Understanding the Terminology of Tyre Buying
When you're ready to buy new tyres for your vehicle, you may come across some very unfamiliar terms and phrases; rather than ignoring them and just buying the cheapest tyres you can find, or choosing the most expensive model nad assuming they'll somehow be of higher quality, it might be better to try to understand what those terms mean. This can ensure you get the best tyres for your vehicle and they perform as expected, and last as long as possible. Note a few of those terms here and what they signify.
Belted
Belts are thin strips of metal that are put into the soft rubber that makes tyres, while the rubber is poured and formed during the manufacturing process. These metal belts help to make the rubber stronger and keep it from shredding, and help the rubber to keep its shape. If you buy tyres for off-roading, drive in very high heat, or are otherwise rough on a vehicle's tyres, you might opt for a belted brand.
Curb guard
This is an extra thick band of rubber that is place around the outside edge of a tyre and which protects it from abrasion when you rub up against a curb. If you drive in the city and often park by curbs, you might actually want to invest in tyres with curb guards. This type of abrasion can easily wear down the rubber of the tyre so that the rubber begins to split and crack on the sides, and the tyre may be at risk for a blowout.
Footprint
This refers to the area of the tyre that actually makes contact with the ground. A larger footprint can mean more control when turning; if you go off-roading and tend to spin your vehicle over mud or sand, ask about tyres with a large footprint for maximum control.
Radial tyre
A radial tyre has layers of rubber that are set perpendicular, across the width of the tyre, in the opposite direction of driving. This adds strength to the rubber and also ensures better gripping of the road, and means less skidding when there is pressure on the tyre, such as for hard braking. If you drive in the city with constant stop-and-go traffic, radial tyres can give you that added traction and stopping ability. Radial tyres usually also have added belts, as mentioned above, which can keep the tyres stronger under rough driving conditions, such as on hot asphalt or for off-roading, and for when you're hauling a heavy trailer behind you.
For more information, contact companies like O'Neills Tyres.
