5 Things to Consider When Buying New Tyres

One of the things that you can’t avoid as a car owner is replacing the tyres. You can be the most careful, conscientious driver — always staying within the speed limit and following the best tyre maintenance tips, but still have to replace your tyres every few years.

Fortunately, it’s easy to buy tires in Mauritius. You can find both brick-and-mortar stores and online retailers offering a wide array of auto parts and accessories, which include a variety of tyres. The key is to find a reliable shop that sells high-quality products that will give you the most value for money.

That said, there are plenty of considerations for buying new tyres for your car. Here are some of the things you should prioritise so you can make the best choice:

The Type of Tyre

Nowadays, most vehicles come with all-season tyres that provide satisfactory ride quality throughout the year. If you’re not going to drive in extreme conditions, you can stick with this type of tyre. However, you might want to buy specialised ones that provide better handling and more traction depending on the situation. Some of the types of tyres you can choose from include the following:

• Summer tyres, for warm weather
• Highway tyres, for paved roads
• Winter tyres, for snowy and icy roads
• All-terrain tyres, for off-roading
• Mud terrain tyres, for soft terrain like mud and sand

The Tyre Size

For straightforward tyre shopping, you can purchase the same size as the stock ones. This ensures a perfect fit, preserves the accuracy of the speedometer and odometer, as well as maintains the original handling and steering response. Those who drive SUVs, trucks, and crossovers might want to consider “plus-zero sizing”. This is when you choose a tyre that’s wider but with the same diameter. Doing this can provide enhanced grip and less body roll when cornering.

A good skill for every car owner to have is to know how to read or interpret tyre size. This is indicated on the tyre’s sidewall, where you’ll see a series of numbers and letters. The most important ones are the ones that look something like this: 175/65-R15. Here, 175 is the width of the tyre in millimetres. Meanwhile, 65 is the aspect ratio. It indicates the height of the sidewall, as a percentage of the width. Tyres used for muscle cars usually have an aspect ratio of 30 to 40, while those designed for SUVs are usually taller at 65 or higher.

Finally, the R15 in the example above indicates the construction and the diameter. The construction can either be R (radial), B (belted bias), or D (diagonal bias). The diameter, on the other hand, is the diameter of the wheel rim. This is measured in inches.

Do You Want an Upgrade?

A tyre upgrade can mean a lot of things. Do you want a high-performance all-season tyre? Do you want wider and lower-profile tyres? If you have an SUV or truck, do you want larger tyres for off-roading? These changes can affect a lot of driving aspects, such as comfort, handling, stability, and even the noise your vehicle generates while you drive.

If you’re really intent on upgrading your tyres, it’s best to consult a car expert so you can go about it the right way. It can be wasteful to make an upgrade just to find out you aren’t satisfied with the results, so you really need to be sure before you make a decision.

Your Driving Style

As previously mentioned, your car’s tyres can make a big difference to your overall driving experience. Thus, you need to think about your driving style and preferences before buying new tyres. If you’re a city or an open-road driver who’s more focused on comfort, touring tyres might be your best option. These have H, S, or T speed ratings on the sidewall.

For off-roading, you need tyres with more aggressive tread patterns. However, these tyres will generate more noise when you drive on paved roads so just keep this fact in mind if you prefer quieter rides. Meanwhile, for precise handling and steering, you might like high-performance tyres that can handle faster speeds. Consult a tyre expert or mechanic for the best options.

Your Budget

Of course, buying new tyres costs money. How much do you want or are able to spend? Specialised tyres are usually more expensive, so you need to allocate a bigger budget for them. At the same time, there are also plenty of affordable options that don’t scrimp on quality. Do your research and ask for professional advice so you can find the best tyres that fit your driving lifestyle and budget.

Final Notes

Once you’ve purchased your new tyres, the next step is to install them. Some considerations before doing so include the following:

• proper tyre disposal
• replacement of the air valve stem
• TPMS check
• tyre balancing

Usually, auto mechanics perform all of these procedures but it’s still best to check so you can get the full service in one shop.

After installing your new tyres, you’re now ready to conquer the roads ahead with your trusted vehicle!