Tyre Performance

**matt** · #1 08-25-2008, 07:19 PM

Remember the information contained within is useful for all cars

Tyre Performance – Part one

US = Tire

Improving the performance of your tyres is the most critical component of any car. When you consider the actual contact surface of your tyres is about the size of your foot (or larger) you start to realize just how critical it is to get all your vehicles power down quickly and efficiently.

A cheap tyre can reduce your ability to corner on a dry surface by as much a 10-20 mph in the wet this difference can be much greater. Most road tyres (and some high performance tyres) perform better in the dry.

Tyres are probably the most critical component on a car (After the Brakes of course

) and are often overlooked by road car drivers. Most owners often favour cheaper options.

An Ultra High Performance Tyre. Notice the tread pattern.

Fitting tyres for best performance

When purchasing new tyres you should consider what make, durability and wet performance ability they will have. Remember new tyres should generally go on the rear to prevent over steer problems. Get the same or similar tread patterns for all tyres if possible.

General Tyre Information

Tyres tested and proven best on the track could be the worst on the road. Track tyres can be softer then there road counterparts and this can lead to excessive wear or blowouts with cheaper brands. Roads are also full of potholes, and speed bumps the tyre may bounce or just create a harsh and noisy ride. In severe cases the wrong tyres on your car can damage your suspension.

Check your tyres visually every day. Look for cuts, bulges and remove stones. Check pressures weekly.

Regular loss of pressure can be caused by a puncture, a faulty valve, a split in the wall of the tyre or heavy driving so get a suspect tyre checked properly. Driving with the wrong tyre pressures is as illegal as driving with below the minimum tread depth (UK)

Get
your wheels balanced yearly.

vGrooves are best allround tyres however these do not give best grip in corners. They provide very predictable handling which is good for road driving.

Tyre blowouts

Fortunately these are very rare. However they still do occur. Often on higher speed roads such as Motorways, “A” roads and freeways.
Every time you drive up a kerb, through a pothole that you could have avoided, park with your tyres pressing against a kerb or leave weeks between tyre pressure checks they all have a permanent effect on your tyres.

Your tyres don’t just “burst”. It usually happens over a period of time. As a simple prevention method it’s wise to care for your tyres

It’s possible for poorly maintained tyres to be ripped to the belt or canvas as shown below. If you damage the sidewall of the tyre a potential accident can happen if there is a blow out. Always avoid rubbing the tyre against the kerb when parking and check for damage frequently.

If you look after your tyres but are still unlucky enough to get a blowout look below for some advice on how to act in the emergency.

Maintaining control of your vehicle in rear tyre blowout situations
Your car will weave about most likely at speeds from 40mph onwards.
Hold the steering wheel firmly and let the car slow down by itself. Avoid touching the brakes during the blowout stage. Doing so can create a whole heap of problems.

Changing to a lower gear will help in a front wheel drive car if you can control the steering with one hand (not fully recommended)
If you have to stop quickly use the footbrake - this throws weight forwards onto the front wheels. Remember to be ready to correct the almost certain slide at the back.

The car will pull heavily to one side at this time. Steer firmly to correct the pull. Keep both hands on the steering wheel until the car stops. If you are on the motorway put your hazards on and check your mirrors before pulling onto the hard shoulder or a safe area. You can drive slowly on the tyre but any faster will cause a loss of control.

Tyre Pressures

This is an area in which books of up to and beyond 1000 pages can be made. I will try and keep it brief.

Every tyre has a max pressure setting either stamped on the tyre or somewhere near the door area. These can be outdated sometimes so it might be wise to contact your manufacturer for updated psi recommendations as these can give you a smoother ride as well as save you money!

The 10% Theory

You should not inflate your tyres to the max recommended setting. This is the maximum pressure the tyre can operate safely under load.

The 10% theory is recommended as the optimum setting. Its a vague rule of thumb and not all cars are the same. Remember every car is different in terms of weight and handling. However it provides a good starting point.

Tyre Wear

Your tyre wear pattern can tell you a lot about any problems you might be having with the wheel/tyre/suspension geometry setup. The wear patterns are shown below:

Tyres are very much a living breathing thing. Treat them well. They will very, very rarely let you down

Remember look after those tyres. Whether you have a Ferrari or a bog standard car!

There also may be another part to this. Where I will go into depth about Nitrogen inflation and dust cap sensors.

Matt