in the space that it takes the premium tyre to wear out, it may be worth asking yourself whether it may be worth spending the extra to get the better product; the savings elsewhere will become apparent when you do.

** This is a collaborative post

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