How to choose summer tires for a passenger car - tire characteristics, what you need to pay attention to when buying rubber
Content
To choose the right summer tires for your car, you should consider its parameters. It is advisable to adhere to the recommended values from the manufacturer. If not observed, the fuel consumption, noise level and directional stability of the vehicle may change for the worse.
At the end of the winter season, the tires on the car must be changed. Therefore, it is important to know how to choose summer tires. It is recommended to rely in this matter on the characteristics of the product and driving style, and not on its cost.
Types of summer tires
If the driver is careful about the selection of winter tires, then for warm weather they often buy cheaper products or continue to drive on the former rubber. This can affect the maneuverability and grip of the wheel with the road. Winter models still wear out 2 times faster from the heat. Therefore, if you need to choose summer tires for a passenger car, it is important to know their varieties.
Highways
Standard for driving on most roads. Tires have specific longitudinal sipes that quickly remove moisture from the grooves. The road tires are quiet and provide acoustic comfort for long trips in the summer.
All-season
If you want to choose tires for a car for summer and winter, then universal ones will do. They have mediocre performance and are intended only for temperate climates without severe frost or heat. They are not suitable for driving on ice and loose snow.
Types of tires for a car
All-season tires retain elasticity and grip at temperatures down to -7 °C. If the minus is higher, then the tire becomes dub and loses its grip.
Sports
This type of product is popular among motorists with an aggressive driving style. Rubber is made from a special rubber compound. Hard materials are used in the construction of the wheel cord. The tread pattern is simple without clutter:
- shallow longitudinal grooves;
- rigid central rib;
- a small network of transverse lamellas.
Thanks to this design, good stability and controllability during high-speed driving are ensured.
Sports tires
But there are also disadvantages. Due to the rigidity of the tread, comfortable rides are only possible on smooth asphalt. On the roadway, even with small potholes, the wheel absorbs shocks worse, does not keep contact with the surface well.
Features
To choose the right summer tires for your car, you should consider its parameters. It is advisable to adhere to the recommended values from the manufacturer.
Summer tire specifications
If not observed, the fuel consumption, noise level and directional stability of the vehicle may change for the worse.
Tread
Cross-country patency, cornering stability, dynamics, drainage and grip on a wet track depend on its pattern.
Symmetrical non-directional
Standard tire pattern for cars of the budget and mid-price segment. A distinctive characteristic of the tread is the soft side. This design provides:
- low level of generated noise;
- smooth running on the rough surface of the canvas;
- convenience in driving a car;
- hydroplaning resistance;
- good wear resistance.
The protector is not suitable for recklessness, although often the product is marked with a high speed index. Tires can be installed on the disc in either direction.
Asymmetric omnidirectional
Such a tread is often found on sports cars due to the grip properties with the road under heavy loads. The main feature is that the outer and inner sides differ in pattern and running parameters.
Classification by tread pattern
Thanks to the asymmetric pattern, it achieves:
- excellent drainage of moisture from the drainage grooves and stability on a wet track;
- stability of the machine when cornering and maneuvering.
The installation of the product on the disk occurs strictly according to the marking on the sidewall of the wheel.
Symmetrical directional
This option is optimal for use in rain and high-speed traffic on a dry track. Due to the specific pattern and wide hydroevacuation grooves, it is ensured:
- rapid removal of moisture;
- stability on wet roads;
- resistance to hydroplaning;
- quick response to steering.
Asymmetric directional
Tires with this pattern are rarer on the market. They belong to the segment of expensive and high-quality rubber.
The main advantages:
- reliable grip of the wheel with wet and dry asphalt;
- predictable maneuverability.
For installation on the axle, it will be necessary to observe the right and left sides of the wheel, indicating the direction of rotation.
Profile
This is the ratio of the height of the side of the tire to its width. According to experienced drivers, a wide profile is for racers, and a narrow one is for lovers of a quiet ride.
Car tire profile
But there is no definite answer to this question, since it all depends on driving style and preferences.
Wide
Due to the large contact area, these tires have shorter braking distances, high wear resistance and a rare number of slips. These tires have a high coefficient of rolling resistance, which means that such wheels increase fuel consumption.
Narrow
The main advantage of this profile is the rapid removal of moisture from the lamellas and resistance to aquaplaning. Not suitable for high speed driving. Usually a narrow tread is 2-3 times cheaper than its wide counterpart.
Hardness
To choose the right summer tires, you need to consider the softness of their composition. The higher the rigidity, the longer the service life, the stronger the resistance to stress, heat and mechanical damage. These tires hold the road well. Therefore, they are put by drivers who love to drive.
Rigidity of car tires
The main disadvantage of hard rubber is poor cushioning. Blows from pits and bumps on the road will be felt by the driver and passengers. In addition, the generated noise from the wheel arches will drown out the music and the interlocutor in the cabin.
Standard size
It is necessary to choose the appropriate wheel parameters according to the manufacturer's recommendations. This information is in the technical description of the car, on the driver's door pillar and on the inside of the gas tank flap.
Marking 225 / 55R17 means that the tire has a width of 225 mm, a profile height of 55%, and a landing diameter of 17 inches. If there is a letter R, then the design is radial, if not, it is diagonal.
Wheel parameters
Failure to comply with the dimensions may adversely affect the controllability of the machine and the durability of the parts. For example, an increased disc diameter will lead to accelerated wear of the arches and wheels.
Rubber with a profile below the norm will increase the load on the suspension, and if it is higher, the car's handling will be worse, especially when cornering. If the width is exceeded, the wheel will receive the property of rutting - independent steering on rough roads. If the radius is lower than it should be, then fuel consumption will increase.
Speed and load index
Taking into account these 2 indicators, automakers take into account the width, stiffness, cord strength, sidewall and seating area per rim in the tire.
The speed index indicates the allowable maximum acceleration for the safe movement of the machine with a full load. It is designated by letters from M (130 km/h) to Y (300 km/h).
Speed and load index
Such models are expensive. To save money, drivers try to install tires with low indexes, but as a result, their wear only increases.
The load index is the allowable weight per wheel. The parameter is marked with numbers from 1-50 (129-190 kg).
Noisiness
This indicator is only responsible for the level of comfort and depends on the pattern and height of the tire. The lower the tread, the quieter the sound and vibration.
Road grip
For stability on dry roads, you need to choose tires for the car for the summer with a particularly durable composition and profile structure. Otherwise, the tire may “float” from hot asphalt, and acceleration and braking will be unstable.
Aquaplaning
The risk of hydroplaning depends on the grip of the wheel on wet surfaces. In order not to get into an accident during inclement weather, tires with a special water-repellent pattern and a small width should be considered.
Disc diameter
For each rubber there is a landing size, which must correspond to the technical data sheet of the car.
Helpful Tire Tips
The purchase is best made from January to April. During this period, prices for models are reduced due to the reduced hype. But first, it is recommended to read reviews and useful tips on choosing summer tires for your car.
For drivers who prefer moderate driving in the city, you should buy rubber with a symmetrical non-directional tread pattern. Optimal profile 65%, with S, T value.
Fans of high-speed driving are better off choosing summer tires for cars with an asymmetric directional pattern. The profile is not higher than 55%, and the marking is HW.
Jeeps, crossovers, and commercial vans should consider deep tread tires with high-speed C and LT ratings. The load index is calculated by the weight of the vehicle.
If you know how to choose the right summer tires, you can avoid wasting money on the wrong product. There will be no disappointment from the deterioration of the driving properties of the car, and the trips will be comfortable both in sunny and rainy weather.
