Performance Tyres

Tyre choice is important, it is the only thing in contact with the road surface and therefore the most important component when it comes to the handling and stopping power of your car.

Low profile performance tyres can improve high speed stability, steering response and braking efficiency.

 

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Tyre Tech
We’re not going to go into how a tyre is made and its construction (how boring is that?). We will however explain what the important lettering and numbers mean.

The numbers that denote the size usually looks something like this –
205/45 R17 84Y

• The first number (205) is the width across the tyre tread area and is measured in millimetres
• The second number (45) is the profile (the height of the tyre wall). This is a percentage of the width, in this instance 45 percent of 205mm = 92.25mm
• The following letter (R) denotes the tyre construction, in this case it’s a radial tyre
• The third number (17) is the diameter of wheel for that tyre, measured in inches, so this tyre is for a 17” wheel
• The last number (84) is the load index for each tyre, a lighter car will have a lower number, while a heavier car will require a higher number
• The last character (Y) is the speed rating (see table below)

Other Markings
ECE type approval mark, which means the tyre conforms to the European Regulatory Authorities approval.

You may also see some of the following on the tyre: The manufacturer, tyre name (model if you like) construction type and details, country, load and pressure ratings, DOT reference (USA tyres (tires)) and of cause there will be a tyre wear indicator. There may also be a DOT reference with a four digit number showing the week (first 2 numbers) and the year of manufacture (last 2 numbers)

Tyre Speed Ratings

Speed Rating	Miles/Hour	Kilometers/Hour
N	87	140
P	93	150
Q	99	160
R	106	170
S	112	180
T	118	190
U	124	200
H	130	210
V	149	240
Z	150+	240+
W	168	270
Y	186	300

 

Or Some Will Have

Speed Rating	Miles/Hour	Kilometers/Hour
VR	131+	210+
ZR	149+	240+
ZR+W	149-168	210-270
ZR+Y	149-186	240-300

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Don’t Mix Tyres

Don’t mix different types of tyres such as radial with cross-ply, also stick to the same tyre pattern all around. This is most important especially when braking in the wet, if you have more grip in the front than the rear or on one side than the other, it doesn’t take a genius to work out that your braking will be unstable. If you have a 4wd vehicle putting the same tyres on all 4 corners is most advisable, it’s possible to damage your transfer box if you don’t.

Cheap Tyres
Don’t bother with remoulds or retreads (it’s just not worth it on a performance car), part worns? don't do it! you get what you pay for and you need to find the right one (with equal tread) to match your other tyres (see don’t mix your tyres above). New performance tyres from unknown brands – buy at your own risk, we say stick to the known and trusted, as they may look similar, but the compound of these cheap imported tyres are usually inferior.

Putting Them On
Usually if you have 2 new tyres fitted you should put them on the rear. As front tyres tend to wear out quicker (unless you have a heavy right foot and a RWD car!), we would generally dispence with the worn fronts and move the now partly worn rears to the front. This is because demonstrations have shown that a loss of control at the rear from a skid or blowout etc is more difficult to correct than at the front and by having the best tyres placed at the rear will reduce this from occuring (of course this advice is based on you losing control in the first place and your level of driving skill, there are too many variables that can occur to alter this advice, but in general this is deemed the most appropriate for the masses). Also to note is that under braking, your cars weight is transferred to the front, which reduces weight at the rear, therefore (although it seems counterintuitive) the more tread on the back tyres the less that lack of weight will cause a loss in traction (hope that makes sense?). Don’t bypass getting your wheels balanced when putting new tyres on either.