With so many different types and sizes available, purchasing tyres can be a complex and time consuming task? Beyond just knowing what inch tyre you need, there is a range of other factors you should be aware of before you embark on your tyre purchase journey. Below is a guide to help you choose the right tyres for your car.

Factors to consider before choosing the right car tyres

Tyre size

While purchasing a set of new tyres the first thing you need to know is your tyre size. The tyre specifications can be easily found on the sidewall of our current tyre. You can also find it on the placard placed behind the driver’s door or on the fuel tank lid. Here is a sample of what the code looks like - 175/70 R14 84T. It indicates the width, aspect ratio, tyre construction, rim size, load index and speed rating respectively.

Driving style

Tyres are built with different designs and patterns to match different driving styles and road conditions. Determining your personal driving style before you buy new tyres is important because it helps you choose the tyres that can give you a driving experience as per your needs. Determine your driving style by asking yourself questions like,

• Do you drive at higher speeds?
• Do you prefer a smooth ride?
• Are you an aggressive driver?
• Do you experience stop-and-go traffic very often?
• Are you the type of driver that brakes abruptly?

Once you know your needs and preferences it becomes easier for you to select your tyres. For e.g.: if you enjoy the performance and speed, then go for high performance tyres that offer maximum grip at high speeds. If you are a calm and relaxed driver, then look for touring tyres. These tyres are designed to provide extra comfort as opposed to the greater speed provided by high-performance tyres.

Seasonality and weather

The weather and the road type in a particular region are some other important aspects that you need to be mindful of when buying new tyres. For regions like the UAE which experiences a desert climate with hot summers and cool winters, the summer or all-season tyres are the best picks to suit the climate of the region.

Besides the weather, the road type in your region also plays an important role in your tyre purchase decision. For e.g. If the roads are unpaved, you might want to invest in tyres that provide greater off-road traction.

Vehicle type

Another factor to think of before you decide on your tyres is your vehicle type. The type of tyres that you buy depends on whether you drive a passenger car, SUV, sports car, heavy duty vehicle, commercial vehicle etc. The tread pattern, tread depth along with tyre design are set to suit different vehicle types to a provide balance between noise, fuel efficiency, wear, ride comfort, performance and cost. The best thing to do is check your car’s owner’s manual to find the tyres recommended for your car.

Tyre quality

Tyres are incredibly complex products. All the tyres that you see stocked up in a tyre store can look all good. But just because they look alike does not mean they do the same job. There could be a big difference in the design and more so ever the quality of these tyres. At the first glance, the tread pattern of every new tyre might look convincing. Unfortunately, what you don’t see is what that construction is made from, what is underneath the tread pattern, the compounds and the ingredients that have been used. That’s where a premium manufacturer spends millions every year to develop a tyre that’s perfect for wet, dry, hot and cold conditions. This ensures your tyre will do exactly what it is supposed to do in all driving conditions. While that is not the case with a low quality tyre.

Factors that give premium high quality tyres an edge over the rest are:

1. Superior Braking –  tyres made of premium rubber generate a lot of grip and are well connected to the surface of the road. As a result, the stopping distance is much less.
2. Cornering Performance – A big difference is experienced during cornering. Low quality tyres don’t produce enough grip and skid off the corner. This is because their ability to stick to the road is far less as compared to premium tyres.
3. Higher grade rubber.
4. Better handling and overall driving performance.
5. Increased life span - The high quality rubber compounds and other polymers along with the cutting-edge engineering technology used in manufacturing the tyre results into longer life of the tyres.

Hence, pay special attention to the quality of the tyre before purchasing it. Top tyre manufacturer like Michelin uses the latest technology, making it the brand of choice for long lasting, reliable and high-quality tyres all over the world.

How to choose tyres for your car depends on a couple of other aspects too. The above factors only provide an indicative guideline to buy new tyres.  Hence, ensure you go to a verified tyre dealer who gives you unbiased advice on the tyres that perfectly match your needs. A verified full-service TYREPLUS tyre dealer carries a stock of good quality tyres, giving you several options to choose from. Hence, visit the one near you during your next tyre purchase and choose your tyres wisely.