These are all types of car tyres! – The guide to the right choice
There are many different types of car tyres, so it can be difficult to choose which type of car tyre fits best under your car.
Special Car Tyres: A Tyre for Every Purpose
Apart from the well-known summer tyres, winter tyres or 4-season tyres, there are also special types of car tyres. These are:
Run-flat tyres
This type of car tyre is designed with reinforced sidewalls. The sidewalls help support the weight of the car. This design allows the car to keep running if the car tyres lose their tension. Because of this, run-flat tyres are also known as anti-puncture tyres.
Should you have a problem with tyre pressure, or even if your tyres are flat, you will retain sufficient stability. You can continue driving up to 80 kilometres at low speed with the run-flat tyres. The purpose of the tyres is that you can reach a garage and not get stuck.
The tyre works with a built-in warning system (TPMS) in your car. This system shows a warning on the display. In fact, you yourself hardly feel that your tyre is not at the right pressure. Cars that do not support this system cannot run on run-flat tyres.
Off-road tyres
The off-road tyre, the kind of car tyre that takes you over the less slippery or even the worst roads and trails. Whether it’s:
- Forest trails
- Unpaved areas
- Muddy surfaces
- Sands
- Snow or ice
The off-road tyre ensures you won’t get stuck easily. The tyres are often used for off-road vehicles, hence the tyres are also known as off-road tyres or 4×4 tyres.
If you compare the tyres with regular car tyres, there are considerable differences. Off-road tyres are stronger, for instance, because they have reinforced sidewalls and extra metal layers in the rubber.
Furthermore, the tread is coarser and the tread blocks interlock. Thanks to this design, loose sand, mud and pebbles do not get stuck in the tyre. This ensures good grip on looser surfaces.
Eco-band
The eco tyre is a type of tyre that is good for the environment, thanks to reducing fuel consumption. So this type of tyre is also a fine tyre for your wallet.
In fact, tyres exert quite an influence on a vehicle’s fuel consumption. This has everything to do with rolling resistance. The easier a tyre rolls, the less effort the engine has to overcome this resistance. Less resistance means less CO₂ emissions, hence the name eco-tyres.
So while the eco tyre has advantages for the environment and your wallet, it is less advantageous for grip. This is because you will have less grip in wet conditions.
Eco tyres have different classes. The classes are the so-called eco-label, such an eco-label is required by law for all tyre manufacturers. The European Union established the eco-labels as part of the Lisbon Strategy and the Sustainable Development Strategy.
Eco tyres can therefore have different eco labels, this affects how good the tyres are for the environment. So this difference in eco tyres also means a difference in grip. In an emergency stop, the stopping distance of class A tyres can be 30% shorter than the stopping distance of class G tyres.So take these differences into account when buying an eco tyre.
How to choose the right kind of car tyres?
Choosing the right kind of car tyres is essential for your safety, comfort and performance on the road. Only, how do you choose the right kind of car tyres? There are important factors such as size and specifications, driving conditions and behaviour, and budget and brand considerations that play a crucial role in this.
- The right tyre size
Make sure your kind of car tyre is the right tyre size. This information can often be found on the sidewall of your current tyres or in your car’s handbook.
- Driving conditions and behaviour
If you want to choose a type of auot tyre, it is good to consider the roads you drive on. Is this often on rough terrain or on slippery roads? Each type of tyre offers unique advantages, such as run-flat tyres that won’t leave you stranded by the side of the road in the event of a puncture.
- Budget and brand preferences
While quality matters, the market offers a wide range of tyres that balance cost and performance. It is possible to find tyres that not only meet your needs in terms of handling and conditions, but also fit within your budget.
By considering all these factors, choosing the right types of car tyres is a lot easier. Whether you go for the durability of eco tyres, the safety of run-flat tyres or the ruggedness of off-road tyres, the key is to choose a tyre that suits your driving style and usage conditions, without losing sight of your budget.
Finally, also pay attention to whether you want to buy the type of tyre in the summer/winter or 4-season version.
