Which tyres are the best tyres for a car?
Our tyre professionals’ answer may be surprising; all of them. Every car is different so in a perfect world every car would have its own uniquely tailored tyres, protecting its weaknesses, optimising its virtues and meeting the driver’s budget. That is precisely why there are so many different types of tyre to choose from.
If the variety of cars were not already enough to account for the selection of tyres available, the range of drivers, roads and weather conditions adds a further dimension. They all place different demands on a car’s tyres, so tyre manufacturers create different tyre brands to support them. This may seem to be a roundabout answer, but it is the truth – to choose the best tyre you need to decide what it needs to be best at. Given the variety of different demands and priorities we have, when the tyre tread depth gets low it is time to weigh-up our requirements.
Transparent tyre labelling
In the past, tyre makers were not always forthcoming about their production methods, materials and design objectives. Also, some garages did not always make the effort to find out, and motorists may not have thought deeply about the right questions to ask.
Fortunately, tyre makers have responded to criticism by subjecting their tyre brands to rigorous independent testing and now provide more information about their tyres. Here at Protyre, we list our car tyres online with all the information you need to match their characteristics to your requirements using our online tyre-finder app. It has never been easier to make the right choice. Tyres are critical to your road safety and we hope our online information helps to broaden your understanding of tyres so you can ask the right questions.
What are the main considerations?
Some of the main aspects to consider are braking, cornering, durability, stability at high speed, temperature resilience (both high and low), rolling noise, rolling resistance (and therefore fuel economy), aquaplaning resistance, grip in ice, snow and mud, weather resistance (oxidation and aging), wear-rate, comfort, firmness under load, run-flat capability, porosity and puncture-resistance. Finally, of course, price.
Weigh up the pros and cons
When top tyre designers such as Bridgestone build a tyre to grip the road to improve braking, there is a good chance the tyre’s fuel economy will deteriorate as the engine will need to work harder. They may harden the compound to reduce the wear caused by the friction, but that could worsen its aquaplaning on water. They might improve the tread pattern to sweep away water more efficiently, but then it loses grip on ice. It is possible to build a tyre that is good in most conditions, but the extra research and complexity raises the price significantly.
It is no surprise that putting top performing Bridgestone, Falken or Pirelli tyres on a budget vehicle will not always improve it. Choose the tyres that match the vehicle you have and how you intend to use it.
Book with Protyre
If you need advice or recommendations, Protyre is here to help. We offer various free vehicle checks, including tyre, brake, and exhaust checks, and we can offer same-day fitting across much of our range, all of which can be booked online and hassle-free.
