Tyre tests at Tyre Reviews (2023)

FAQs

What is a tyre test? ›

Tire testing and assessment services include tests for rolling resistance, energy efficiency, rolling noise and road performance (e.g. braking, handling) on various surface conditions.

So, increasing your wheel size will decrease the driving force from your wheels which will culminate in a decrease in acceleration of said wheels. To summarise, a car's engine finds it more difficult to rotate larger wheels, making for a decrease in overall acceleration.

Larger wheels offer better traction, and because they have more rubber on the tire, this also means a better grip on the road. Larger tires are better for car cornering and handling than your regular tires. They also reduce the braking distance and improve braking overall, adding to safety.

The laboratory test machines can also measure important parameters such as durability (endurance) at high speed; tyre characteristics / force and moment; rolling resistance; noise levels; tyre stiffness; foot-printing, including dynamic; and wheel fatigue.

An easy way to check tread depth is to insert a 20p coin into the tread grooves on the tyre. If, once the coin has been placed, you can't see the outer band on the coin, your tyres are safely within the legal limit.

It's likely your old tires had very little tread depth by the time you replaced them. Tires with very little tread tend to respond quicker, because there's less tread that needs to flex during maneuvering. So, new ones might feel slightly less responsive before they're fully broken in.

Do wider tires get better gas mileage? ›

However, for freeway driving at high speeds, having larger tires can help increase the vehicle's fuel efficiency. Is this because while it is easier to get a smaller wheel and tire moving than a larger one, once moving, the engine works harder to make the smaller wheel cover the same distance as a larger one.

Wet condition driving — Wide tires are better for driving in wet weather since they have sipes, which help to trap and remove water from the contact surface. Narrow tires have sipes as well, but since they have a smaller surface area, they have less of them.

Rear tires provide the vehicle stability, and if they have little tread, then stability is lost. Although new front tires will spread water and maintain traction, worn tires in the back will hydroplane and may cause the vehicle to spin out, says Tire Review.

Wider tires have an increased risk of hydroplaning on slippery or wet surfaces, but they generally provide better grip for dry surfaces. Narrow tires will offer better traction in slippery conditions, but they are generally better for lighter vehicles such as hybrids or electric cars.

Minimum tread depth

The original tread pattern must be visible in the remaining quarter. At least 1.0mm throughout a continuous band across at least 3/4 of the breadth of the tread and around the entire circumference. The original tread pattern must be visible in the remaining quarter.

Tyres need to be weather-resistant and in a position to withstand the strains and stresses encountered when driving. They are required in addition to adapt to a certain extent to any changes in the weather conditions. The chemical industry has made crucial advances here.

Most vehicle manufacturers recommend that the tires be rotated on the same schedule as oil changes. In most cases that means every 7,500 miles or six months, though some have stretched the oil-change interval to 10,000 miles, as with many Fords, Volkswagens and Toyotas.

Tire tread is composed of several ribs. Turn the penny so that Lincoln's head points down into the tread. See if the top of his head disappears between the ribs. If it does, your tread is still above 2/32” , If you can see his entire head, it may be time to replace the tire because your tread is no longer deep enough.

How many miles do tyres usually last? ›

Miles wise, you should be able to get at least 20,000 miles out of your front tyres and 40,000 for your back tyres. However, this depends on a few factors, chiefly: The quality of the tyre itself. The road conditions it's used on.

Pirelli and Michelin both offer premium quality designs for passenger cars, SUVs, and motorcycle tires. But if we are talking about the larger catalogue of tires, Michelin is surely better. Especially in the family of touring tires where Michelin has produced a lot namely the Defender, Primacy, and Premier.

Michelin: Best Tires Overall

One of the most popular tire brands in the U.S. and throughout the world, Michelin sells quality tires in virtually every category. From run-flat tires to summer tires to all-season tires, Michelin tops recommendation lists from consumers and industry experts alike.

Michelin is the world's top tire manufacturer and leads the industry in innovation and trust. As our top Golden Wrench winner for Best Tire Brand, Michelin has a trusted track record for quality and longevity.

In fact, there are only two genuine American brands: Goodyear and Cooper. The largest foreign tire companies with plants in the US include Michelin, Pirelli, Continental, Bridgestone, and Yokohama.

Established in 1894, Kelly Tires is the oldest American-made tire brand. Kelly Tires was founded in Springfield, Ohio as a solid-rubber carriage and buggy tire producer...

World's leading tyre companies 2022: Michelin and Bridgestone neck and neck for pole position. Michelin remains the world's leading tyre company by sales turnover, but Bridgestone is close behind in one of three close battles distributed across the table.

If your tires are worn, underinflated, or otherwise compromised, they'll lose their grip on the road and the vehicle will vibrate. The faster you go the less traction you have, and your car will also shake if it isn't balanced or aligned properly.

When your car vibrates every time you drive at 50-70 mph, it is most likely that your wheels are out of balance. The vibrations will emanate from the steering wheel across the seat and through the vehicle's floor.

Higher driving speeds cause more heat to build up in the rubber, breaking down the tire more quickly than at slower speeds. Similarly, taking turns at slower speeds and avoiding skidding on turns also helps the tire last longer.

What type of tire gives the best fuel mileage? ›

Under normal circumstances, a wheel alignment will take an average of one hour, whether it's a two-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive vehicle. If there's too much wear and tear or damage on the suspension system, steering bushing, track rod, or other parts, it'll take a longer time as some components have to be replaced.

