Tyres
Ultimately, the only thing connecting you with the road is four hand sized bits of rubber close to each end of the car. Of course, I’m talking about tyres here and how important they are to overall performance, ability and safety for the car.
Here are some terms that you might want to think about when purchasing a new set of tyres:
Aquaplaning: When the water saturation on the road means tyres completely lose traction.
Asymmetrical tread pattern: A tyre that features a pattern that is different on each side to maximise grip.
Braking ability: Tyres with good braking ability will maintain traction. This is especially important if your car is not fitted with ABS.
Compound: The type of rubber that the tyre is made from.
Grip: The level of hold that a tyre has on the road. No grip means loss of control.
Longevity: How long a set of tyres will last for (e.g. 10,000 miles).
Responsiveness: Tyres that are responsive will provide better control, especially when turning.
Rolling resistance: Tyres that have a low rolling resistance are (theoretically) easier on fuel consumption as they travel easier.
Tread Pattern: The pattern of grooves and lines on a tyre. Considerations for this include levels of grip and how a tyre will handle wet conditions. Racing cars often feature ‘slicks’ – this have no pattern at all to provide the maximum amount of rubber in contact with the road!
Tyre/road noise: The amount of noise generated by a particular tyre that intrudes into the passenger space of the car. Some tyres are quieter than others.
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