Choosing tyres for your car is a tricky business, especially if you’re a first-time driver or new to the wonderful world of tyres. Your tyre tread depth might be too low, or a pesky puncture might have appeared out of nowhere to spoil your day. Whatever the case, you now have to choose some new tyres for your car. We have the full checklist to get you started.
How Many Should You Buy?
Your tyres are essential to the performance of your car. Not only that, the better your tyres, the safer you are on the roads. Every time you accelerate, brake or turn a corner, the pressure is applied to the tyres to complete the movement properly. It doesn’t matter how good your car is, if your tyres suck, you won’t get very far. We’d always recommend buying a complete set of four tyres as a result, but we understand that your finances are a defining factor. Buying one is better than buying none at all, but four is the way to go.
It’s therefore absolutely essential that you regularly check on your tyres. A quick glance at your tyres on a regular basis should be satisfactory, but you should always check for bumps and scrapes by hand too. It only takes one damaged tyre to ruin your road trip, so make sure you keep an eye on them.
What Do The Numbers Mean?
You might have noticed the numbers on the side of your tyres. These contain essential information that you’ll need if you wish to choose tyres yourself. (A mechanic should be able to advise you as well if needed.) All car tyre information is standardised too, so you won’t have trouble regardless of the tyre you’re looking at. We have a quick guide below to aid in your search:
215: The width of the tyre in mm.
50: The side profile of the tyre as a percentage of the width.
R18: The wheel diameter that the tyre goes on in inches.
92: The load index of the tyre. 92 is 630kg.
V: The speed rating of the tyre. This should match, or be close to, the top speed of your car. V is 149mph.
The Right Tyre For The Right Season
Once you’ve figured out how many you are buying and what information you need from the tyre sidewall, you need to decide what type of tyre you wish to purchase. There’s a tyre for every season, yet there’s also a tyre for all seasons. Confused? Don’t worry, we’ll break it down for you below.
Summer Tyres
With improved traction and grip on the road, summer tyres are designed with speed and agility in mind. A lot of summer tyres have great performance in wet conditions too, with the latest tyre technology reducing the risk of aquaplaning. Summer tyre tread is designed to come into contact with the road more often, which improves grip, control and performance throughout your journey.
However, as you might have guessed by the name, they are not designed to grip the road in icy or snowy conditions. They generally work best at temperatures above 7 degrees Celsius. The lower the temperature, the more it impacts their performance.
Winter Tyres
These tyres are designed to perform in icy or snowy conditions while working best at temperatures below 7 degrees Celsius. They reduce stopping distances by a large amount due to the deeper grooves and the number of narrow cuts on the tyre. They’re not mandatory in the UK like they are in a lot of countries in the EU, however, they drastically increase your safety if you get them.
As with summer tyres though, they do perform best in the right season. You’re best buying them between October and March in the UK, as that’s when they’ll come into their own.
All-Season Tyres
Offering the best of both worlds, all-season tyres take the hassle out of swapping your tyres every year. They generally provide a middle-ground in performance compared with using a specific summer or winter tyre, with an intermediate rubber compound that provides grip in summer and reliability in the winter. This does affect overall performance though. Think of an all-season option as a jack of all trades, yet a master of none. Though they’re very suitable for the UK climate.
Our Recommendations
Let the team at ASDA Tyres decide for you. We always recommend well-known manufacturers such as Bridgestone, as you know you’re getting high-quality tyres. You can always count on the affordable ASDA price too!
For a summer tyre, go with the Turanza T001. It has a specially designed tread pattern with low rolling resistance for a controlled, smooth ride.
If you’re looking for a winter tyre, choose the Blizzak range of Bridgestone tyres. It’s a specially constructed tyre with strong traction and reliable braking. Just what you need in the winter months.
Lastly, for an all-season variant, go with the Weather Control range. Suitable for rain and snow, these tyres have an impressive life span and a unique compound to suit all seasons.