Choosing new tyres for your car can be a daunting and intimidating prospect. Some may argue that tyres are the most important factor where safety on the road is concerned. Fatalities on the road are a worst case scenario should you make incorrect choices.
Jim’s Mobile Tyres offers the best tyre deals on some of the best leading tyre brands. Our mobile service means we come to your home or workplace at your preferred scheduled time to do your tyre fitting. We have experienced technicians at hand to help you choose the best tyres for your vehicle. However, taking matters into your own hands and making your own decisions based on your own research can be an empowering practice.
Let’s discuss some of the factors considered in selecting which tyres best suit your needs.
If you are happy with the tyres your car came with, it’s easy enough to get those same ones in your new tyre fitting. However, it is still worth finding out what your options are if you’d like to make some changes.
WHEN TO FIT?
Tread – When the tyre tread is worn down there is significantly less traction when you brake or drive in wet conditions. This can be exceptionally dangerous. By Australian law your tyres must have a minimum tread of 1.6 mm although it is generally recommended to start looking for new tyres when your tread gets to about 3mm. To measure your tyre tread, insert a 20c coin into one of the central grooves of your tyre. If the tyre doesn’t reach the bill of the platypus, your tyre’s tread is below the 3mm mark.
Age – Most tyres do get replaced due to damage or wear and tear, however, even if they don’t get damaged or worn, they still won’t last forever. You should change them at least every 6 years.
TYRE SIZE
Tyre size is obviously the first thing to consider when on the market for new tyres. A quick look through your owner’s manual will tell you all you need to know as far as your specific car’s requirements are concerned. Alternatively, your tyre size is usually moulded onto your tyre sidewall. Here is an example of the sequence of numbers you may find:
205/55R1691V
This may appear like mumbo jumbo to you right now, but we can break it down quite simply for you. It consists of 5 parts:
- Width: The first three digits indicate the width of your tyre in millimetres. In this case the tyre is 205mm long. Some food for thought: The larger your tyre, the more of a grip it has on the road. A wider tyre can also slightly increase fuel consumption
- Profile: The two digits after the forward slash indicate what is known as the aspect ratio. This is the tyre’s height in relation to its width indicated in percentage. In this case the height is 55% of its width . This would mean your tyre sidewall is 113mm high (205 mm x 55% = 113 mm).
- Rim size: (R16) The diameter of this rim is16 inches.
- Load index : The 2 digits after the rim size are the load index. This is chart-based and tells you how much weight the tyre can carry in kilograms. In this case the 91 indicates that the tyre can hold up to 615kg safely. This is something to consider if you use your vehicle to transport heavy loads. You might want to choose something with a higher load index when choosing new tyres.
- Speed index (v) : The last digit indicates the speed index. This means the maximum speed the tyre can safely be driven at to stay within optimal performance. Again, you will need to refer to a tyre chart for this but here the ‘V” indicates a maximum speed of 240 kph. If you are someone who likes to live in the fast lane, choosing tyres with a higher speed index would be a consideration for you.
In some vehicles front and rear tyres are sized differently so it’s important to check all your tyres.
TYRE TYPE
For countries with extreme weather changes, it is mandatory for vehicle owners to have two sets of tyres. Winter tyres are designed to perform optimally in temperatures that drop below 7 degrees celsius. Fortunately, Australians do not have this concern as our temperature does not drop this low.
BRANDS
There are many brands to consider, some pricier than others. Your budget plays a key role here as well as personal preference. It might be tempting to go the cheaper route when forking out the cash for new tyres. Yet ‘you get what you pay for’ is especially true when it comes to tyres. Fortunately Jim’s Mobile Tyres offers the best deals in most leading brands. Our reputation and relationship with our suppliers means we get the best deals and are able to offer those savings to you.
JIM’S MOBILE TYRE FITTING
Jim’s is Australia’s most reputable mobile tyre service. Call us to get a free quote or if you have any questions regarding your car tyres. Book an appointment today and let us know where to meet you to fit new tyres. We have many top-brands to choose from and offer great deals that we update regularly. See our website for more details. An entire fitting will only take about an hour and our price is all inclusive. Call Jim’s Mobile Tyres today for any tyre -related query
