All motorists sooner or later are forced to solve the problem of how to choose summer tires. It is not so difficult to do this correctly - it is enough to know the basic criteria for finding suitable tires and, preferably, several names of manufacturers that produce high-quality, already proven products.
Why it is necessary to change tires and choose summer tires
The importance of proper tire selection cannot be overestimated. First of all, the controllability of the car at various speeds and the safety of the driver and passengers depend on this. The better the rubber and the more suitable for specific conditions, the better the car's stability and grip on the road surface. Moreover, tires also affect fuel consumption, the degree of congestion, and, therefore, the wear of the running gear when driving on a bad road, which determines the comfort inside the cabin - how noisy and “shakes” it is.
The operating conditions of tires in winter and summer, especially on domestic roads, are very different. This is due to the difference in both temperatures and the road conditions themselves. The use of tires in a season for which they are not intended is very risky and unsafe, because it can lead to various unpleasant and sometimes tragic consequences.
Winter and are made from different grades of rubber. For the first, softer material is used. Winter tires made from it retain their properties in cold weather and continue to provide grip on the road surface, while summer, more rigid tires, “tan” - become even tougher. Because of this, the car becomes poorly controlled. In the summer heat, the opposite happens. Winter tires, becoming too soft, lose their performance and therefore do not provide the necessary traction parameters. In addition, due to softening, it wears out much faster. Summer tires, on the other hand, remain stiff enough to provide reliable grip, also on wet roads.
Also the tread pattern. It is created on the surface of tires based on the characteristics of the corresponding season, so that it contributes to the maximum possible adhesion of the wheels of a car to the surface of tracks and highways under the most adverse weather and road conditions.
A few words about all-season tires
Tire manufacturers produce another type of their product - all-season tires. They, in theory, are suitable for any time of the year and do not need to be changed. But, firstly, as practice has shown, compared to specialized all-weather tires, they still cope with tasks worse. In terms of their performance, they are inferior to winter tires in winter, and in summer to summer tires.
Secondly, when purchasing an “all-weather season”, you should pay attention to the following - is it made for countries with a mild or hot climate, where air temperatures in summer and winter differ much less than in temperate and sharply continental areas. Such tires are not very suitable for domestic operating conditions.
How to choose the right summer tires
When choosing tires for the summer, one should take into account the climatic and natural conditions and the characteristics of the region, the places where they will be used. The tread pattern should be given the most attention. It is he who is responsible for the grip of the wheels of the car with the road. The best grip is provided by tires with an asymmetric pattern. The depth of the drawing is also important. The more it is, the better - on a wet road, the car will be “obedient” and more manageable.
For places with a rainy climate, where there is also an unimportant road surface, tires with a good tread system that have a good drainage system are best suited - special grooves that quickly push and remove water from under the wheels when the car is moving. Such tires will help to avoid the effect of aquaplaning (uncontrolled and uncontrolled movement on sections of the road flooded with water, when the car seems to be floating along the track), especially at high speeds. If we purposefully choose exactly “anti-water” rubber, then we need to look for products with the appropriate marking - Aqua or Rain.
For dry road surfaces - asphalt, asphalt concrete - it is better to choose tires with a V-shaped tread. Regardless of the pattern, the main thing is that the tires are summer tires. They have all types of treads suitable for use in the summer, it will only be necessary to take into account its pattern when choosing a driving style and speed limit.
The technical documentation for the car indicates 1 or more options for the recommended tire sizes. In the second case, you should be guided by the rule: it is better to install wider tires in summer, and narrow tires in winter. The wide ones provide higher stability and maneuverability at high speeds, while the narrow ones provide more pressure per unit area, which improves traction.
If you do not follow this rule, the safety of the vehicle is reduced and sometimes very significantly. In addition, when using tires with a circumference that differs from the standard, the speedometer will begin to “lie” - give distorted readings of speed and mileage, it is also possible to increase fuel consumption, load on the transmission and chassis components of the car.
Additional selection criteria for summer tires
Tires also differ in load indexes and maximum speed. They are indicated on the tires together in the form of designations similar to the following: "70R". We make the selection of suitable summer tires using these tables:
The tire shown in the example is designed for a load of 335 kg, as indicated by the index "70", and, in accordance with the letter "R", for a maximum speed of 170 km / h. You should not buy expensive tires with an index corresponding to high speeds if the car is not capable of developing them or there are no suitable roads for this.
An important characteristic of tires is the ability to balance them. As you know, unbalanced tires cause beating and most often at high speeds, and also wear out faster. If the tire cannot be balanced on rims that do not have any defects, or a large number of weights are required for balancing, it should be considered defective and returned to the seller.
When choosing tires for the summer, it will be useful to take into account their ability to save fuel. On tires that allow you to get this effect, there should be inscriptions fuel saving, Economy or similar. Such tires will make it possible to save up to 5% of fuel.
For the summer, you can buy both new and used tires, especially if financial opportunities are limited. It is better to buy good tires with low wear than "zero", but of poor quality. Of course, the life of used tires is likely to be shorter than new ones, but choosing them will still allow you to save a lot.
When choosing, do not forget that tires of different types and even with a different tread pattern cannot be installed on 1 axle. It is desirable and most correct that the same tires are installed on all 4 wheels, and if used, then also with an equal degree of wear.
Choosing tires for summer 2015
This season, the leading place belongs to summer tires. Michelin Primacy. They provide excellent road traction and are characterized by excellent braking performance not only on dry but also on wet surfaces. Such indicators are achieved thanks to the elastic polymers in the rubber composition of the tires and the unique asymmetric tread pattern. Also, these tires have, compared to the previous generation, Michelin 11% higher wear resistance.
Tires will be relevant for sedan and hatchback cars in 2015 BfGoodrich G grip. Their distinguishing feature is the directional tread pattern. It provides reliable grip and handling on wet roads.
Tires Chrono2 companies Pirelli this season have become a pleasant novelty for owners of minivans, minibuses and light trucks. They are made on the basis of fundamentally new unique engineering solutions and compete with similar products from other manufacturers.
For those who like to drive fast, in 2015 new tires are considered the ideal option. road runner ps1. Their high-quality rubber and directional tread pattern provide reliable traction on all types of surfaces and a safe, comfortable ride, no matter the weather.
