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No matter what the road conditions, every driver wants to be safe in his car ! Since your tires are the only contact between your car and the road, quality tires are essential. How can you make sure that you buy the right tires for your type of vehicle ? Here is some useful information that the experts of Centre Techno Pneu think you should know. You can find out more by calling the Centre Techno Pneu.
It’s time to change your tires when the tread has worn even with the tread wear indicator. First of all, if you want to make a wise choice, ask yourself some questions. What type of tire is suitable for your car ? Do you want high-performance tires ? Tires that grip the road ? Tires that are economical ? For wet roads or for snow-covered roads ? Do you drive a sports car, a sedan, a pick-up ?
| Tread Wear Indicator |
|---|
| The tread wear indicator is a small raised bar that runs across the grooves of the tire tread, marking the minimum allowable tread depth. |
Once you have found the answers to your questions, you must choose the right size tires for your car. To determine the right size, refer to the owner’s manual of your vehicle, or read the label which is usually stuck on the frame of the driver’s car door by the car manufacturer.
The tire sidewall carries a code of letters and numbers which indicate some useful information. If you want to understand the information, you must first learn how to decode it. Here’s an example to help you understand what this code means :
| P185/70R14 88S | |
|---|---|
| P = | Passenger vehicle |
| 185 = | Width of the tire in millimetres |
| 70 = | Ratio height / width, that is the ratio between the tire’s sidewall height and its width |
| R = | Radial construction |
| 14 = | Diameter of the wheel rim in inches |
| 88 = | Load index |
| S = | Speed rating |
| Speed Rating |
|---|
| The speed rating is identified by a letter between A and Z. The letter indicates the tire’s maximum speed capacity at its proper inflation and appropriate load. |
| Speed Rating | |
|---|---|
| Speed Rating | Speed km/h |
| P | 150 |
| Q | 160 |
| R | 170 |
| S | 180 |
| T | 190 |
| U | 200 |
| H | 210 |
| V | MORE THAN 210 |
| V(ZR) | 240 |
| W(ZR) | 270 |
| Y(ZR) | 300 |
| (ZR) | MORE THAN 300 |
| Load Index |
|---|
| The load index is a number between 0 and 270. The number corresponds to the load-carrying capacity of the vehicle. |
| Load Index and Equivalent Loads | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Load Index | Load LBS | Load Index | Load LBS | Load Index | Load LBS |
| 74 | 827 | 92 | 1 389 | 110 | 2 337 |
| 75 | 853 | 93 | 1 433 | 111 | 2 403 |
| 76 | 882 | 94 | 1 477 | 112 | 2 469 |
| 77 | 908 | 95 | 1 521 | 113 | 2 535 |
| 78 | 937 | 96 | 1 565 | 114 | 2 601 |
| 79 | 963 | 97 | 1 609 | 115 | 2 679 |
| 80 | 992 | 98 | 1 653 | 116 | 2 756 |
| 81 | 1 019 | 99 | 1 709 | 117 | 2 833 |
| 82 | 1 047 | 100 | 1 764 | 118 | 2 910 |
| 83 | 1 074 | 101 | 1 819 | 119 | 2 998 |
| 84 | 1 102 | 102 | 1 874 | 120 | 3 086 |
| 85 | 1 135 | 103 | 1 929 | 121 | 3 197 |
| 86 | 1 168 | 104 | 1 984 | 122 | 3 307 |
| 87 | 1 201 | 105 | 2 039 | 123 | 3 417 |
| 88 | 1 235 | 106 | 2 094 | 124 | 3 527 |
| 89 | 1 279 | 107 | 2 149 | 125 | 3 638 |
| 90 | 1 323 | 108 | 2 205 | ||
| 91 | 1 356 | 109 | 2 271 | ||
The DOT marking is another code on the sidewall. This marking indicates that the tire complies with U.S. Department of Transportation Tire Safety Standards for motor vehicles. This code often includes the name of the tire-maker, the factory, the manufacturing date and the tire brand.
To make sure that the tires of your vehicle are safe, you have to respect some rules :
| Mounting and Demounting |
|---|
| Leave the mounting and demounting of your tires to professionals in order to avoid damaging your tires and your vehicle. Your tires will last longer if they are rotated regularly. |
| Air Pressure |
|---|
| Every month, or before a long trip, check the pressure of your tires. To do this, your tires must be cold, meaning that your vehicle must have been stopped for 3 hours or have run less than 5 kilometres. Use a pressure gauge to verify the pressure of each tire. Pressure gauges sold in stores are generally more reliable than the built-in gauges on air pumps at gas stations. |
| Load-Carrying Capacity |
|---|
| To avoid a flat tire, do not exceed the load carrying capacity indicated on the tire’s sidewall. |
Look for tires of the best quality at a competitive price. The consultants at Centre Techno Pneu can help you with your purchase. They will always give you excellent service. Ask about the warranty. With our company, you will have many hours of safe driving. Have a nice trip !
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