Adam's Auto Solution Blog

Since tyres provide the much-needed contact with the road, they are useful components of your car. Without the tyres' grip, even a car with the highest horsepower would be useless. Besides, if well-maintained, tyres are a critical safety feature of a vehicle. When you want to buy new tyres for your car, there are many aspects you should consider, and you should not make an educated guess. Apart from the aesthetics, you should purchase tyres based on functionality and your budget. This article reviews some crucial factors you should consider before buying car tyres.   

Energy Efficiency -- Tyres for family cars should be designed to save energy and reduce the amount of greenhouse gas emissions. Energy efficiency in tyres denotes the amount of energy required to make the tyres roll on a road surface (rolling resistance). If tyres have a high rolling resistance, then the vehicle will consume a lot of fuel in the course of its movement. Therefore, energy-efficient tyres increase fuel savings in these tough economic times when fuel prices at the pump keep fluctuating. As such, talk to a tyre expert for recommendations on the best energy-efficiency rating.

Noise -- Noise pollution has become a hot topic across the globe as more drivers become aware of the noise emissions from car tyres. When tyres roll against a road surface, the noise produced is called tyre roar. The noise is measured in units called decibels (dB). When making a long trip, you need minimal cabin noise. Tyres that emit low levels of noise are ideal for such trips; consequently, you are less likely to be fatigued. Make sure that the tyres you are purchasing meet the minimum requirement for noise levels. In the European Union, all tyres have labels showing the decibels. However, since the labeling has not taken effect in Australia, your tyre supplier can advise you accordingly.

Performance in Wet Weather -- Tyres should perform optimally in slippery and wet conditions to prevent potential accidents. Testing this performance requires that you drive a car at high speeds on a slippery road and check the braking distance it would take to bring the vehicle to a complete halt. Therefore, your tyres must strike a balance between wet weather grip that influences the stopping distance and the rolling resistance, which determines fuel economy. A tyre that has lower stopping distance in wet weather is desirable, especially for first-time drivers.