Tyres are the essential elements of any vehicle, irrespective of their type and size. This is because they are the only touchpoints of the car with the surface of the road. Hence, they need equal attention and proper care to ensure they perform well and their longevity is increased. Drivers who neglect their tyres by either not inspecting them regularly or getting them serviced end up damaging their tyres and getting involved in accidents. To take care of the tyres, you should know about them in-depth by conducting relevant research and consulting experts in the field. The various elements to be checked thoroughly in a tyre is the depth of the tread, any bulges, cracks, or damage.
The tyre's size and other such features can be located on its sidewall or in the owner’s manual or on the sticker under the fuel tank's cap. Therefore, it is essential to know how to read the markings on the tyre.
The tyre’s width speaks about the overall tyre’s width, denoted by the primary three digits on the tyre’s sidewall. Wider tyres provide increased traction but also generate loads of noise while on the road.
The tyre’s profile: The tyre’s aspect ratio signifies the tyre sidewall’s height divided by the tyre’s width, multiplied by the figure of 100.
The tyre’s rim: If the tyre is removed from the wheel, what would be there is known as the wheel's rim. The rim’s width could differ from the tyre’s width. That is the reason why the dimensions are provided separately.
The tyre’s speed rating: This rating is represented with a letter showing the highest tyre speed to carry the weight concerning the load capacity index.
The tyre’s load index indicates the highest load the tyre could bear while the car is being driven at the speed rating symbol.
Additional load: Some cars need car tyres to lift more loads, thus increasing inflation pressure. This data could be decoded on the markings in the tyre's sidewall and often written as Reinforced and Extra Load.
Run-flat car tyres: These Michelin tyres London possess sidewalls reinforced and lift the vehicle’s weight in case of a pressure loss. This technology is referred to as self-supporting and is often seen on Minis and BMWs that allow you to carry on with the drive on a flat car tyre for almost 50 miles.
How does one read the size of the tyre?
The size of the tyre is mentioned on its sidewall or in the owner’s manual or on the sticker in the cap of the fuel door, or the door on the driver’s side. This information comes in handy when the driver wants to purchase a new set of car tyres to make sure you purchase the correct fit. When you inspect the sidewall, you could locate many numbers. That indicates the size of the tyre. Just read the numbers starting from the left side to the right side. Each number indicates various parameters. For instance, if an expert asked for the size of the tyre’s rim, you would need to check the sidewall. Say the numbers are written are R15 or R17. This means that the tyre is 15 inches or 17 inches. Upon knowing the tyre size, the specialist would let you know about the most appropriate tyre for your vehicle as per your budget and style.
Summary
It could be a little tricky to understand the markings by yourself in the first go. Hence, it is best to consult a professional to understand how to decode the markings on the tyre. This would ensure that you buy tyres London, which happens to be the best fit for your vehicle. Given this, the instructions and markings should be referred to each time before buying any tyre for your car. This would ensure the safety of everyone, the performance of the tyre, proper braking, acceleration, cornering, and handling of the vehicle.