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How To Purchase Tires?

There’s no single tire type that is outstanding in all conditions. So, what type of car tire should you get? How should you decide which tires to purchase? In this quick guide, we’ll walk through different questions to help you decide what might be best for you.

What type of roads do you usually drive in?

view landscape white long asphalt blue

Let’s ask yourself a quick question. Are you a highway driver that require to travel within one state to another state frequently/ a city driver/ an off-road driver?
Keep in mind that different usage conditions require different tire characteristics.

For mainly city driving, you can look for tires that comes with the optimum braking distance, on both dry and wet roads. Driving in Malaysia’s cities with its numerous stops and starts puts great demands on the tire. A tire with increased longevity and low rolling resistance will be the first option of yours. 

For mainly road or highway driving, you can look for tires with maximized safeness that provide optimum braking distance at high speed on both dry and wet roads. Other than that, you should also look for tires that provide excellent grip and stability. Long distance or long hours driving with a set of comfort and good handling tires will give you a good driving pleasure throughout the trips. comfort tire is a necessary when you required to drive for  a long trips frequently. 

For unpaved or off-roads, you can look for 
tires that provide off-road traction and maximum durability. Especially when driving your car in dirt, sand, or gravel.

 

What is your driving style?

business woman hand using car automatic gear woman driving concept

If you like a quiet comfortable ride, look for tires that specifically mention comfort, smooth ride, or low road noise. Generally speaking, touring tires with lower speed rating (S, T or H ratings on the sidewall) are optimized for more comfort instead of more speed. Avoid aggressive tread designs tires as they may look cool but can generate lots of road noise.

If you like to feel every curve, look for tires that mention great handling or steering precision. These are often called Ultra-High-Performance (UHP) tires and have higher speed ratings, meaning that they are optimized to provide better control and a stiffer, more precise ride.

Note: It’s recommended to never go below the speed rating specified by the manufacturer of your vehicle 

 

What are the different types of tires?

FALKEN WILDPEAK AT3 2

When it comes to types of tires, there are different kinds on the market. For example, there are all season tires, performance tires, highway tires, touring tires, and more. Which type of tire you need will depend on the type of vehicle you have as well as your typical driving conditions.

Let’s take a further look at the categories of vehicles and the types of tires that we summarized.

Sedans, minivans, and crossover utility vehicle.
  1. All-season tires
    Tires that maximize comfort. Giving smooth driving conditions on the highway. Come in S and T speed ratings.

  2. Touring tires
    Touring tires help secure a smooth ride like all-season tires and have more performance-boosting benefits like responsive handling.

  3. Performance tires
    Come in H and V speed rating. Performance tires typically have higher speed ratings than touring tires but are also designed to support you in different weather conditions, especially wet weather. The design and grooves in performance tires work by increasing the grip to help you stay safe in all types of weather conditions.

  4. Ultra-High-Performance tires
    Ultra-high-performance tires are commonly fitted to upscale sedans or sporty vehicles. UHP tires are designed to provide good handling and responsive steering in wet and dry conditions, but treadwear and ride comfort are common compromises. Summer UHP tires are not intended for cold weather and won’t grip in snowy or icy conditions. All-season versions may compromise some dry and wet grip to gain winter traction.
Trucks & SUV’s
  1. Highway-terrain (H/T)
    Highway tires are designed for heavier vehicle like trucks and suvs. It creates a smooth, even ride at increased speeds despite the vehicle’s mass. Many highway tires have tread patterns that help support the wear and tear of the tires might face while avoiding unevenness. The tires are generally designed to support traction during all seasons.

  2. All-terrain tires (A/T)
    If you like to go off-roading or often drive on uneven surfaces, all-terrain tires can help you navigate those environments with comfort and ease. All-terrain tires are made with complex tread patterns that support your vehicle while driving off-road, like in dirt, sand, or gravel. All-terrain tires provide security while dealing with various driving conditions while you drive off-road.

  3. Mud-terrain tires (M/T)
    Mud-terrain tires feature deep tire tread with giant grooves, which are made for dealing with off-roading in mud or less solid terrain but not great for other driving conditions. When mud builds up, it creates a point where the tire can push itself over—which we don’t want to happen. This is why Mud-terrain tires is designed specifically to push mud around.

In Summary

There are many brands and different type of tires being sold in marketplace today. But finding the right one that fit your car can be difficult as they’re integral to the performance of your car. The right tire can boost your safety, comfort, and performance, so it’s crucial to be well prepared and well equipped. Last but not least, you should always look for tires that match the way you like to drive.