The change of seasons is a busy period for many car enthusiasts. As a rule, the issues of repair and maintenance are acute. In addition, the time has come when you need to pick up new car tires.
Purchase of new rubber
Spring has long come into its own, and it's time to get your car ready for the summer season. Do not forget about the purchase of new tires suitable for the operation of the car at this time of the year, since the correct tires will provide your vehicle with the best handling and directional stability. It is necessary to select automobile tires in exact accordance with the dimensions declared by the vehicle manufacturer.
What are car tires
In order not to be mistaken in the choice, first we will decide what tires are. By their design, they are divided into radial and diagonal. In addition, they are chambered and tubeless. On bias tires, the cords in the carcass layers are criss-crossed from side to side, in radial tires, the cords do not intersect and have a meridional arrangement. As for tube and tubeless tires, everything is clear here. The latter independently form a sealed cavity and do not require the use of chambers.
Bias tires, as well as chamber tires, by the way, are almost never found nowadays, so you shouldn't focus on them. Some are now used mainly on trucks, while others are used on motor vehicles.
Car tire dimensions
Thus, radial tubeless tires make up a large part of the assortment in car dealerships. On them you can see such incomprehensible designations as, for example, "175 / 70R13". Let's see what they are. The first number is nothing more than the profile width in millimeters. The second number is the ratio of tire height to width, expressed as a percentage. “R” is radial tire and value “13” is rim in inches.
Choosing new summer tires
The choice of tires is purely individual. It depends on the amount of money you have at your disposal, as well as on the quality of the road surface on which you intend to drive. So, you have chosen the right size that meets the requirements for the operation of your car. Next, you need to decide on the tread pattern. Summer tires are available in symmetrical, asymmetrical and directional patterns.
The symmetrical tread pattern is a classic among car tires. He has, so to speak, "average" performance in everything: moderately drains water, provides good stability, both on the track and in urban environments, not too noisy. At the same time, it belongs to the low and medium price category.
Tires with an asymmetric pattern have improved properties compared to the previous version. They create excellent directional stability and effectively wick moisture away. The only drawback of such tires is the rather high price.
Finally, directional tires are designed for driving in wet conditions. But their directional stability leaves much to be desired, due to the reduced rigidity of the external sides and the presence of drainage channels on them. In addition, they are noisier than symmetrical and asymmetrical.
