How to Choose the Right Type of Tyres for Your Vehicle

All car tyres are not created equal, and you will find that some tyres will be better for your vehicle and for your specific type of driving. Finding the right type of tyres for your vehicle will keep you safer on the roads and help you enjoy your driving experience more.

Regardless of the type of car you have, how sophisticated the engine and transmission are, or the complexity of any add-ons that you may have, your tyres are the only part of your car that make contact with the ground. In some ways, finding the right tyres is the most important part of maintaining a car properly.

Information to Know Before You Begin Looking for New Tyres

Before you begin searching for your next set of tyres, you should make sure to know which tyres you have on your car now. The size of the tyres is particularly important, and you can find this information out by reading the information on the sidewalls of your tyres. On the sidewalls, you will also find out how much air should be put into those tyres, the tread life, and some other facts that you may need when you begin searching for a new set.

If you feel that your tyres are currently performing very well, you may want to just look for a similar set that has the same features as the tyres that you currently use.

Finding Car Tyres to Match Your Driving Habits

If you typically drive very fast, you will need to purchase car tyres that will be able to handle that much wear. Car tyres are rated based on the resistance they can handle and their ability to withstand high speeds. If you normally travel on highways, finding the right type of car tyre will allow you to avoid changing your tyres as often, saving you money and time in the long run.

If you are more apt to be driving on country roads rather than major highways, you can buy tyres with a lower speed rating. The speed at which you drive your car normally will determine exactly which type of tyre is right for your vehicle.

Another important element to consider when finding tyres to match your driving habits is how frequently you drive on roads that are bumpy or of a low quality. These types of roads require a much sturdier brand of tyre. If you more frequently drive on roads that are very well constructed, you will not have to worry about this feature as much as the speed rating.

Assessing Tread Life

The tread life of the car will determine how long you can drive on these tyres before changing them. If you typically drive long distances, you should opt for tyres with an extended tread life. If you take short, brief trips, you can buy tyres for your car with a normal tread life.

Weather Requirements

Before you decide on a specific type of tyre, make sure to check how these tyres perform in inclement weather. In the UK, wet weather is a common occurrence, so it is best to find tyres that are well suited to withstand this type of weather and still perform optimally.

Ride Quality

The final consideration that you will want to make when selecting tyres is the type of ride quality you expect. Some tyres will make the driving experience smooth and comfortable, while others are better equipped as a low-profile tyre. These tyres are not as suited as high profile tyres to deal with arduous road conditions or bumps.

In addition to choosing the right type of tyres, finding the best and most affordable insurance policy is another important element to driving safely on the roads. To do a quick car insurance comparison, simply visit the homepage of this site.

How to safely change a tyre

Anyone who drives eventually is faced with a flat tyre. This usually happens because of something, usually a nail, picked up by the tyre on the road resulting in a slow leak that goes unnoticed until the car sits for a while, usually overnight. It also never fails that you are in a hurry when you find the flat. Sometimes a tyre will fail while driving leading to what is known as a blowout forcing you into a creative driving situation in an attempt to safely bring the car to a stop. Regardless of what happens to the tyre, if you wish to continue driving, the tyre must replaced by the spare.

All drivers should know how to change a tyre safely, and it does not require excessive strength or dexterity to accomplish. First step is to turn off the car, then put the car in park, or if your car has a manual transmission, put it first gear. Apply the parking brake and using a rock or a block of wood, brace one of the rear tyres (or front tyre if the rear is flat) and then assemble everything needed to change the tyre. Remove the spare, the jack and the lug wrench from the boot and place them where they can be reached safely when the car is raised. Loosen the lug nuts on the wheel before raising the car then place the jack where it will support the frame of the car, but also make sure the base of the jack is on stable and level ground so there is no risk of it falling. Next raise the car with the jack until there will be clearance for the spare to be put on the wheel. Remove the lug nuts from the wheel and then remove the flat tyre and set it aside. Put the spare on the wheel and loosely replace the lug nuts on the wheel. Next lower the car back to the ground and remove the jack from under the car. After the car is back on the ground, the lug nuts need to be tightened. If you tighten the nuts in a circular pattern (tighten the one on the top, then the one next to it, then the one next to it, etc.) then the tyre will not be aligned properly and will vibrate as well as wear excessively. To properly tighten the lug nuts, tighten them in a star pattern if there are five lugs or alternating if there are four (top, bottom, left, right) and continue until they are all tight, but be careful about over tightening because that might strip or break the lugs.

Once the spare is properly installed, replace the tools and the flat tyre in the boot and then you should be able to continue your drive. Take care however, a spare tyre is designed as an emergency device and is not meant to be used long term or at fast speeds. The day you change the tyre is the day the flat should be repaired, and it can be usually repaired easily and inexpensively by any mechanic.

There are a number of automotive emergencies that anyone and everyone who drives needs to know how to address and changing a flat is one of them. For this task, you need to make sure that you have everything necessary to change in the boot at all times, and you need to be prepared to change it when necessary.