Not only your safety at any time of the year depends on the correct choice of tires for VAZ. The right tires guarantee a long suspension life, which is not cheap to repair.
The first thing to do when choosing a rubber is to choose its type according to the presence of a camera. The tubeless version is lighter, moreover, such a tire is capable of holding pressure for a relatively long time during a puncture. Of the minuses, we can note the need for a careful approach to the geometry of the disk - the slightest deformation will lead to constant air leakage. In addition to the division into tube and tubeless, modern tires are distinguished by other characteristics.
Seasonal classification
The summer tire is distinguished by a shallow tread, while the protrusions have a large area or are completely absent. There are few small slots (or lamellas) on such a tire, because it is designed for dry weather. On a winter tire, the tread has a large pattern, the grooves are wide, deep; there are a large number of sipes, which contribute to good grip on the road surface. Winter tires are divided into:
- studded: special studs are installed at the factory;
- non-studded: there are no studs, although, if desired, they can be installed, for which special sockets are provided.
When buying tires, pay attention to the markings: M + S stands for "mud + snow" (in English Mud + Show), and Winter - winter. All season tires are labeled All Season, Any Weather. If you often have to drive on wet roads or in the rain, then it makes sense to look at the rain tires; they have a deep drainage channel that "divides" the tire into two parts, each of which has oblique transverse grooves that eject water from the contact point. This reduces the risk of aquaplaning (slipping).
Division by size and other markings
On the side of the tire, you can see a lot of designations, which are letters and numbers. For example, 265/45/13 R. The first number indicates the width of the tire, i.e. distance between inner and outer side in mm. The next figure is the product series. It shows the ratio of the height (distance from the tire edge to the inner edge of the rim) to the width as a percentage. The smaller they are, the more "racing" the tire. The third number is the diameter of the rim in inches, the fourth indicates the speed class of the tire. The last number sets the maximum speed for which the product is designed: Р, Q, R, S, T - respectively from 150 to 190 km / h in 10 km / h increments. Further: H - 210 km / h, W - 240 km / h, Y - 270 km / h and ZR - over 240 km / h. Additional designations include the TWI indicator in the form of a small protrusion (1.6 mm) at the bottom of the tread groove. It serves to determine the critical moment of rubber wear.
