Most of us operate motor vehicles on daily basis and hardly
ever pay any attention to one of the most vital parts of the vehicle which are
our tyres.
There are certain things that you need to know about tyres -
- Expiration Date - Tyre expire 4 years after the date of manufacture and this date is stamped on the side of the tyre. If we use expired tyres, they are likely to burst and result in a very serious or even a fatal accident.
- Size Index – The size index is a code mentioned on the side of the tyre which tells you about the specification of the tyres.
For example - P 265 / 60 R 18
P – Passenger Car Tyre
265 – Tyre Width in mm
60 – Aspect Ratio (Height to Width
ratio of tire, 60% of width in this case)
R – Radial Tyre
18
– 18 Inch Wheel
- ·Pressure Index – On the side of the tyre, you will also find the maximum allowable inflating pressure for that specific tyre, some tyres have a maximum pressure of 32 psi some are rated at 44psi and some even 50 psi. Check your specific tyre to see what the maximum pressure is for your tyres, it is an acceptable practice to have your tyres a few pounds below maximum allowable pressure but not too much.
- Load Index – Also mentioned on the side of the tyre, the load index tells you about the maximum load which should be applied on the tyre. For example 109T means maximum load capacity 2271 lbs 1030 kg.
- Speed Index – The speed rating for which a tire is indicated by a letter next to the load index.
- Temperature Index – This is another code mentioned which indicates a tyre resistance to heat. Tyres are rated from highest to lowest resistance as A, B or C.
- Traction Index – Traction is the tyres ability to stop on wet pavement. A higher graded tyre should allow you to stop your vehicle on a wet road in a shorter distance than a tyre with lower grade. Traction is graded from highest to lowest as AA, A, B or C.
- Tread Wear Index – This number will give you the
rate at which the tire wears out, the higher the tread wear the longer it
should take for the tire to wear out.
Factors affecting tyre performance –
·
Tyre Pressure - Lower pressure increases tyre
heat at higher speeds and excessive heat results in tire damage.
·
Vehicle Loading – Many times we overload our
vehicles without paying any attention to the strain this puts on our tires,
exceeding the maximum load rating on a tire may also lead to tyre failure.
·
Aspect Ratio – Aspect Ratio = Height /
Width
Lesser the
aspect ratio more is the traction and hence the cost increases.
·
Rolling Resistance – It is the effort required
to keep your tyre rolling. Low rolling resistance tyres helps in less fuel
consumption.
·
Wheel Alignment Parameters (Toe, Camber, Caster)
– Tire alignment helps your tyre perform properly and last longer. Having tyres
aligned and balanced every 5,000 to 6,000 miles can help maximise their
lifespan and overall performance.
