Car tires are one of the most important parts of a vehicle, because they are in direct contact with the road surface. The tires themselves have a very complex construction, although you can only see the simple shape of the tires from the outside.
The tire itself has components including Carcass or casing, tread, sidewall, breaker, belt and also bead. Where each part has its own function, however, each of these components are interconnected and support each other.
Choosing your own tires is not as easy as it seems, because you have to be careful and thorough. In addition to accuracy, you also have to know the codes listed so that you know the right tires for your car, because many people are still confused when choosing tires for their vehicles.
One of the responsibilities of private vehicle owners is to take care of tires by choosing good car tires. As we know, tires are components that are owned by all types of vehicles, both 2-wheeled and 4-wheeled. Due to use and contact with the road every day, at one point the tires must be replaced or inflated and so on.
How Important is Caring for Car Tires?
Because for the convenience of drivers and passengers, tires must be checked and maintained frequently.
Not only a matter of comfort, the condition of car tires can also affect travel safety, and minimize the risk of accidents. Not to scare, but tires become one of the important components, when traveling.
For example, if the tires are bald, the tires are unbalanced, so the car cannot balance or control, especially when the road conditions are slippery and steep.
Therefore, it is important to know the right tips for buying new car tires, because not all manufacturers can produce the same quality tires, and fit your car.
In fact, not only from the same brand, the type, size, to the type of car tires are also worth considering carefully.
If necessary, involve other people who are more skilled in choosing car tires. This is done, so that you are not random, and lied to by the seller, because you do not understand how good car tires are.
Tips for choosing car tires
1. Choose Car Tires According to User Needs
The first tip for buying new car tires is to choose according to your own needs, as a car user. For example, if you like traveling, which has to pass through muddy and rocky terrain, then the type of tire suitable for offroad is M/T or Mud Terrain.
As for the type or type of car tires, they are known to be strong and sturdy when taking even the most difficult terrain.
So, from your needs, you can see the type and type of tire you need. However, do not use this type of tire, on city streets because it will be slippery and the grip is weak. In addition, if your home area is a flooded area, then the All Terrain or A/T type is suitable for use.
However, if you use a car only to go to the office, which is in urban areas, then you can use the H/T or High Terrain type, which is very comfortable and not noisy.
2. Choose Tires According to Car Type/Type
If the previous tips, suggest to be adjusted to the needs, tips on buying new car tires on this one, more adjust the type or type of tire, with the car.
The reason is, every vehicle or car, must have its own default type and size from the factory. How do I see it? Usually, the type or type of tire, engraved on the drawer or door plaque, (depending on the type of car).
In fact, there are also those that include the type or type of tire, near the fuel tank cap. So, when you want to buy new car tires, you can see the type and type references, from the manufacturer's recommendations.
In addition, choosing car tires based on the type and type, can also be seen from the instructions for use, and the inclusion of the type and size of the tire.
Usually, the type of car tire is listed in a combination of a code. For example, if a car tire is coded P 215/55R17 93V.
The meaning of the letter 'P' itself is Passenger, which means the car is designed to carry passengers or people.
Not only coded P, other car tires are also listed as LT tires, which means Light Trucks or small trucks, which can carry cargo.
In addition, there is the ST code, which means "Special Trailer", and the T code for "Temporary", which is more specific to spare or spare tires, so this car tire cannot be used continuously.
3. Choose Car Tires from the Suitable Groove/Motive Design
The next tip for buying new car tires is to choose tires according to the groove, pattern or motif. Why is choosing tires based on the groove design pattern, also important? This is because it can increase tire friction with the road.
So, if the friction is small, the risk of slipping or slipping on the road is even greater.
Usually, for wet road users, who live in areas with high rainfall intensity, it is advisable to choose the V design pattern.
Because, the V design groove, is said to have high friction, so it is very suitable for slippery and watery road conditions.
What about hot road conditions, such as asphalt roads in the desert? Well, for this condition, avoid using a tire design with a lot of strokes.
However, if you go through bumpy roads more often, then tires with a round tread groove design can be chosen because they are very suitable.
Well, if the pattern on the bna is starting to thin, you should immediately replace the car tires, because it will reduce its performance, and the benefits above.
4. Choose Car Tires According to Size
The next tip for buying new car tires is to choose according to the size of the tire. Impossible isn't it, if you have a sedan but use MPV car tire sizes?
Well, here the owner must also know the meaning of the codes, which are engraved on the side surface of the tires.
Because, actually all the information related to tire size is there. For those of you who don't know how to translate the code, it's quite easy.
For example, your car tire code is 205/55 R16 91 V, then the way to read it is:
- 205: Shows the tire tread width in mm.
- 55: Indicates the aspect ratio of the tire thickness, in percentage over its tread width.
- 16: Indicates the stated wheel diameter, in inches.
- 91: Shows the maximum load index.
In addition to the size, the types of tires are also divided into two, namely tube type tires (with inner tubes), tubeless tires (without inner tubes), radial tires and bias tires.
The types of tires are distinguished by their construction. In addition, the V code indicates the maximum speed limit. Because, each tire turns out to also have a different code, such as S, Q, H, Z, and others.
5. Choose Car Tires from Thickness
Unlike the tire size, you also have to know tips on buying new car tires, based on their thickness. The reason is, good tires generally have a thickness of 50. Because, when you choose thick car tires, then automatically, the balance of the vehicle and its performance can increase.
However, on the other hand, if you buy tires without a good profile (thickness), then the performance can be greatly reduced.
If you look at the price of the tires, it can be seen that the high profile ones are a little more expensive, but the comparison is not too far off.
So, instead of changing tires frequently, which are of average quality and cheap, it's better to choose tires with the maximum capacity at the same time.
6. Pay attention to the year of manufacture of car tires
It's not just food that has a manufacture code and expiration date. Because car tires also have, and must be replaced when it reaches the expiration date.
This can also be one of the tips for buying new car tires, which is very important. How to observe the year of manufacture of tires? First, you can pay attention to the tire code, which is usually a four-digit number, for example, code 0313.
Well, you can read the code or translate it into:
- 03: Indicates when the tire was made, i.e. in the third week.
- 13: Indicates what year the tire was produced
So, the conclusion from code 0313 is that the tire was made in the 3rd week of 2013. Well, to buy good tires, it is advisable to choose tires with a new year of manufacture.
This is because the tires are made of rubber, where the quality of the new tires is definitely different from the old tires, even though they have never been used.
In addition, the storage process can also be a very important consideration. That was, because tires are made of rubber, so when they are stored for a long time, the tires may have problems.
For example, if the storage area is damp or exposed to direct sunlight. It can affect the quality of the tire itself.
7. Best Car Tire Brands
You can also choose tips for buying new car tires based on well-known brands, which are the most recommended by experts, such as the following best car tire brands:
- Bridgestone
- GT Radial
- Yokohama
- Hankook
- Toyo
- Falken
- Achilles
- Continental
- Dunlop
Those are some tips / recommendations that we have summarized. If the tips or recommendations above are very helpful, it's a good idea to also share this article with your friends.