Know Your Tyres

Tires have always fascinated me, especially after I learn t about the different types and the technology involved. Here I am going to discuss some aspects of tires that would be of use to us on a day to day basis.

It is important to know the tread pattern of your tires so that you can replace the right tires in an emergency or when buying a new tire.
Symmetrical - most of the cars tires use this pattern, either side of the tires center line have same pattern. Biggest advantage of this design is that these can be used for any wheel of the car - right/left/front/back.
Asymmetrical - tread pattern on the outer side of the tire is different from the inner side, the outer pattern aids in turning and the inner pattern aids in wet conditions.
and in additional could also be Directional - this pattern is normally has groves facing outwards and looks like a "v" in the center of the tire if symmetrical or could be to one side of the tire for asymmetrical patterns. Directional patterns give excellent grip in wet conditions and will help avoid hydroplaning - more details on this in later sections.
 There are different tires for different seasons, and tires for different purposes like performance tires which are built for high speeds, better heat dissipation, better handling but would worn out faster. Sometimes performance tires are also called summer tires as these are not very good for snow conditions. All weather tires on other hand are tires that are not for any specific season, they give a bumpy ride but last a long time.
 Hydroplaning or Aquaplaning occurs when a vehicle at a high speed goes over a pool of water. A layer of water is build between the road and the tire causing loss of traction and control of the vehicle. the deep straight grooves in tires are designed to drain the water on the tire surface there by reducing the chances of hydro planing.
How to handle hydroplaning: The best way to react is to hold the steering firmly and let your foot off the accelerator, gradually engage brakes to reduce speed after passing over the water.


Tire Inflation: Always inflate the tires as per the user manual, you can also see this information on the door frame. You will normally see recommendations for minimum and maximum loads. A slightly under inflated tires give a more comfortable ride but this reduces mileage and in long drives there is a chance of tire burst. A slightly over inflated tires give a better mileage but you will feel the road more and could be comparatively uncomfortable. If tires are worn out more towards at the edges, it means the tires are frequently under inflated. If center of the tire is worn out compered to the sides, it means tires are frequently over inflated. And neither is good for the life of your tires.
Compressed air or nitrogen? I am sure you might have asked yourself this question when you saw the new Nitrogen pumps at the gas station. Well there are arguments for and against Nitrogen. In my opinion Nitrogen is slightly better in terms of maintaining the tire pressure for a longer time, as regular compressed air also has Oxygen which dissipates through the tire at a faster rate compared to Nitrogen. Also Nitrogen keeps the moisture out of the tire and also helps in faster heat dissipation, so slightly extends the life of the tire. It is ideally suited for performance tires or even regular tires that run a lot on high speeds like on highways. But don't bet on finding nitrogen filling stations on Indian highways. So the verdict - stick to compressed air for now!

Long drives? In long drives inflate tires based on how many people are traveling with and how much luggage. And don't forget to cap your tires to prevent frequent trips to the filling station. But if tires are under/over inflated on a regular basis, tires will wear out unevenly.  It is good to have a tire inflator/checker handy, especially if you are planning to drive out of station.
Punctured tire is not uncommon, if it happens in the city limits, all you have to do is call a helpline or drive slowly to the nearest service station. But if it happens on a highway away from the city, you will have to know how to change a tire at least. So know where your spare tire is, where the tools are. If you are unlucky enough to have two tires punctured or spare tire not in condition. Then you will have to know how to plug a puncture as well. It is better to have the tools handy and check your spare tire also when you are going out on a long drive. If you are loosing air slowly, inflate the tire if needed just enough to reach the next available tire repair center. Your tire inflator will be of great help here.

If you are driving in the night, make sure your headlights are working and carry a spare bulb. The reflective triangle that you get with the car will be of great help here as a lot of accidents happen when changing tires in the night. A reflective jacket also would be of help. Don't forget to have a good flash light and spare batteries in your emergency kit.


In depth discussion of emergencies and what tools to carry is a topic for next discussion, till then drive safe!

~Kiran