Low profile tires provide better grip and handling. However, this type of tire has its drawbacks, among which the most serious is the increased load on the chassis.
When operating most modern cars, especially those with high speed characteristics, special attention should be paid to the quality and technical characteristics of the rubber used. Low profile tires are one of its popular options.
It is customary to refer to this type of rubber with the ratio of the height of the cross-section to the width not exceeding 0, 8. If we talk about the history of the appearance of this type of tires, then at first they were used only on racing cars. Gradually, with the improvement of the quality of European roads, low-profile tires began to be actively used on production vehicles.
Benefits of low profile rubber
The main advantage of this type of rubber is the almost perfect handling of the car. This is due to the fact that making maneuvers, cornering at high speeds is not accompanied by horizontal swaying of the car body. Another point that drivers note is that when using such a tire complete with light-alloy wheels, both acceleration dynamics and braking efficiency are significantly increased.
The low-profile tire provides the car with a high coefficient of adhesion of the working surface of the tire to the road surface while driving, which ensures maximum directional stability. In addition, the wheel on low-profile tires looks stylish and dynamic.
Cons of low profile rubber
During the operation of such tires, certain disadvantages also appear. Thus, these tires cause a decrease in depreciation rates. Insufficient tire height does not make it possible to completely eliminate all the bumps and potholes on the road, as a result, the level of comfort when driving is reduced.
When using low-profile rubber, there is a significant increase in the loads on the body parts and chassis of the car, which may lead to a reduction in the service life of some components and assemblies. This tire is also distinguished by an increased level of wear, since it operates under high speed loads.
Certain difficulties can arise in maneuvering at low speeds, especially when parking. Therefore, these tires are not recommended to be installed on cars that do not have power steering.
When using low profile rubber, special attention should be paid to controlling the maintenance of the optimal pressure level. This should be done systematically (especially in winter), otherwise the side surface of the tire will quickly deform, which can have an extremely negative effect on traffic safety.
Low-profile rubber should be stored strictly following the manufacturer's recommendations.
