Which is very disappointing and worrying. Think about it; you can have all the modern gismos and safety features you like in your car, but at the end of the day it\u2019s your tyres that are the only contact your vehicle has with the road. It\u2019s a very small contact patch \u2013 not much larger than a modern smartphone \u2013 that determines the grip you have with the road, and if this fails \u2013 because for instance if the tyres are too worn down, under or overinflated, damaged, or the wrong size for your car \u2013 then none of the other driver safety technology will make a difference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At Asda Tyres we, as well as other leading tyre professionals \u2013 such as Continental Tyres \u2013 are determined to change UK drivers attitudes to tyre safety. Improving motorists\u2019 understanding of tyre safety is at the heart of Continental\u2019s “Vision<\/a> Zero<\/a><\/strong>\u201d initiative, the aim of which is to ultimately achieve \u201czero fatalities, zero injuries and zero accidents\u201c.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In this short article, we\u2019re going to look at one often over-looked tyre safety topics \u2013 tyre sizes \u2013 and why it\u2019s never a good idea to fit the wrong size to your vehicle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Imagine this typical scenario; you have recently purchased a set of brand new premium tyres for your car \u2013 and don\u2019t they look and feel great \u2013 but then just your luck one gets damaged<\/a><\/strong> because of some debris left by local builders. As a result, one of these new tyres needs immediately replacing. You\u2019re offered a cheaper tyre that looks similar enough to the other three that are fitted, although not the same. It\u2019s a slightly different size, but hey, it\u2019s going to save you some money, right, so what\u2019s the problem?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Plenty. Read on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Continental<\/a><\/strong> are one of the many automotive and tyre experts that firmly recommend fitting four of the same tyres to your vehicle. By \u201csame\u201d they mean the same size (the right size for your car), same tread pattern, and same age \u2013 exactly. Why? Well, contrary to some beliefs, it\u2019s not because they want to try and sell you more tyres. No, it\u2019s much more important than that. The truth is it\u2019s because research has irrefutably proven that four identical tyres is much safer for motorists. And since you don\u2019t simply drive on the UK\u2019s roads by yourself, it really matters for everyone\u2019s safety.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you ignore this advice, consider these consequences:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mismatched tyres can throw off your speedometer, resulting in false readings that leave you unaware of how fast you\u2019re actually driving. That means an increased chance of a speeding fine, or underestimating your stopping distance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Using mismatched tyres not only adversely affects steering, it also impacts on accelerating and the general handling of your vehicle. As a result you\u2019re left with less grip and control, because steering feels sloppy. If you have to react suddenly to a driving incident, your chances of avoiding an accident are greatly reduced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Mismatched tyres can typically result in it taking longer for your vehicle getting up to speed. This is especially dangerous if you urgently require a sudden burst of speed to help avoid danger, and \u2013 arguably more importantly \u2013 it will also take you longer to come to a safe stop. Longer stopping distances increase the chance of an accident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If one of your tyres is wider than all the others you\u2019ll typically experience serious instability with your vehicle, especially in wet or icy conditions. Not having optimum control when driving in these types of conditions dramatically increases your chances of a road accident.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Ultimately, if you use mismatched tyres, you\u2019ll seriously put your vehicle at risk of damaged wheel bearings. There\u2019s even an increased chance of destroying the clutch. This will not only risk your driver safety \u2013 and that of your fellow motorists \u2013 it will also hurt your bank balance. Nobody wants to have to pay for parts and repairs, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n While it\u2019s true that some cars \u2013 more often than not rear-wheel-drive BMWs and Mercedes-Benz models \u2013 are deliberately fitted with wider tyres on the rear wheels, it\u2019s important to remember that this doesn\u2019t equate to a mismatch. Why? Because these vehicles \u2013 after exhaustive research, development and testing \u2013 use the same \u2018Original Equipment\u2019 (OE) tyres<\/a><\/strong> are on each axle. In collaboration with the tyre manufacturer, the car maker has made an intentional decision to boost the traction on the rear driving wheels, so as to enhance driving dynamics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The point is, the cars in question \u2013 as well as the OE tyres selected \u2013 have been designed specifically for this purpose. It\u2019s a very specialist combination of automotive technology. Continental are a leading provider of original equipment to car manufacturers, with one in three cars rolling off Europe\u2019s automotive production lines are fitted with their OE.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes. So long as you correctly match the same type of tyre across the axles, you can safely fit tyres with a higher speed rating, such as when you want to use your car for fun at a racetrack. The same is true if you need to transport heavier loads, such as trailers or caravans. You can fit tyres with a much higher load profile. If you\u2019re feeling tempted to make a change like this, it really is worth checking with your vehicle manufacturer, or with a tyre expert at Asda Tyres. In most cases, you\u2019ll also need to make sure you notify your insurer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s always worth checking to see if your own car has the correct tyre size fitted, so familiarise yourself with these numbers. It\u2019s the only way to be sure the right tyres are fitted, and you may even find a mismatch. Here\u2019s an explanation of the numbers and letters on your tyre sidewall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The first (A) is the tyre width in millimetres. The next (B) is the tyre profile, which is calculated on the basis of the width. If you see the letter \u201cR\u201d it just means your tyres are what\u2019s known as a \u201cradial\u201d construction, which is good.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The next number shows the wheel rim diameter (C). This figure is shown in inches. The last number is what\u2019s known as the load index (D). For instance, if you see \u201c79\u201d it means that the tyre can safely bear a total weight of 437 kg. It\u2019s essential to get this right because if the load index is inadequate for your vehicle and what you\u2019re using it for your insurance could well be invalidated in the event of an accident. Finally, there\u2019s a letter (1) which represents the tyre\u2019s speed rating, on a scale from A to Y. If you see, for example, a V, it means that the tyre can handle speeds up to 149 mph \u2013 not that you\u2019d ever need to go that fast, right?<\/p>\n\n\n\n![\"Wrong](\"https:\/\/www.asdatyres.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/asda_tyres_can_I_change_my_tyre_size_flat_article.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nMixing tyres is a mistake<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Pitfalls of fitting mismatched car tyres<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Continental](\"https:\/\/www.asdatyres.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/asda_tyres_can_I_change_my_tyre_size_sidewall_article.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nAren\u2019t there some cars with different front and rear tyres?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
So, is there anything I can change with my tyres?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Car](\"https:\/\/www.asdatyres.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/asda_tyres_can_I_change_my_tyre_size_markings_article.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\nCheck car tyre size to be sure<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Car](\"https:\/\/www.asdatyres.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/asda_tyres_can_I_change_my_tyre_size_load_index_article.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n![\"Car](\"https:\/\/www.asdatyres.co.uk\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/01\/asda_tyres_can_I_change_my_tyre_size_speed_rating_article.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\n\n\n\n