(ThyBlackMan.com) No car tyres last indefinitely; you will need to change the tyres on your vehicle at some point. This happens when the tread on the tyres is worn to a height of 1.6mm or less, of if the tyres become damaged. You may not immediately realise that the sidewall of the tyre has been damaged by an impact, so if you have any doubts it’s best to get an expert to check the tyre for you. This is important because once you damage the sidewall of a tyre it needs to be replaced.
You can choose any make of tyres for your car, such as Goodyear tyres; but when it comes to size it’s a different matter. Tyre size needs to be consistent, so you cannot just randomly decide to fit a certain size of tyre on your car. You have to determine which size is right for the vehicle.
How do you know what size of tyre you need?
It’s not too difficult to work out what size of tyres you need for your vehicle. You simply need to examine the tyres which are already fitted on your car. The number is small so you may have to be patient and look carefully. It will be displayed somewhere on the sidewall of the tyre. You may also be able to find the size in the owner’s manual for your vehicle.
Knowing what the number represents
You can simply write the number down and use it to buy the right size of tyres for your car. However, it helps to know what the number means.
- The first three digits in the number are an indication of how wide the tyre is, from the inner sidewall to the outer sidewall.
- The digits which follow immediately tell you what the aspect ratio is.
- Next in the sequence is a letter which tells you about the construction of the tyre. For instance, you may have radial tyres on your car.
- Following this letter are digits which tell you what the rim diameter of the wheel is. On an average vehicle this is normally 15-17 inches.
- The numbers which follow the rim diameter in the sequence are very important when it comes to filling your car with people or items. They tell you what the maximum load is, on fully inflated tyres.
- Another letter is next in the sequence. This is the speed rating which is an indication of how fast you can safely drive on the tyres.
All these figures come together to represent a specific size of tyre which must be fitted on the vehicle. You should never change the size of tyre that you use as to do so could be dangerous. When the time comes to replace the tyres on your vehicle, check for the current tyre size and make sure that you purchase replacement tyres which are exactly the same size.
Staff Writer; Peter Shaw