Getting Started with New Tyres: A Beginner's Guide

Buying car tyres: Basic guide for newbies

Whether your current tyres are worn out or you simply want to replace your present ones for a performance oriented tyre, it is critical to consider a few factors in order to get the best fit for your vehicle. Aside from the tyre's brand, which is a critical element when choosing a new tyre, you should consider the following:

The size matters

We recommend you to check the owner’s handbook as purchasing the wrong size tyres can negatively affect your vehicle handling and fuel efficiency. Another great way to check the size of your tyre is by looking at the numbers located on the side of the tyre sidewall. Tyre size is usually presented as a series of numbers such as ‎175/65R14 as seen in the image below.

Choosing the correct size for your tyres is crucial for their durability and on-road safety. When the wheel and tyre diameter aren’t correctly matched, there can be large differences in ride height and speedometer readings.

In instances where you want to change the size of your tyres it is important to do so in compliance with both legal requirements and regulations, and the recommendations of the vehicle, wheel and tyre manufacturers.

As previously stated, the size of a tyre is represented by a series of digits, as seen in the image above. The first three digits correspond to the width of the tyre, while the second two numbers are known as the profile, which indicates the height of the tyre and is read as a percentage.

For example, in the above example of 175/65R14, the width of the tyre is 175 millimeters and its height is 65% of 175 millimeters, or 113.75 millimeters. Furthermore, R is the radial of the tyre, and 14 is its diameter, which is measured in inches.

It is important to note that car tyres should be replaced before they reach the legal minimum tread depth of 1.5mm. In addition, tyres should be regularly inspected for damage including missing chunks, sidewall damage and cracks. Old and worn out tyres can be illegal and dangerous, especially in wet conditions, putting you and other road users at risk.

Once your tyres are 5 years old, they should be checked by a tyre professional once a year. Tyres that are 10 years old or older must be replaced, regardless of their visual condition.

Every tyre has its price

When you call Tyres R Us, we can quote you for the total cost of the tyres, fitting and balancing. We can also include the cost for safely and legally disposing of your old tyres. We also recommend having a wheel alignment service whenever new tyres are fitted. Generally, the typical cost for a wheel alignment varies between passenger cars, 4WDs and SUVs, as well as vehicle age. Some cars require more work than others to align.

A tyre is made up of many different materials and it’s how these materials are blended that gives a tyre its properties. Where a budget-oriented tyre might opt for less additives, a premium tyre might have extras added that help it perform better in wet conditions, or be less noisy while driving. Generally a cheaper tyre will be great in one area, but perform poorly in others, while a premium tyre will perform great in one area, without sacrificing performance in other scenarios.

Types of tyre tread

Tyre tread patterns vary depending on the tyre’s purpose, ride quality, and capabilities. In this sense, when purchasing new tyres you should consider the type of driving you do, the distance you typically travel, and the purpose of your vehicle. There are a variety of tread patterns available in the market. In this article, we explain three of them:

Asymmetrical tread pattern

This tread pattern includes two different types of tread design on the one tyre. One is located in the inner half of the tyre and the second one is located in the outer half of the tyre. These patterns are ideal for driving on dry surfaces and are very popular for use on ultra-high-performance cars. Their main advantages are as follows:

• Provide good traction in both wet and dry conditions.
• When cornering on dry surfaces this type of tyre offers good grip. This is especially because of their rigid tread blocks on the outer shoulders of the tread.
• Due to the inner side of the tread these tyres have an effective water dispersion to assist in protection against aquaplaning.
• Due to the different tread patterns on inner and outer shoulders it is crucial that asymmetrical tyres are correctly fitted.

Symmetrical tread pattern

This is the most common tread pattern which is specially designed for passenger vehicle tyres. Unlike the asymmetrical tread pattern, the symmetrical one is not designed for high-performance use. Among their main benefits you can find the following:

• They provide excellent road stability and are particularly quiet.
• They are great value for money when driving short distances.
• Because of their reduced rolling resistance, they can provide longer tyre life and better fuel efficiency.
• As both parts of the tread pattern are the same, symmetrical tyre treads may be fitted and rotated in any way.

Directional tread pattern

This type of tread is designed to roll forward in one direction only. Directional tyre tread frequently resembles an arrowhead and its feature of extra traction provides excellent handling in mud or snow conditions. The principal benefits of this tread pattern are:

• They offer high protection against aquaplaning due to their arrow-shaped appearance.
• They are reliable especially on mud, wet roads, and snow.
• Provides greater directional stability.
• It is critical to understand that directional tread pattern tyres are only intended to work in one direction and must be fitted correctly.

All three kinds of treads, whether it is Symmetrical, Asymmetrical or Directional, can be found on tyres designed for use on road, off road or a mix of both.

Your local tyre experts

Here at Tyres R Us, we are your local automotive tyre, mechanical and trailer experts servicing Sunshine and the surrounding region including Sunshine, Sunshine North, Avondale Heights, Keilor East, St Albans, Ardeer and Kealba.

You can find our workshop at 122 Munro Ave, Sunshine with lots of convenient access and easy parking. Phone us on 03 9362 1611 to book your vehicle to see us.

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