How to choose summer tires for a car

Changing winter tires for summer models is an important condition for the safe operation of a car in the warm season. Modern manufacturers offer the car owner various options for summer tires, and it is necessary to choose a specific model, focusing on the operating conditions of the vehicle.

Summer tire overview

The classification of summer tires is based on the conditions in which the car is operated. Some options are available for relaxed highway driving, others for sporty or cross country driving. All types of modern tires can be divided into the following groups:

• Road (brand N / T or N / R) - designed for driving on public roads. Equipped with pronounced longitudinal grooves that effectively drain water from the contact patch. The advantage of the model is low noise, the disadvantage is its inability for off-road driving during spring and autumn slush.
• Universal (grade A / T) - provide good grip in mud and on clean asphalt. Less stable in urban environments and quite noisy.
• Mud (brand M / T) - very noisy when driving on asphalt, but behave well in off-road conditions.
• Sporty - a special type of tire for aggressive, fast driving. These tires are designed to provide vehicle stability when maneuvering and driving at high speeds. They are made from a special mixture of high-hardness rubber, which gives the wheels rigidity. Riding on sports tires is less comfortable as the rubber does not absorb shock well. At the same time, it is easier for the driver to hold the vehicle while driving.

Criterias of choice

The defining parameter for the choice of rubber is the car brand and its weight. When choosing summer tires, many characteristics must be taken into account.

Tread pattern

Tire patterns are one of the main characteristics that determine the behavior of a car on the road.

The most popular types of tread pattern are:

• Symmetric. Thanks to the soft sidewall, these tires provide a comfortable, quiet ride on highways. The wheels are well absorbed by bumps and pits. Which makes it easier to operate the machine. Symmetrical tread tires do not withstand aggressive driving; they are designed for a calm, smooth ride.
• Asymmetric non-directional. The pattern of such a tire is different on the inside and outside. What is important to consider when installing it on a wheel. Manufacturers put special markings on rubber: INNER - inner side, OUTER - outer. The advantage of tires with an asymmetric pattern is the stability of the car when cornering and during sharp maneuvers. Sports tires are often equipped with such treads.
• Symmetrical directional. The advantage of this type of tread is the efficient drainage of water, which provides a special pattern in combination with wide grooves. Such treads are especially recommended for rear-wheel drive vehicles: the front wheels drain water while driving, the rear wheels ride on a dried surface, which increases the grip of the tire with the road.
• Asymmetric directional. The most rare type of tread due to the high cost and demanding quality of the road surface. These tires work as efficiently as possible on a good road.

Experts recommend focusing on the riding style when choosing a tread. For short-distance travel at low speeds, symmetrical, non-directional tread tires are best suited. For those who like to travel, meeting with different climatic conditions and poor-quality roads, it is better to choose a directional symmetrical tread. For those who like top speed and aggressive driving style, asymmetrical non-directional treads are available.

Profile width and height

When choosing a tire with an orientation to the width of the profile, it is recommended to focus on the average travel speed. The wide profile, due to the increased contact area between the rubber and the road, gives less slippage, reduces the braking distance, which is important for those who like to press down on the gas pedal. The narrow profile resists aquaplaning well.

Since it quickly removes water, and is recommended for movement at medium speeds.

The height of the profile is selected based on the quality of the roads:

• Low - Recommended for good quality urban tracks, but not suitable for rough terrain. Low tires are much stiffer and give the car stability. However, when driving over bumps, passengers and the driver will feel every impact. When operating a car at a low profile in off-road conditions, the suspension can be severely damaged.
• High - provides cross-country ability and comfort when driving off-road, while reducing vehicle handling on the highway.
• Full - these tires are designed exclusively for SUVs and trucks.

Buyer Tips

In order for the selected summer tires to ensure the safety of the car, experts recommend the following rules when purchasing:

1. The tires selected must match the size recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. If a decision is made to take a rubber that differs from the standard one, you need to make sure that it fits into the arch and will not touch anything with the edges.
2. New tires are always better than used ones, even if the seller offers models of famous brands. Since during the operation of old tires, hidden defects can come to light, and at the most inopportune moment.
3. The tire sellers offer the most favorable price for the product when the manufacturer changes the model range. Sometimes discounts are equal to half the actual price of the tires.
4. It is worth purchasing summer tires in advance, otherwise, during the “hot” season, the required standard size may not be on sale and there will be nothing to change the car for.

The choice of tires for a car is a matter that must be approached responsibly. Well-chosen treads provide not only comfortable driving, but also safety while driving.

Questions and answers:

Which company is better to buy summer tires? If the driver uses a sporty driving style with frequent and sharp acceleration and frequent braking, likes to fly into turns, then you should buy more expensive tires, for example, NOKIAN, Pirelli, Michelin, etc.

How to choose quality summer tires? For high speeds, it is better to purchase rubber with a profile of 55, an asymmetric non-directional tread pattern, speed index V or W. For measured mode, symmetrical directional ones with a profile of 60 and speed index S are suitable.

What is the best tread pattern for summer tires? Symmetrical tread is considered the quietest, copes well with wet roads, but for extreme trips, asymmetric (more tenacious) is better.