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Choosing new tyres for your vehicle.
Eventually, the tyres on your vehicle are going to wear out. Tyres are, after all, a consumable item. But did you know that you’re not stuck with what the manufacturer fitted your vehicle with from the factory? There are a lot of great options available when it comes to new tyres as well as a lot of reasons why you might choose a different tyre when it comes time to replace a set of worn out tyres.
What are OE tyres?
The standard tyres that come fitted to your car are referred to as OE (Original Equipment) tyres. These are the tyres your manufacturer has specified and tuned your suspension around. Choosing a tyre early on in vehicle development allows automakers to fine-tune the handling, comfort level and the overall feel of a new car.
Why would I change from OE tyres?
The standard tyres your vehicle manufacturer chose for your vehicle were picked (or developed) with a priority for on-road performance, comfort, low noise, fuel efficiency, and most importantly, price.
Depending on what you use your vehicle for you may choose an alternative tyre when it comes time to replace the ones currently on your vehicle. Let’s look at some of the factors that go into this decision
Weight limit
If you’re regularly transporting heavy loads in your vehicle you might want to look into alternative tyres that feature higher load ratings. Overloaded tyres can suffer from excessive sidewall flex and heat. Tyre sidewalls overheating is both a sign of underinflation or too much weight on the tyre, and can lead to blowouts at speed.
If you carry a lot of weight in your car, come see us to ensure your tyres are up to the task.
Tread type/terrain expectations
Chances are, if you bought a modern 4x4, it would have been fitted with either a Highway Terrain or a mild All-Terrain tyre from the factory. These do the job for street use and commuting, but if your vehicle does double duty on weekends on off-road tracks and trails you might consider changing to another style tyre. Going with a more aggressive All-Terrain will increase the road noise but are a much more puncture resistant tyre designed to provide significantly more traction off the beaten track. Mud Terrain tyres are louder again but designed for spectacular levels of performance off-road when compared to most OE tyres.
Noise
Even though most OE tyres are chosen for their quiet characteristics, there are often gains to be had by opting for a higher-end, premium tyre that reduces road noise even further. If you have a luxury sedan or similar vehicle, ask us about ultra-quiet tyres to suit your vehicle.
Size
Going back to the 4WD and off-road crowd, moving up to a larger diameter tyre can often mean the difference between clearing an obstacle and not. Larger diameter tyres can climb ledges and rocks easier as well as ride over corrugations on rough roads with much less buffeting inside the vehicle. The reason why your vehicle didn’t come fitted with larger tyres like this was likely a cost concern.
Performance upgrades
There may be times when you have performance issues with your current tyres, modified vehicles producing extra power may have requirements for higher performance tyres in larger widths. More rubber on the road means more opportunity for grip.
Big power is nothing without a set of big brakes too. Brake upgrades that necessitate moving to a different or larger wheel can often mean choosing a wider tyre too.
What about Australian regulations?
It’s important to note that you cannot choose a tyre that doesn’t meet the bare minimum requirements set by your vehicle manufacturer on the tyre placard. This will still give you a lot of options.
In Australia, there are regulatory limits to how much wider and taller your new tyres can be. Items like speedometers and ABS systems can be affected by inappropriate aftermarket tyre sizes and modifications and in some instances, an engineers certificate is required to maintain roadworthy status.
Contact the experts
If you’re unhappy with the tyres currently fitted to your vehicle for whatever reason, come see the experts at Donnellans. We have workshops in 5 convenient locations across South East Melbourne.
Our professional and qualified staff can assist you in finding the right tyre for your vehicle. If you’re looking for tyres, wheels, suspension repairs and upgrades, come see us. Your one-stop-shop.
