Tires are one of the most important elements in terms of active safety of our vehicle. Their condition directly influences the behavior of our car and it will be essential that we select them properly, that is why there are several types of tires.
When purchasing a tire, several factors must be taken into account: that it is safe, that it does not pollute and that it saves fuel. For this, there are different types according to their construction characteristics, the shape of their tread pattern, the time of year in which we are going to use them or the type of use for which they are designed.
Types of tires according to the season of the year
One of the tire classification formulas is according to the season of the year and the weather conditions of each one. They differ so much in the drawing of the grooves like, as in the materials of which they are made:
summer tires
They can be used throughout the year, in any season, but they are designed to ride in summer and hot weather, since the rubber is designed to increase grip on asphalt with high temperatures, reduce rolling resistance and allow smoother and more precise driving in times without snow .
Below 7ºC they begin to lose grip because the rubber hardens. Also, if we use them on snowy or icy roads, they will lose almost all of their effectiveness. Therefore, in these circumstances, it is necessary to use well-installed snow chains. In the following video we tell you how:
winter tires
Winter tires are the ones that work best in cold weather, that's why they are a great alternative to chains. This type of tires they are better than chains and more comfortable to use. Mainly because you don't have to bend down to install anything and because you don't have to worry about issues like the chains breaking.
They are designed with special compounds and sheets located on the tread that allows you to ride on snowy and frozen terrain and, of course, on wet they perform at an optimal level, better than any other type of tire. They are also excellent for riding on terrain where the outside temperature is below 7 degrees.
Winter tires are usually indicated with the acronym M + S: Mud and Snow or Mud and snow in Spanish. But the symbol that assures you that they are for winter and the weather conditions that exist in it is the 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMS). That translated means Mountain of three peaks and snowflake. This will indicate that it is approved by the authorities as a winter tire. M+S is only used in the brands and does not imply any homologation.
After four years using winter tires, We have drawn the following conclusions compared to the summer tires:
all season tires
An all season tire is a tire that can be used both in winter and in summer, valid for both seasons. They will perform better in cold climates than summer tires, and they will also perform well in cold weather. However, they will never perform in the same way as a summer tire in summer and a winter tire in winter.
Its use will depend on where we are geographically located, in which country, since it will depend on the climate of the place, where the outside temperatures are not very extreme and remain more or less stable throughout the year (Spain is a good example).
It will also depend on the type of driver, since if you drive respecting the speed limits and adapting to the road conditions, you will be able to use them without problem.
Change tires according to the season
This custom would be ideal to always have maximum security. However, not everyone can do it because of the extra cost of having 4 extra wheels or changing only the tires each time (you have to go to a workshop). Also, storing the wheels requires a lot of space in the garage, which can be a hassle for many.
If you are still one of those who has four wheels prepared for when the season changes, in the following video you can see how to change them perfectly and safely.
Types of tires according to the profile
When we talk about the profile of a tire we talk about the aspect ratio, that is to say: if a tire measures 235/55 R17, it means that it is 23,5 cm wide, the profile is 55% of that width and it is prepared to be mounted on a rim with a diameter of 18 inches. Knowing this, we can find equivalences (same total diameter) both below and above (235/60 R16 or 235/40 R18).
Thus, depending on the width and the proportion between the rubber of the tire and the rim, we can say that there are two types of tires: high profile and low profile.
low profile tires
They are those that have a profile equal to or less than 55-50, depending on the width and that are usually provided with a protective edge of the rim.
Advantages low profile tires:
- These tires have less drift, improving cornering steering precision, that is why they are directed to carry out a sporty driving.
- These allow a increased dry grip and better braking, because they deform less and therefore maintain more contact surface against the ground.
- The wear of these tires is usually lower than the high-profile ones, since the latter deform more and generate more heat. However, it is true that as we reduce the profile and increase the size of the rim, the compounds are softer, since they are focused on sportier vehicles, resulting in shorter duration. Despite all this, in the end wear will always be conditioned by the type of driving of each one.
- lower noise than the high profile ones.
high profile tires
High profile tires offer greater comfort, because its greater profile cushions the irregularities of the terrain. That way it helps the suspension. This is due to the phenomenon of hysteresis and the little air inside the tires, as they have greater absorption and make them less sensitive to potholes or “curbs”. Also, this allows them to better protect the rim against possible deformations due to an excessive pothole.
wheels with high profile tires they are lighter as a general rule. So the consumption of the car will be less, as has been seen in the WLTP homologation cycle, which differentiates the consumption of the same car with different finishes.
This greater lightness of the wheel also affects the acceleration of the car. Although in a much less noticeable way than consumption. In the rim-tyre set, the heaviest part is the rim, so if we increase the rim and reduce the tire profile, we increase the weight in one of the most critical parts of the car to gain speed.
Those with a high profile usually offer less rolling resistance due to the fact that, normally, they are not tires focused on sportsmanship and, therefore, their chemical composition is different.
In addition, as a general rule, those with a high profile are pneumatic cheaper compared to low profile.
Why are low profile tires so fashionable? Two words: design and sportiness. Car brands have been in charge of associating a larger rim and wheel size with sportiness and elegance, making the consumer ignore important elements such as the price of the tire, fuel consumption and comfort.
Types of tires according to their drawing
Tire treads influence its performance in different environments. We can find three types of tires: symmetric, asymmetric o directional. To which must be added the semi-slick, who barely have a drawing, and the slick, which are directly smooth.
Symmetrical tires
These types of tires have an identical pattern on both sides, that is, they have a tread with the same profile on the inside and outside of the tire. It is the most common type of wheel in compact or urban cars: It is mainly available in medium-small wheels (13,14, 15 or XNUMX inches).
