New Year, New Tires

Why Are There So Many Different Types of Tires?

 

Different types of tires permit you to choose a tire that better suits your driving style and the climate you live in. Once you know the type and size of tire recommended by your vehicle owner’s manual, you may want to modify the other characteristics slightly. 

For example, would you like a softer or stiffer ride? Is fuel economy a top priority? How about noise? Is a quiet ride paramount, or are you willing to endure a bit of noise in favor of increased performance? Selecting a tire is a trade-off between these and other factors, including cost, load capability, and wear.

To Buy or Not to Buy

One thing that will help you with your decision to buy new tires or not is a tiny device called a tire depth gauge. You can find these at nearly every automotive store or online.

This small device allows you to measure the depth of the tire tread on your vehicle. Most new tires will have somewhere between 8 to 98 millimeters of tread (10/32 to 11/32 of an inch).

When your tires have reached 2 millimeters or less (3/32) they lack grip and strength.

Tires can also wear out from age, even if the tread is fine. Salt air, environmental pollution, air pollution, chemicals, and especially sunlight can cause the rubber on the sidewalls to crack, dry out, and split.

Inspect your tires carefully. Use your tool to measure the tread depth. Inspect the tread on the inside of the tires as well as the outside, then inspect the sidewalls.

Tires that have 3 millimeters or less of tread life left are not safe winter tires. The same is true of the sidewalls. If you see splitting or cracking, or if you can see that the inside of the tire has worn out faster than the outside of the tire, you will need new tires before severe winter weather strikes.

About Snow Tires

Although there are no laws requiring you to buy snow tires, many people in the greater Chicago area do, and for good reason.

Snow tires are easily identified by the symbols “M&S” (mud and snow) markings on the tire itself. Some models use a small picture of a mountain with a snowflake inside of it.

Snow tires can get as much as 50 percent more traction than the average all-season tire. When you are driving in a blizzard or those deep snowdrifts begin to pile up on the road, you want all the traction you can get, right?

These types of tires can also make your car stop 42 percent quicker than regular tires.

We understand why many people forgo snow tires; they can be expensive. However, when stored properly, snow tires can last for many years. Switching tires twice a year can be a pain, but this also means that you can double the life of your tires since they are only used for part of the year.

By the way, if you have a 4WD or all-wheel drive vehicle, that does not mean that you cannot or do not need snow tires. All-wheel drive vehicles do give you a better grip on the road, but they cannot make up for bald or worn-out tires.

For those of you who want a lesson in tire buying, here are some of the finer details…

The Basics

Your tires play crucial roles as you drive, including:

• Supporting an automobile’s weight.
• Moving and stopping the vehicle.
• Providing a cushion from road bumps.

Tread Patterns

Tire tread patterns will vary to meet different driving conditions, such as driving in rain or snow or driving in all seasons and weather conditions.

The Sidewall

A tire’s sidewall and stiffness determine the type of “ride” it offers. For example, a shorter and stiffer sidewall enables superior cornering and sharper steering but leads to a stiffer ride. On the other hand, taller and softer sidewalls permit better bump absorption and make for a smoother ride.

Cracking The Tire Code

A tire’s sidewall contains alphanumeric codes that describe the tire dimensions and key characteristics. It’s important to understand these codes so you can choose replacement tires that meet the original specs for your car.

The size code begins with the letter “P” or with “LT” and will typically look like this: P215/65R15 95H.

The Breakdown:

• P or LT: Tire type. The “P” stands for passenger car, while “LT” is typically used on pickup trucks and SUVs. (Note: Many automakers will use “P” tires for SUVs.)
• 215: Tire width across the tread (measured in millimeters)
• 65: The sidewall’s aspect ratio vs. width. In this case, your tire’s sidewall height is 60 percent of the width.
• R: Radial construction. The overwhelming majority of tires on the road today are radials.
• 15: The size of the wheel or rim that the tire fits onto (measured in inches).
• 95: This is the Load Rating and indicates the maximum weight the tire can carry. The higher the number, the great the load the tire can handle. For example, a load rating of 95 means the tire can carry 1,521 pounds. Choose tires with a load index that’s at least as high as what your owner’s manual specifies.
• H: This is the Speed Rating and indicates the maximum sustainable speed. The max speed for this H-rated tire is 130 mph. Other ratings include: S – 112 mph; T – 118 mph; V – 149 mph, ZR – More than 149 mph.
• Traction & Temperature: You should also see “Traction A | Temperature A” or similar on the sidewall. These are the tire’s ability to stop on wet roads and temperature resistance. For traction, “C” is the worst rating a tire could have, and “AA” is the best rating. It’s similar for temperature: “A” is the best rating, and “C” is the worst.
• Maximum Pressure: This is the maximum amount of air pressure the tire can hold. Please DO NOT confuse this with the recommended psi for the tires on your vehicle. The recommended psi is typically well below the tire’s limit. For your tire specs, look on the door jamb, in your glove box, or in your owner’s manual.

Are you in the market for new tires? 

While many of you have a go-to brand or rely on the team at Hong Kong Auto Service to recommend the best tires for you, we know some of you also like to research your options. If you aren’t sure about your vehicle’s tires, now would be a great time to have them inspected at Hong Kong Auto Service. Our ASE-certified mechanics will be happy to inspect your vehicle and explain what, if any, repairs need to be made and why. 

You can trust the professionals at Hong Kong Auto Service. We live in your neighborhood, and we’ve been proudly helping our customers keep their cars safely on the road for nearly 25 years! Call us today for an appointment and show your ride some love by having its tires inspected today!