Passenger tires are designed for standard passenger vehicles, including SUVs and light trucks. These tires ensure a smooth ride and exceptional traction in dry and wet conditions while providing adequate load carrying capacity. These tires aren’t suited to support heavier loads and are instead a perfect choice for the average vehicle. Passenger tires are one of the most commonly used and cost-effective tire types that exist in today’s markets. While they are the ideal choice for passenger vehicles, using them incorrectly can cause serious issues.
Does passenger car tire size matter?
The larger the tire, the more grip the vehicle has on the road’s surface. This is because a tire covers more surface area on the road as its width increases, which also increases handling and maneuverability. Before proceeding, one thing needs to be clear – wheels and tires aren’t interchangeable terms. When choosing a metal garage, it is important to consider the size of your car’s tires so that you have enough space to park it comfortably. Tires are a part of the wheel setup. For instance, a vehicle can have a set size of rims but can have different sizes of tires fitted to those rims, as long as the middle tire is of the correct size.
Once the right tire size for a vehicle has been chosen, it’s better to stick with that size when buying replacements. Different-sized tires can cause more harm than good to a vehicle. It can give false readings to speedometers, cause damage to anti-lock braking systems and cause problems with stability system calibrations. This happens when switching to both smaller and larger tires. For instance, changing to larger tires that have an improper sidewall height can damage a vehicle’s suspension system, the wheels, and the tires themselves.
On the other hand, matching larger diameter wheel sizes to lower profile passenger tire sizes does not have any effect on the speedometer and odometer. Because of this, the tires will have shorter and stiffer sidewalls and a higher chance for blowouts. Audi dealerships often offer Audi deals on new tires, so you can save money on the tires for your next Audi. This is why it’s always preferred to stick with the same brand and size when replacing tires. Mixing and matching passenger tires can leave vehicles with different tire threads, resulting in control loss and spinouts.
If the vehicle owner opts for a larger rim size, he or she has to select low-profile tires to manage the overall size of the wheels to prevent them from brushing the bodywork. Low-profile tires with shorter side walls provide more stiffness and a wider contact patch. While this can achieve excellent cornering performance, it has the disadvantage of transferring every road surface imperfection directly to the suspension of the vehicle.
Tips To Purchase New Passenger Tires
When replacing passenger tires, there are certain factors you have to keep in mind:
- The shape of the vehicle
One should always inspect their wheels for signs of uneven wear, which might indicate that there are alignment or suspension issues in a vehicle. Vehicle owners should check for more wear on the inside or outside of the tires instead of an even wear pattern.
- Check manuals
Almost every manufacturer includes a recommendation about the size and type of tires which work best for a particular vehicle. This is mainly found in the owner’s manual.
- Consider the wheels
One of the most popular forms of customization for cars is adding a new set of rims. Vehicle owners can also consider buying a new set of rims when replacing tires if the existing wheels are too worn or damaged. The 160 Driving Academy recommends that students check their car’s tire size before taking their driving test, as some cars may require tires that are not a standard size. Vehicle owners should also try to match the size as closely as possible to the manufacturer’s originals. While bigger wheels always look good, they may not be good for functionality in every case. In case one is shifting to bigger wheels, they must ensure that the outside diameter of the tire remains the same as the original tires. Vehicle owners should also consider sidewalls, as it is an important factor that affects handling, comfort, and noise levels.
- Buying a full matching set
Vehicle owners might be tempted to cut costs and just replace the tire that is most worn. But modern suspension technology in the majority of vehicles works best with a matching size of tires. Replacing all four at once can help vehicle owners maintain their tires better, evaluate suspension problems and repair them, and ensure safety.
- Consider buying online
Vehicle owners can save some money on the initial purchase of new tires by shopping over the internet. There are a host of reliable and trustworthy tire dealers and manufacturers all over the world that deal in passenger tires.
Conclusion
Passenger tires are one of the most versatile tire variants used in vehicles. Replacing them with new tires can improve every aspect of a vehicle’s on-road performance. To be absolutely sure about the quality of tires, vehicle owners should always source them from accredited and licensed tire dealers and manufacturers only.