Advantages
- Good value for money.
- Cheaper than an asymmetric or directional tire.
- Long durability.
- Guarantees a good adhesion and stability
- Comfort enjoyable driving.
- no assembly sense so it is easy to mount and rotate.
Drawbacks
- are deprecated and they are less adapted to current technologies than asymmetric or directional tires.
- Poor performance on wet roads compared to other profiles.
- It is not designed for powerful or sporty vehicles.
asymmetric tires
Asymmetric tires, on the other hand, have different patterns on the inside and outside of the wheel. This allows to better optimize the parts of the tire and improve handling. On the outer side, the rubber blocks are generally wider to offer better cornering grip and dry grip. On the inner side, the pattern [in the form of a tube] is designed to evacuate and drain water on wet roads.
They are available in small, medium and large sizes (+19 inches) and the They usually carry vehicles of practically any range.
Advantages
- optimal grip and cornering stability.
- Guarantees a remarkable safety on wet roads and reduces the risk of aquaplaning.
- More silence than a symmetric tire.
Drawbacks
- less durability due to the presence of soft rubber in its structure.
- Makes sense of assembly, so you have to be careful and mount them leaving the word "outside" on the outer side of the tire.
directional tires
These usually have a drawing in the shape of a directional "V" or arrow, primarily intended for rapidly draining large amounts of water at high speed, so they only have one direction of rotation. Currently, this type of tire is widely used in winter, as it works perfectly in rainy or snowy conditions.
Advantages
- Optimum control on wet roads and high reduction of aquaplaning occur.
- Ideal traction and directionality on all types of snow on winter tires.
Drawbacks
- highest cost than the rest
- Minor Durability due to the presence of soft rubbers in its structure.
- rolling noise a little stronger.
- It makes sense of assembly, since they are specially designed to roll in only one direction.
semi-slick tires
They are tires that they barely have a drawing to increase the contact surface with the asphalt. That is why they have very good grip as long as it is not in the rain. Although they have some grooves, they have very little capacity to dislodge water, so the probability of losing grip and aquaplaning is very high.
these tires they are approved for street, because they have the right furrows to comply with the regulations. If they were completely smooth they could not be used on our roads, only on the circuit.
slick tires
Here we are already talking about a type of tire without drawing and therefore they are only suitable for dry use. Besides that they are only valid for competition for not complying with the homologation regulations to circulate on the street.
La contact surface against the asphalt is maximum and therefore the lateral and longitudinal grip of the tire is the greatest possible in that sense. Of course, as soon as some water falls, you have to stop to change them for ones with grooves, as you have already seen in the F1.
Types of tires according to their interior
Runflat or puncture-resistant tire
Runflat tires or runflat tires are specially designed with reinforcements on the flanks and shoulders that allow them to roll without air between 50 and 100 km [without exceeding 80 km/h] when a puncture has previously occurred. That is, like conventional tires, they can be punctured, but they allow you to continue to have control of the vehicle when this happens.
How do they work? When these get punctured, they do not deform as much compared to conventional tires. The runflats reinforce the flanks and shoulders so that when a puncture occurs, they release air and pressure in a more deliberate and slow way, but the most important thing is that they support the weight of the vehicle without deforming completely, preventing the tire from being destroyed causing the complete loss of control of the vehicle.
Michelin Tweel Airless Tire
"The tire that will never let you down", is how Michelin defines it. It is a type of tire adapts to pavement irregularitiesIt does not puncture or require excessive maintenance. This advanced technology is paid for, so the negative point is that these tires they are quite expensive aimed at vehicles in the construction sector, farmers, and any vehicle that is driven on uneven terrain surfaces.
tubeless tire
tubeless tires or also known as tubeless, are those that do not have an inner chamber, since they do not need it to enclose the air. Currently they are used in passenger cars. Inside these we find a layer of rubber insulation, with a hermeticity of the tire with the rim.
Compared to the conventional its assembly is simpler, in addition to incorporating a technology against punctures that makes them much safer. In the event that we puncture (unless it is a hole that is too large), the tubeless will not lose air in an uncontrolled way, but will maintain the pressure, since, as the air inside the tire is in direct contact with the rim, heat emission is improved. Tube tires are no longer used today.
retreaded tire
Retreaded tires take advantage of the base or casing, replacing the tread. This technology allows the tire to accumulate many kilometers in a short period of time.
Currently these types of tires are not used in passenger cars, but they are used in trucks or vans and even in airplanes. In favor of recycling, note that these tires are designed and manufactured with their subsequent retreading process in mind.
Green or ecological tires
Taking into account the current trend of society, the circular economy and care for the environment, the use of these tires is becoming much more frequent. They are also known as ecological or low consumption tires.
In their manufacturing process, they stand out for being designed with special compounds and with a pattern that help improve rolling resistance, achieving greatly reduce fuel consumption and reduce emissions.
These are all types of car tires that we can find on the market. You have already seen that there are several, suitable for different situations and depending on the type of vehicle to which it is directed. Use this guide to choose the right one, maintain the wheels correctly and enjoy the road.
Types of 4×4 tires
These types of tires are for out of the asphalt. But don't take it literally. Most are designed for mixed use between on and off the road in different proportions. The most common types of 4×4 tires are:
- Camino : Designed for 100% off-road use. Large rubber studs and a focused pattern for very difficult uneven terrain.
- Mixed: designed for 50% asphalt and 50% off-road use. Some qualities similar to off road, but less rugged, to maintain a reasonable contact surface with the road.
- Off road: These tires are usually mounted for 20% asphalt use and 80% field use.
- Highway: they are the opposite of off road. 80% on asphalt and 20% off it.