Popular myths about tires

Every day, a multitude of information about tires is multiplying on the internet. Unfortunately, not all of this information is reliable, and it doesn't just fail to help make the right choice, but it often simply harms. Today, we will break down a set of popular misconceptions about tires that are clearly overvalued or misinterpreted. 

1. Of course, at the top of the list is the popular myth about the freshness of tires. Now it's clearly overheated, and many car owners make a mistake and often choose tires not based on characteristics, but by the date of manufacture. The manufacturer understands that the tire does not hit the road straight from the mold and adds special plasticizers and elastomers to preserve the characteristics. It's essential to buy tires that have been stored correctly. Well, of course, you need to choose a tire based on its characteristics, not its freshness. We analyzed this issue in more detail in a separate article. 

2. The color of the tires affects their characteristics. Indeed, tires can differ in color. For example, tires from the German brand Continental have a brownish tint, which becomes more noticeable during operation. Some tires have a more grayish tint. However, as it may be, this does not affect the characteristics, as we expect. Everything depends on the composition of the rubber mixture, and how a particular rubber mixture affects the characteristics is unknown. In other words, there is no connection between the color of the tire and its performance. 

3. Color coding of tires. This is also one of the examples of "harmful advice". There is an opinion that colorful stripes or colorful dots on tires indicate their quality. Of course, this is not true. The color coding on the tread is technical notation for the manufacturer, and we explained the reasons for its application in a separate article. The colored dots on the sidewall have a specific meaning for tire service, but only for some manufacturers. Once, the company Bridgestone wrote an official instruction, which clearly explained that the red dot indicates the heaviest spot on the tire caused by the force non-uniformity of the carcass and other layers. This place should be placed on the opposite side from the valve stem, and then the balancing will be optimal. But the thing is that for some other manufacturers, the red dot indicates other characteristics and is not always related to the force non-uniformity of the tire. For example, it can be a designation of the outer side of the tire for conveyor assembly or other reasons. 

4. Tires should be inflated to the maximum pressure indicated on the sidewall.
One of the most common misconceptions is that tires should be inflated to the maximum pressure indicated on the sidewall. In fact, this is a recommendation for the maximum allowable pressure for the tire, not the recommended working pressure. Over-inflating tires can lead to reduced traction and uneven wear.
To determine the pressure in your tires that corresponds to your vehicle, refer to the user manual or the placard located inside the driver's side doorjamb. These sources provide the recommended pressure from the manufacturer for your specific make and model, taking into account factors such as the weight and performance of the vehicle. Maintaining the correct pressure in your tires ensures optimal handling, safety, and fuel efficiency.

5. Budget brand tires are no worse than well-known brands because they are produced by the same company.
It's easy to understand how this misconception arose. Each tire company has a premium brand that it focuses its research, development, and testing on. Additionally, almost all these companies produce other brands. Many produce tires for other companies, for example, for auto parts stores, for sale under the store's brand. As you move down this list, development and testing quickly reduce to meeting legislative requirements.