Below we will consider the following questions:
Summer!? Maybe all season?
Well, such is our nature in order to save on something, especially if the iron horse already requires enough funds for repairs, and you need to “shamanize” something, the money certainly will not be superfluous. The most interesting thing is when the owners of expensive cars think about "demi-season" tires, having spent hundreds of thousands on a car and save a few on rubber - a paradox!
From my personal experience, I’ll say that all-season tires are “under-rubber”, and you don’t need to buy it! Why? It's all about the rubber itself: raw materials and technologies for its production. Summer tires are designed to work at high temperatures, and in summer we have heat like in Africa, in addition to this, there is hot asphalt. How will all-season tires behave in such conditions? They will not provide proper traction and may begin to break down due to unsuitability for such conditions. That is why it is best to forget about the "all season".
Rubber parameters
Before you go shopping for new tires, look at the markings on your old tires so that they fit on yours and cars. First, we look at the radius of the disk, which is denoted by the letter "R" (R14, R16, etc.). Then we look at the width and height, it is indicated by 185/65 or 195/55, etc.
Sometimes drivers want to buy tires that are lower than the height recommended by the manufacturer. There are both advantages and disadvantages here. First, let's look at the advantages of low profile tires:
- Appearance. The main advantage of buying low profile tires is a more stylish look and a more comfortable ride on good roads. We want to draw your attention to the fact that a comfortable ride will only be on smooth roads.
- Controllability. Also, low-profile tires have better handling: the car “steers” better (becomes more maneuverable), it enters corners better.
- Braking. Vehicle braking on low-profile tires is more efficient, even on wet pavement.
- Increased consumption. Low profile tires increase fuel consumption and this must be taken into account, especially now, when gasoline is constantly becoming more expensive. With such tires will have more often.
- Problems with uneven coverage. As mentioned at the beginning, low-profile tires are suitable for the track, that is, for a completely flat road. As for our realities, for the most part we drive a car in a city where the roads are not very smooth, and in fact, many of our routes are also far from German autobahns. The roughness of the road will immediately be felt in the cabin, there will be no driving comfort, on a rough road the car will shake significantly.
- Pit problems. Regardless of the height of the tire profile, a pit is a very negative phenomenon, but there is one big nuance. The higher the profile of the rubber, the more impact it takes on the pit. In other words, if you fly into a decent hole on low-profile tires, then there is a high probability of disk deformation, and the blow will go to the suspension, when the standard profile rubber will take the hit to a greater extent (saving the disk and suspension).
- The car goes down. The lower the tire profile, the lower the car sinks. Maybe it will seem beautiful to someone, but from a practical point of view, there is nothing positive in this, since a stone on the road, mounds or a curb will become an unpleasant surprise.
Types of summer tires
Knowing the parameters of the tires that you need, you will need to decide on the type of tread. Summer tires have three types of tread, below we list them and briefly describe:
- Directed. This type of tire tread has a directional pattern, which in turn contributes to the removal of water from under the wheel in different directions. These tires are designed for driving on wet pavement, providing high-quality traction. As for the dry road, then tires with a directional tread lose a little.
- Symmetric. The symmetrical tread pattern is considered classic; such tire models belong to the budget segment and are used by most motorists. They, at low speeds, more or less drain water well and confidently keep on the highway and in the city. More focused on dry asphalt.
- asymmetric. The most optimal type of tire tread pattern. Thanks to its “difference”, such a tread removes water (is resistant to hydroplaning) and keeps perfectly on dry pavement. In addition, it perfectly enters into turns and is more silent than similar types.
As you probably know, most motorists do not use tube tires. All new cars are equipped exclusively with tubeless tires.
Manufacturer
Another nuance of choosing summer tires is its manufacturer. The most popular and high-quality tires are produced by such brands as:
- Michelin
- Nokian
- good year
Place of purchase
It is best to buy tires in specialized stores, since today there is a very high probability of getting a fake. Most of all, of course, tires of well-known brands are faked, but budget brands also do not go unnoticed by the "underground". In a word, if the point of sale of tires is not very reliable, for example, in the market or in some kind of basement, then the likelihood of buying a fake increases significantly. In addition, you should be alerted by the relatively low price.
We recommend that you make a purchase at large tire sales points that specialize specifically in rims and tires. Very often, many motorists buy tires through online stores - this is very convenient, but such a store must be well-known and have a good reputation.
date of manufacture
Pay attention to the date of manufacture of the tires, it should be printed on the rim. Over time, tires lose their quality, even those that are in the warehouse and are not in use. Therefore, we recommend buying tires no older than one year, the best option is half-year tires.
Checking the quality
Before paying for tires, check their quality: they should not have any dents or defects. If there are any, ask the seller to replace the tire. If the seller says that this is normal, supposedly the tires are new and were stored in a warehouse, then remember that improper storage also affects their quality. A dent is very difficult to level, almost impossible, and this, in turn, can affect the sealing of the wheel and the evenness of the ride. Roll the tire, look at it, making sure that it is even.
In conclusion, we want to note that it is necessary to change tires from winter to summer tires when warm weather has set in outside the window (the average daily temperature has been around the +10 ° C mark for several days). Also check the weather forecast, as spring days can suddenly give way to overnight snowfall.
When beading new rubber with a directional tread, be sure to focus on the direction of the arrow, otherwise the tread will not drain water, and it will also wear out quickly. Asymmetric tires also have some nuances in mounting, every professional tire fitter knows about them.
We wish you good luck in choosing tires and a happy journey!
