Four rubber patches touching the road surface are your car’s only contact with the ground. Shouldn’t motorists look after their cars’ tyres as if their lives depend on it? Despite tyres being expensive to replace, you still need to give them top priority regarding your budget. But what does one do when buying new tyres? What can you choose from so many brands? Learn more below about how to choose the best tyres wisely.1,2
What is the size of your car’s tyres?
How large are the tyres you need? There are two sources of information. First, look at the car manual, or check the tyre pressure notice inside the driver’s door, or petrol flap. Second, examine the information displayed on the tyre wall. 1
Understanding the jargon of a tyre’s information
A tyre’s details consist of numbers and letters, such as shown by the configuration “225/45 R17 94W”. In this case, the tyre’s width is 225 mm, “R” refers to its “radial construction”, while the wheel size or inner diameter is 17 inches. The “94” refers to the load rating (chart based), while “W” denotes the speed rating (chart-based). You can obtain tyres with higher load and speed ratings but must never be lower than the manufacturer’s specifications. 1
What kind of tyre do you need?
Fortunately, South Africa has mild winters and motorists don’t require special tyres to cope with snow. Instead, we use all-year-round tyres that can handle any season. 1
Which brand will you choose?
Even though you may not have heard of some brands, it doesn’t mean they are of inferior quality. In fact, some name brands can be as bad as no-name brands. But it’s still wisest to select brands that are well-known for their durability and reliability. It may cost you more in the end if you buy the cheapest tyres available. 1
A tyre’s mileage
You’ll get less mileage from high-performance tyres than economy tyres, seeing as the former must work much harder and will wear out quicker. But this extra cost compensates for the joy of driving a high-performance car. Most motorists only need economy tyres which have less grip but provide greater mileage. Never use economy tyres on a performance car.1
What if your car has run-flat tyres?
Run-flat tyres are heavier than regular, tubeless tyres because of their specially reinforced structure. This means that you can still drive your car to the nearest garage in the event of a puncture. 1
Don’t mix tyres
Make sure your car hasn’t got run-flat tyres, as you will have to replace them with the same type of tyre. You can’t fit a tubeless tyre on a car that has run-flats. If it has a puncture, you’ll be stuck on the road, seeing a car fitted with run-flat tyres doesn’t have a spare wheel. 1
Are you still covered regarding your car’s current tyres?
Make sure you adhere to your car insurance policy’s specific tyre requirements, as you don’t want to risk the rejection of an accident claim. In addition, monitor your car’s roadworthiness, including the condition of your tyres. A tyre is not roadworthy if its tread depth is less than the minimum legal depth of 1.6 mm.1,2
Disclaimer
This article will show you how to choose the best tyres for your car. 1,2
Should you have an accident, you want to be sure you have adequate cover. If uncertain, contact us at PMD so that we can share our world-class client service and information about our affordable car insurance products. They come with unique benefits, such as fixed premiums* and a reduce-to-zero excess*. T’s and C’s apply.
It’s best to consult a certified financial advisor for professional advice so that you’ll buy the correct financial services product.
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This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own. The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.
