Different types of tires can enable cars to perform different types of outdoor activities. For example, off-road tires can meet various complex road conditions and climb over muddy jungles; performance tires can improve the vehicle’s grip and high-speed driving performance; green tires can improve wear resistance. Reduce tire noise and fuel consumption, etc. But for car owners who plan to change tires, how to choose the correct tire?
- Appropriate tire specifications. In principle, the specifications of the new tires should be consistent with the specifications of the original car, and the replacement tires must be equal to or higher than the speed capability and maximum load capacity of the tires on the original car. If you need to change the tire specifications, you must go to a professional refitting shop to upgrade the tires or consult the vehicle manufacturer. In addition to the manufacturing number/manufacturing mark, there are often markings on the sidewall that the tire is suitable for the season of use, such as WINTER, M+S or AQUATIC, ALL SEASON or ALL WEATHER. These words represent winter tires, rain tires and all-season tires, respectively. , Users in different regions can choose their own tires according to the local climate.
- Suitable tire pattern. The pattern should also be carefully replaced or upgraded. In addition to paying attention to the specifications and dimensions, the pattern on the crown also needs attention-the pattern directly affects the handling of the car, in addition to noise, drainage performance, wear resistance and so on. The most common tire patterns are roughly divided into five types: transverse groove patterns, straight groove patterns, straight transverse groove patterns, block patterns and asymmetric patterns.
Among them, the transverse groove pattern has good friction and the straight groove pattern has low running resistance (the most widely used pattern type). The straight transverse groove pattern is suitable for outdoor driving requirements of SUV, and the block pattern is suitable for mud or snow. Symmetrical patterns have better drainage. Which pattern to choose depends on the climate, road conditions and driving habits of the area. For cars, MPVs and SUVs, the best way to avoid the light is to choose the straight groove pattern, which has the widest applicability. of.
Three, suitable tire type
The common tires on the market can be roughly divided into the following types according to different patterns and uses:
- Highway tires (HT tires) have soft sidewalls and fine tread patterns. They pay more attention to the comfort and economy of driving on the road, and take into account certain cross-country traffic. Therefore, most SUV models are equipped with this type of tires when they leave the factory.
- All-terrain tires (AT tires), compared to HT tires, the tread pattern will be slightly rougher, and the distance between the fetal teeth will be slightly larger, although the tire noise and comfort will be reduced when driving on ordinary roads. , But the grip on non-paved roads will be much better, so the overall performance is better.
- Mud tires. For enthusiast car owners, professional mud tires (MT tires) are definitely the best choice. This type of tire has hard sidewalls and exaggerated patterns. Even when driving in a big mud pit, the mud in the flower trough can be thrown out in time, and it has better grip on extreme roads, but it is not suitable for ordinary urban roads. Use, because the huge tire noise and super high fuel consumption will only be annoying. In addition, there are more extreme rain tires, snow tires, sand tires, etc., but they are only suitable for professional sports.
Fourth, maintain tires
Cars mainly strengthen the correct understanding of tires. In view of the fragile characteristics of rubber, we should take extra care of tires.
- Check the tires at least once a month. Check the contents of the car including the air pressure when the tire is cooled (including the spare tire pressure), the wear of the tread pattern, and pay attention to whether the tire has exposed cords, abnormal tire crown wear, shoulder bulge, sidewall bulge, and bead wire Phenomena of serious safety hazards such as fractures.
In tire repair, you must find a professional store for hot repair, pay attention to hot repair, and can’t put rubber strips to deal with it. Otherwise, it is easy to cause aging of the belt layer and other parts, posing a threat. After repairing, you can go on the highway, but be sure to install the repaired tires on the rear wheels. Of course, if there is a problem in the unrepairable area such as the sidewall, the tire must be discarded and must not be used again, because safety is the first priority.
- Neither daily driving nor summer driving can make the air pressure lower or higher than the standard value. These may be the root causes of a puncture. Generally speaking, it is not recommended to reduce the tire pressure by 0.1-0.2bar during summer driving. However, some tire manufacturers have proposed to increase the tire pressure by 0.1-0.2bar appropriately to avoid the deformation of the steel wire and cause the tire to blow out. It is best to maintain the original tire pressure. Nitrogen can be used to fill the tires when the car is cold, not only because it will not expand with the increase in temperature, but also because it can prevent the rubber from natural oxidation and cracking. If the car owner finds that the air pressure is decreasing too fast, find out the cause in time, rather than simply go to a tire shop to inflate.
- Regularly check the wheel alignment and balance. Especially when the vehicle is found to shake excessively when driving, this may mean poor wheel alignment or imbalance. These conditions will not only shorten the life of tires, but also affect the handling of the vehicle and endanger driving safety.
- The front and rear tires are interchanged diagonally. The engine of our common models is usually placed in the front of the car, so the load on the front wheels is often greater than that on the rear wheels. The different loads on the 4 wheels will inevitably lead to uneven wear. Therefore, it is recommended to interchange the front and rear wheels diagonally every 10,000 kilometers to allow wear. More evenly.
- When changing tires, it is especially important to note that the tire specifications, structure, brand, pattern, etc. on the same axle should be unified. And if the tire is changed separately, it is necessary to ensure that the depth of the pattern groove is basically the same as that of another tire on the same axle, otherwise it may cause the vehicle to deviate.
- Be careful not to drive too fast (the tires also have speed levels). If you encounter potholes, stones, and deceleration bumps during high-speed driving, you should slow down and go around in advance-if you drive hard, it will cause great damage to the tire, and it may cause deformation of the rim, breakage of the meridian, breakage of the tread, and peeling. Wait. You should also avoid chemicals such as oil, acid, and hydrocarbons on your tires, which are the “natural enemies” of rubber. It is best to park the car on a smooth road, and try not to chew the side of the road and leave the car on the gravel road for a long time.
- In addition to regularly checking the condition of the tires, spare tires should also be taken care of. The spare tire is generally idle for a long time, and even some cars have not used the spare tire from the time of purchase to sale, and the spare tire also has natural aging. The tire is composed of rubber and the wheel hub, so it cannot be completely sealed. There will be a loss of air after long-term storage. If the spare tire is left idle for more than 4 years, the rubber will age, deform or even crack, especially like the external spare tire of off-road vehicles. The aging rate is faster. When the spare tire needs to be replaced, it is very dangerous to continue to use such a spare tire!
Therefore, it is recommended to check the pressure of the spare tire with a tire pressure gauge every 1 month, and check the appearance of aging to ensure safety. After the replacement of the spare tire, it cannot be used as a replacement for the normal tire for a long time, even if it is a spare tire with the same tire specifications as the normal tire! Long-term use of spare tires with parameters that differ greatly from the normal tires will affect the braking system, steering system and suspension Will cause certain impacts and accumulate safety hazards.
