How to unlock the potential of tires?

The choice of new tires is a rather complex process. Many nuances when buying can cause stress for drivers, especially those with little experience. You want to buy the best to drive safely, to serve for a long time, and to make the car handle like a sports car. What should you pay particular attention to when choosing new tires for your car to maximize the potential of your car and tires?

To begin with, you need to pick the right size of "shoes" for your car. The idea here is the same as when choosing running shoes or ski boots, if we're talking about winter tires. If you take a size that's too big, the boots will slip and get in the way, and if you take a size that's too small, you're unlikely to be able to do anything because of the pain and discomfort. And if you need to go to a store and try on shoes to understand what fits better, then choosing the right tire size is much simpler. Every car manufacturer, at the design and testing stage of a particular model, tests several different sizes. They then receive the status of recommended sizes. It's necessary to focus on them when choosing tires, since they are the best fit for this car. You can find these sizes on a sticker on the body pillar of the car or in the technical documentation for it. All tire sizes are standardized for all tire manufacturers, and you won't have any trouble finding the same size at a tire store. After you've determined the size, you need to choose the brand and model of the tire. To pick a suitable tire for you, it's worth considering the conditions in which the car will be operated. Here are some of these questions. Are you a beginner or an experienced driver? Is your driving style calm or active? Do you drive on dirt roads? Is tire noise important to you? And so on... A qualified seller at a tire center, after answering these questions, can pick the right brand and model of tire for you. Pay attention to the concept of manufacturer homologation as well. Sometimes, car manufacturers ask tire companies to make special tires for a particular model. This happens especially often with high-performance versions of cars. The tire may have a different tread pattern or rubber compound. These can be noticeable changes or invisible improvements. Recommendations for homologated tires (if available) can be found in the car manufacturer's technical guidelines. And if you want to use your sports car to its full potential, it's worth looking for tires with homologation. This can be said to be custom-made professional "shoes".

The process of installing tires on a car is no less important than their selection. In this situation, it's worth contacting a professional tire center. So that a trained and qualified tire fitter on proper equipment can mount the tires on the wheels. After installation, you will only need to regularly check and adjust the air pressure in the tires. Information about the recommended pressure for your car can be found on the same plate that indicates the tire sizes. Maintaining the recommended pressure in the tires has a strong impact on the car's behavior and sometimes even on the lifespan of the tires. If your tires are overinflated, you'll be driving like you're on a cart. You'll feel every stone and bump on the road. Plus, in this case, the central part of the tread will wear out more quickly. And when driving, the car will react very sharply to every turn of the wheel. But much more often, the pressure is lower than recommended. In this situation, the tires will wear out more in the shoulder areas, i.e., on the edges of the tread. The car will handle sluggishly, with a delay in response to turning the wheel. With reduced pressure relative to the norm, the risk of tire damage also increases. When you hit a pothole, the tire takes the impact first. The sidewall is compressed, and with a strong impact, the tire hits the rim flange. Damage to the sidewall and shoulder area of the tire is irreparable, and the tire will need to be replaced. Therefore, regular pressure checks and adjustments will not only improve your car's behavior but also save your wallet.

Recommended size, recommended pressure, but what about experience and practice? A neighbor advises putting on narrower tires for the winter or increasing the pressure in the spring to drive over potholes on the road? It's essential to remember that private recommendations are just subjective perceptions, and DIY tuning can lead to breakdowns or premature failure of some parts. Professional drivers spend many hours on test tracks testing various tire sizes and pressures to find the values at which the full potential of your car and tires is revealed.