After installing New Tires You may experience a reduction in your Vehicle's Fuel Efficiency. The Tire Tread of the New Tire has more Rolling Resistance than Tires with Worn Tread. Rolling Resistance is the amount of energy you need to transfer to the Tires to keep the Tires moving at a consistent speed.

PROPERLY INFLATED TIRES IN WET WEATHER

For the best possible wet weather performance, we recommend inflating your tires to the vehicle manufacturer's recommended air pressure. This provides the best possible contact patch for your tires. In addition to wet weather traction, tire pressure also affects treadwear.

As a general rule, bigger wheels result in a rougher ride. Switching to a smaller wheel and a thicker tire can give you a smoother ride without any major modifications to your car. However, if you go too crazy and change your wheel size too much, it can cause some problems.

The more friction the vehicle has with the road surface, the greater the fuel consumption. Wider tires create more friction than narrow ones, reducing fuel economy. Besides, wider wheels will be heavier and require the engine to work more to move. That's why your car will have to fill up faster than usual.

Overinflation can cause loss of traction. Even in normal driving conditions, you are more susceptible to losing traction, spinning out or crashing. Therefore, it is even more noticeable if your tires are overinflated in winter weather. Overinflation creates a harsher ride.

In a heavy rain, your tires can lose all traction with the road at about 50 mph. Bald or badly worn tires will lose traction at much lower speeds.

Over-inflated tires can lose traction because the shape of the tire actually becomes deformed by excessive air pressure, decreasing the tire's footprint on the road. Over-inflated tires can be more prone to damage -- an over-inflated tire is stiffer and may not react as expected to common road hazards like potholes.

Should I put bigger tires in the front or back? ›

While it's fine to put narrower tyres on the front and wider on the back, it's pointless to put wider tyres on just one side of the car. This would change the weight balance and would mean one side of the vehicle would grip differently to the road when braking. It would change the cornering dynamic, too.

Tires wear faster on the front of the car. Having good traction in the front of the car is more important than having good traction in the rear of the car.

All-wheel drive vehicles are more likely to hydroplane than two-wheel drive vehicles, because their computerized differentials may shift power from the front to the rear tires, creating a hydroplaning situation. Heavy vehicles are less prone to hydroplaning.

VEHICLE SPEED

Depending on the tires' tread depth and design, along with the amount of water on the road, hydroplaning can occur at speeds as low as 35 mph.

Tires with low to worn-out tread are more likely to lose traction and hydroplane in wet conditions than tires with more tread. Even the best tires on the road offer little resistance to hydroplaning when their tread is worn down to 4 to 2/32nd of an inch.

It has carried out a similar test in previous years. Each team has an allocation of 30 sets of tyres (120 in total), chosen from a pool of 35 sets of slicks in a range of six compounds from the hardest C0 to softest C5, as well as two intermediate sets and two wets in the unlikely event of rain.

Any vehicle found to have a tread depth close to or under the legal limit (1.6mm) are left a ticket explaining the reason why tread is used on tyres to gain grip in the wet as well as informing the driver of which wheel they have spotted as being defective.

Alternatively, get your tyres checked professionally. Underinflated tyres can lead to overheating, poor handling and even – in extreme cases – a blowout. Make a note to regularly check that your tyres are inflated to the correct pressure.

Tyres generally lose up to two pounds of air per month. This leads to your tyres quickly becoming under-inflated if you don't keep an eye on them, making it crucial to perform a tyre pressure check once a month.

These are known as C0 to C5, with the 'C' standing for 'compound'. Last year's C1 tire has become the C0 for 2023. This is the hardest tire in the range, which will be nominated for the circuits that take the most energy out of the tires.

How long is the F1 TYRE test? ›

The session was largely dedicated to 2023 Formula 1 tyre testing, hence it was expanded to 90 minutes.

Excluding the wheel rims, the front and rear tyres weigh 9.5kg and 11.5kg respectively – about 1.5 times the weight of a bowling ball.

If you are stopped by the police and you are not en route to having them replaced, you're driving with illegal tyres and they can issue a fine.

Tyre tread depth has to be above 1.6mm to be legal. This must be the case for the middle three quarters of the tyre.

By doing so, they ensure that the trunk is closed and that no one will jump out of it. But the action goes one step further: it is meant to ensure the officer's own safety. Touching the trunk in a defined area leaves their fingerprints on the car. If they were to be attacked, the vehicle could be linked with the crime.

The average tyre with 3mm of tread can expect around 10,000-15,000 miles before needing replaced. Make sure to check your tyres regularly though.

The U.S. Department of Transportation recommends replacing tires when they reach 2/32”, and many states legally require tires to be replaced at this depth.

Check For Tread Depth

To meet legal safety standards in the U.S., a tire's tread needs to be at least 2/32” deep. If the tires do not meet the 2/32” standard or are approaching not meeting it, you should replace your tires. When replacing tires, it's important to select the right tire size for your vehicle.

On average, most tyres are sufficient to drive for around 20,000 to 30,000 miles. Tyres that are ten years' old should be replaced to ensure your car is safe to drive. You can find out when your tyres were produced by reading the markings on the sidewall of the tyre.

A good rule of thumb to remember is that your tires lose about one PSI every month after you fill them, so checking every month can help you to ensure that they are always inflated to the proper pressure.

What pressure should my tyres be? ›

Most passenger cars have a recommended PSI between 31 and 35 when the tyres are cold. But with so many different types of vehicles and tyre options you should always refer to your vehicle handbook for the required tyre pressure.