Tyres are what make the vehicle run, grip the road, and allow you to come to a complete and safe stop when you put on the brakes. That means that besides the engines, brakes, wheels, rims, and the entire apparatus, one other thing that most people tend to overlook as unimportant or ‘safe to misuse’ are tyres, and without a good set of tyres, you won’t be able to turn effectively, get good gas mileage, get a good stopping distance or even get much pleasure in driving. This is why in this blog post, we will look at how you can choose the right tyres for maximum traction and ensure that your driving experience gets as good as possible with the right tyres that provide exemplary grip and traction.
From understanding the power delivery of your car to what climate you live in and how it affects the tyre for optimal grip and traction throughout the year, we will explain to you the many benefits of choosing the right tyres for maximum traction. But first, for the skeptical among us, we will first delve into why traction matters so much, and why having a tyre with exceptional traction and grip matters at all.
Tyre Traction: Why Does It Matter?
Simply put, tyre traction is the grip or adhesion that a tyre has to the road surface. It keeps your vehicle securely connected to the road surface, giving you the stability needed for smooth handling, responsive steering, and controlled braking, especially under various road and weather conditions. When a tyre rolls on the road, it creates what we call a ‘contact patch’ – the section of the tyre that is touching the road surface. The friction generated at this contact patch allows you to accelerate, brake, corner, and do sudden manoeuvers with control and precision. It only makes sense then that the size, shape, tread pattern, and composition of this contact patch influence your tyre traction and how your vehicle handles on the road.
Lets understand some of the factors that you should always consider when in the market, choosing the right tyres for maximum traction and grip for safer, much more controlled driving.
Tread Patterns
The design and pattern of tyre treads are not decorative they play a significant role in determining traction. Tread patterns channel water away from the contact patch, reducing the chance of skidding, sliding, and hydroplaning on wet roads. Some patterns reduce noise as you drive, improve ride comfort, and create less rolling resistance, which means less fuel consumption. Others provide additional edges that grip the road, improving traction on dry surfaces.
Tyre Composition
Tyres are made from a range of rubber compounds, chemicals, and construction components. The type of rubber used affects its traction. Softer rubber compounds can provide a better grip on dry roads because they mould themselves to the road surface and create a larger contact area. Combining various types of rubber, and incorporating additives like carbon black, can enhance wear resistance and grip by increasing the surface area of the rubber particles.
Tyre Pressure
The size of the contact patch is directly affected by how much air is in the tyre. Underinflated tyres usually have a smaller contact patch because the centre of the tread bulges upward. On the other hand, overinflation can cause the centre of the tread to bear most of the load and decrease the grip on the edges. In both cases, the reduced contact patch results in fewer points of contact with the road, leading to less traction and grip.
Road Conditions
The condition of the road also plays a significant role in tyre traction. Rain, ice, or snow can form a barrier between the tyres and the road, so they struggle to get a grip. Similarly, roads with loose gravel, sand, debris, or potholes create uneven and unstable surfaces which can cause tyres to momentarily lose contact with the road and make the vehicle less stable.
Weight Distribution
The way the weight is distributed in a vehicle affects how much traction each tyre has. Proper weight distribution ensures the right contact patch with the road, but uneven weight distribution can lead to some tyres having more grip than others, affecting the vehicle’s overall stability and handling.
Tyre Size And Width
When choosing a tyre width and size you should consider how you intend to use your vehicle, your usual driving conditions, and manufacturer recommendations. While wider tyres generally offer more contact area with the road, potentially providing better traction on dry surfaces and when cornering, they may have slightly higher rolling resistance, which can impact fuel efficiency and overall performance.
Choosing The Right Tyres
Tyre traction matters when it comes to driving safely. A lack of traction can result in loss of control, skidding, or sliding, leading to accidents. That’s why it’s crucial to choose the best tyres for traction considering your vehicle and driving conditions, but the choices can be mind-boggling. One way to compare the tyre traction rating of various tyres is the Uniform Tyre Quality Grading System (UTQGS). It’s represented by one or two letters on your tyre sidewall; AA, A, B, and C. The best tyre traction rating is AA. Traction rating is essential when matching tyres to your car. If your vehicle has a lot of grunt, you can have new tyres but still no traction in wet conditions because they can’t handle all that power. Your acceleration exceeds the available traction of the tyre.
What To Look For When Buying Tires?
Knowing what you’re looking at and looking for when buying used tires can make the difference between you getting a good deal and getting ripped off. Which means when you’re buying used tires, you need to look out for the age of the tire, the tire seams and the tread. These three things will pretty much reveal the condition of the tire, and will make it easier for you to make a decision: whether to buy this used tire or not.
Magnum Autoclub: The Best Tyre Services In Vaughan!
We all know the trope: the greasy mechanic ripping every customer off, any way they can just to make a few extra bucks. Or throwing in something that does not need repair or replacement but doing it anyway. Well, Magnum Autoclub is here to dispel that stereotype and introduce you to a car maintenance experience that will really take the service to the next level. At Magnum Autoclub, we’re dedicated car lovers trying to make everybody enjoy the ride they have and appreciate the cars they drive. Which is why, our tire service in vaughan is geared towards making you fall in love with your car and ensuring that each and every service you want: whether its synthetic oil change or tire or wheel swaps, our expert technicians and mechanics are here to make your experience a quality one and to make your car drive like a dream again. Trust Magnum Autoclub for the best auto maintenance service.