Not all tyres are created equal, and which ones you should pick for your car depends mostly on what you intend to use your car for and what kinds of terrain and conditions you'll need to drive in. If you're feeling overwhelmed by all the options and you're not sure which ones to choose, don't panic—it's not as complex as you think! Read on for a quick introductory guide that will help you make the right choice.
Asymmetrical
Asymmetrical tyre treads are highly specialised, and contain a variety of tread patterns to help a vehicle move safely at high speeds or on many different surfaces. They're common on sports cars and are a good choice for anyone who usually drives in stable conditions but from time to time has to contend with ice or unfamiliar terrain. It's very important to mount them on the correct side, but they can usually be rotated in any direction.
Directional
If you'll be driving over rough terrain or in rain and snow often, you should look into a set of directional tyres. These need more maintenance than some other tyre types as their treads can wear down faster, and they're less versatile as they must be mounted and rotated in specific ways—but their thick grips are good for dealing with ice and soil and their directional patterns are best for channelling water out of the way of the wheels as you drive.
Directional/Asymmetrical
People who live in the countryside but mostly drive on real roads, have an urban lifestyle but enjoy camping and offroading in their spare time or reside in a city that gets plenty of snow and ice in the winter months but also has the infrastructure in place to deal with it should look into combination tyres. These hugely versatile tyre types can cope with just about anything, though not necessarily quite as well as a tyre that is more highly specialised for one particular application.
Symmetrical
Probably the most common kind of tyres found on privately owned passenger cars are symmetrical. They're hugely versatile, because they can be mounted and rotated in either direction, and it takes a good while for their treads to wear down. They're also usually cheaper than other tread types. If you drive primarily in towns and cities or on motorways in relatively stable weather conditions, these are probably the tyres for you—but you'll need to be extremely careful if there's snow, ice, heavy rain or uneven terrain to contend with.
Share28 June 2017
Hello and welcome to my blog. My name is Holden, and I have been a lover of driving for as long as I can remember. I have taken driving trips across deserts and icy tundras. I have also raced on pristine roadways, and I have explored small dirt tracks through the mountains. The key to success, I have learned, is choosing the right tyres, making sure your wheels are in top shape and fixing your suspension. I love to write so I decided to create a blog on these topics. If you have questions, I hope you can find the answers you need here.
