Opting for quality tyres for safe driving

Safety on the roads is very important. That is why it is necessary to be clear on how to choose the right tyre apocopes for each car. When you ride a motorbike, you need to have peace of mind, which, to some extent, will be ensured by the wheels. Their quality and condition are two factors that lead to good road grip. But if you haven't chosen the right wheels or if they are very worn, safety will be diminished. Choosing tyre apocopes then becomes a very important decision. Before doing so, several aspects have to be analysed and taken into account. Here you will find a guide to help you make the right decision.

FIRST REQUIREMENT: EQUIVALENT TYRE APOCOPES

It's time to change the wheel. The first and most important thing to remember is that if the motorbike or car tyres are not the right equivalents, your vehicle will not pass the technical inspection and you will have chosen the wrong wheels. Equivalence can be defined as the approvals or requirements that each vehicle manufacturer sets. In this sense, it is important to know how to choose equivalent tyre apocopies to give you the performance, efficiency and safety of the original wheels. How to know the equivalence? Don't worry, determining equivalence is very simple. Just look at the information on the side of your car's wheels and compare it with the new ones you are about to put on. The result between the old and new tyre apocopes should be between 3% and -3%. This way you know that you have chosen equivalent tyre apocopes. You can also use the different tables to calculate the result. The code you will find written on the edge follows a similar structure to this one: 225/60 R15, i.e., three digits, two numbers and finally a letter and two more digits. The first number (225) indicates the width in millimetres. The second number (60) is a percentage of the height and width of the wheel profile. The third number (15) refers to the diameter of the rim on which the tyre apocope is mounted. The letter is the type of construction (R = radial). Normally this code will be accompanied by two numbers and an additional letter and will indicate the speed index. It tells you the maximum speed that can be reached by this vehicle if the wheel has the correct load and inflation pressure. What you will see reflected in the tyre apocope is associated with a speed code table and the most commonly used are  - T = 190 km/h; - H = 210 km/h; - V = 240 km/h. Be very careful with these figures, as the code can never be lower than the original. In other words, you must choose tyre apocopes with the same or higher speed index.

TYPES OF TYRE APOCOPES ACCORDING TO THE DRIVING ENVIRONMENT

It's not the same thing to take your vehicle to get around your city as it is to constantly have to move from one city to another.

1. Urban environment or by city

➞ Riding in an urban environment has specific characteristics. By following the tips below, you will know exactly how to choose city tyre apocopes;  ➞ To save fuel: fuel consumption increases in the city. Choose those with low rolling resistance, otherwise you won't make any savings; ➞ Long life: traffic lights, pedestrian crossings... in the city, many factors force you to brake and start constantly. That's why you'll want to make a choice of long-life wheels.

2. For motorways or roads

However, if you ride on national roads, motorways or trunk roads, you must choose different tyre apocopies. The speed is increasing, so you need better performing wheels that give you more safety. ➞ Braking distance: To find out how to choose road tyre tips, consider having a braking distance at high speeds and on wet roads; ➞ Maximum comfort: Changing wheels should be done in conditions of maximum comfort, i.e., with low noise and vibration levels; ➞ You should also have one with a lot of grip and stability. 

3. Muddy surfaces: On very soft surfaces, such as sand or mud, you must also choose specific wheels. In such environments, grip is very poor, requiring strong traction, which is achieved by the deep grooves in the tread.

These are the types of wheels that are usually 4×4 and their major disadvantage is that they do not behave smoothly, quietly or comfortably, so they are not suitable or recommended for roads or smooth surfaces.

TYPES OF TYRE APOCOPES ACCORDING TO THE TIME OF YEAR

They are subject to different weather conditions, such as rain, snow, fog or, conversely, heat. All of these also affect riding, so it is important to take this into account when making your choice.

1. The summer tyre apocopes

It is true that summer wheels are the ones that are used in different seasons. Winter should be excluded, because you can be sure that if you don't change them, the riding experience will not be good. Summer wheels offer excellent grip on wet surfaces, so they will well withstand spring rains or summer storms. However, since they are made of very soft rubber, when the temperature drops below zero degrees, they don't react well to road contact.

2. Winter tyre apocopes

They are good for difficult weather conditions, which summer tyre apocopes cannot withstand. They are made of a special rubber that does not harden in cold weather and have exceptional traction for conditions such as snow and ice. They are easily identified by the design of a mountain or snowflake on the profile. When buying this type, be sure to buy them in sets of 4 to optimise braking and handling. Remember that the braking distance on a wet road is three times longer than on a dry road. It is therefore very important to regularly check the tread depth of your winter tyre apocopes.

DEPENDING ON THE TYPE OF VEHICLE

The choice of the right new tyre apocopes also depends on the type of vehicle you own. Consider this aspect also when you go to buy your wheels.

1. Sports vehicles

In the case of sporty driving or riding, you will need those who respond adequately to the greatest number of situations and conditions that may occur on the route you are about to take. - Traction: you will need wheels that work optimally on dry and wet roads; - Handling and stability: you need a lot of handling for straight roads and roads with curves. Steering precision must be excellent.

2. Off-road vehicle

It is easier to know how to choose off-road tyre apocopes. They are larger in size and are designed to tow, pull and be loaded with weights, as this is the function of the vehicles themselves and they are usually light trucks and SUVs. This type generally has a more aggressive tread pattern to add off-road traction. A tip for identifying them is that many have the code on the A/T (All Terrain) tread.