When buying tyres for your vehicle, you’ll find several types like summer tyres, winter tyres and all season tyres to consider. Here, we’ll give you an overview of the different tyre types. Before you make a purchase, you may also want to consult your dealer to decide which type of tyre suits your needs best.
All-Season Tyres
Many people like all-season tyres because they offer enough traction for normal driving conditions. All-season tyres come in a wide range of sizes. You can use this type of tyre regardless of whether or if you have an SUV or an economy-sized car. In most cases, all-season tyres are also very affordable. These factors make them a popular option for the typical driver who only plans to encounter paved surfaces. That being said, they’re not necessarily designed to combat stronger winter conditions. If you live in a wintery climate, you’ll definitely want to check out winter tyres.
Performance Tyres
Performance tyres are designed to give drivers more control over their vehicles. More control equals increased safety. Performance tyres allow cars to hug curves tighter and brake at shorter distances than all-season tyres. Performance tyres often have lower profiles and wider footprints, which gives them greater contact with the road. Most of them are made of rubber that’s been formulated to stick to the road. The increased performance, however, often comes with a higher price tag. Want a high level of safety? Performance tyres often beat all-season tyres.
Spare Tyres
Most spare tyres were designed to fit into small spaces, such as in a cars trunk. This makes them easily accessible when you have a flat tyre or blowout. Remember that most spares aren’t intended for daily use. They make suitable replacements for regular tyres in emergency situations, but they do not tolerate long distances or high speeds well. For this reason, drivers should always keep a spare handy for emergencies, but they should not rely on them any longer than it takes to find a replacement.
Off-Road Tyres
Off-road tyres are made for muddy, wet, or rocky surfaces. As the name implies, they’re meant for jeeps, trucks, and other vehicles that are commonly taken off the road to explore unpaved areas. Off-road tyres typically have thicker rubber than those designed for paved surfaces. This helps prevent flats on rugged terrain. Thicker rubber also makes it possible for manufacturers to create deeper grooves in the tyre. This allows them to grip rocky surfaces that would cause other tyres to slip.
Mud and Snow Tyres
Mud and snow tyres, indicated by a M+S imprint, offer optimal performance in slippery conditions. Mud and snow tyres have two advantages that make it easier for drivers to maintain control in slippery conditions. One, they’re made of rubber that remains flexible in the cold, and two, mud and snow tyres have deeper grooves. This combination allows them to grip icy and snowy roads, keeping you safer in winter weather.
White Wall Tyres
White wall tyres are easily recognizable thanks to their white rings. In some cases, the tyres are white because they’re made of natural rubber, which is white. Since natural rubber does not grip pavement or black top well, the treads are coated in carbon, which is black. This gives white wall tyres their unique appearance. When automobiles were first becoming popular, white wall tyres were the norm. Today, however, they are not as common because they’ve been replaced by more advanced rubbers that offer better control on a wider range of road conditions.
The ideal tyre for your vehicle depends on where and when you plan on driving as well as what appearance you would like. By learning more about the various types of tyres that you might encounter while shopping, you help improve the chances that you’ll choose an option that suits you. If you have questions regarding which type of tyre is best for your car or your driving situation, consult your dealer for expert advice and service.
