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Equipment Tests > Tyre tips
Tyre tips
Words by Gregor Stronach
Having the right tools for the job is as important as knowing how to do it. For 4WDers, this means making sure that your vehicle is well enough equipped to handle the conditions you have decided to tackle, be it highway touring or some serious mud-plugging. Either way, one of the most important considerations is the choice of tyre. They come in many sizes, with hundreds of variations of tread pattern, tread depth, width and profile - each designed to handle specific applications. Making sure you have matched the right tyre to the driving you're going to do is vital.
Tyre choice is a very subjective thing. Some drivers are more comfortable with a certain configuration than others and, as with everything to do with 4WDs, the post-drive discussion of the various merits of each person's set-up will generally involve some animated discussion of tyre choice. The trick to finding the right set-up for your vehicle, conditions and driving style is to approach a reputable tyre dealer and talk to them about what you've tried before, and what you'll need for the future. A tyre dealer with more than a passing interest in keeping their customers safe and happy should take the time to talk this through with you adequately before you make your purchase.
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As with most modern 4WD componentry, there is a certain degree of compromise with most tyre designs. 4WD tyres must be able to handle a much greater variety of conditions than a normal passenger tyre. The on-road characteristics of the tyre must essentially be traded off against the off-road requirements, leaving tyre manufacturers with the problem of achieving the perfect blend. Different driving conditions demand different tyres, and finding the happy medium is the key to producing a successful tyre.
A common misconception amongst 4WDers is 'the wider the tyre, the better it will be'. In general, wider tyres are only more useful on heavy vehicles or vehicles carrying heavy loads. Hence, drivers assume that purchasing the largest tyres and rims that they can for their 4WD will make their vehicle the safest on the road. However, wider tyres are far more likely to aquaplane on wet sealed roads, and have a tendency to lose traction on trails. Slimmer, light truck tyres are, anecdotally, far better for sand driving than many 4WDers think, their smaller 'footprint' less likely to dig into the sand, bogging the vehicle. Likewise, tyres that have been designed specifically for sand use, with longitudinal grooves and few cross-blocks should never be used in snow and ice conditions, as this sort of tread pattern will offer little or no grip when you need it.
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Having the right tools for the job is as important as knowing how to do it. For 4WDers, this means making sure that your vehicle is well enough equipped to handle the conditions you have decided to tackle, be it highway touring or some serious mud-plugging. Either way, one of the most important considerations is the choice of tyre. They come in many sizes, with hundreds of variations of tread pattern, tread depth, width and profile - each designed to handle specific applications. Making sure you have matched the right tyre to the driving you're going to do is vital.
Tyre choice is a very subjective thing. Some drivers are more comfortable with a certain configuration than others and, as with everything to do with 4WDs, the post-drive discussion of the various merits of each person's set-up will generally involve some animated discussion of tyre choice. The trick to finding the right set-up for your vehicle, conditions and driving style is to approach a reputable tyre dealer and talk to them about what you've tried before, and what you'll need for the future. A tyre dealer with more than a passing interest in keeping their customers safe and happy should take the time to talk this through with you adequately before you make your purchase.
read on below advertisement
As with most modern 4WD componentry, there is a certain degree of compromise with most tyre designs. 4WD tyres must be able to handle a much greater variety of conditions than a normal passenger tyre. The on-road characteristics of the tyre must essentially be traded off against the off-road requirements, leaving tyre manufacturers with the problem of achieving the perfect blend. Different driving conditions demand different tyres, and finding the happy medium is the key to producing a successful tyre.
A common misconception amongst 4WDers is 'the wider the tyre, the better it will be'. In general, wider tyres are only more useful on heavy vehicles or vehicles carrying heavy loads. Hence, drivers assume that purchasing the largest tyres and rims that they can for their 4WD will make their vehicle the safest on the road. However, wider tyres are far more likely to aquaplane on wet sealed roads, and have a tendency to lose traction on trails. Slimmer, light truck tyres are, anecdotally, far better for sand driving than many 4WDers think, their smaller 'footprint' less likely to dig into the sand, bogging the vehicle. Likewise, tyres that have been designed specifically for sand use, with longitudinal grooves and few cross-blocks should never be used in snow and ice conditions, as this sort of tread pattern will offer little or no grip when you need it.
next page »
