SG Tyres would like to make you aware of three main things that motorists should be aware of when buying new tyres. This blog will give you all the information you need to know before purchasing your new tyres.
1. Size matters
Size is an extremely important aspect when you’re purchasing new tyres. Before you can go ahead and select the ones you want, you’ll need to have a clear idea of the dimensions you’re looking for. This means knowing what size your current tyres are. A tyres dimensions can be found on the sidewalls of your current tyres. It will be printed on the outside edge in raised lettering. However, it may be small and difficult to identify at first, so you might need to spend some time looking for this vital information. Please note, the dimensions of car tyres vary from car to car, so it is important you don’t just go with the dimensions of your family member or friend’s car as they could be completely different.
It should look something like ‘225/50 R 17’ – although the numbers and letters will vary between tyres. In this example, ‘225’ refers to the width of the tyre in millimetres, while ‘50’ is the side profile (which is calculated as a percentage of the width). If you see ‘R’, this simply means your tyres feature a radial construction. The next number, 17 in this case, is the diameter of the wheel rim. Although the other figures refer to millimetres, this measurement is given in inches.
If you are unsure or cannot find this information, please do not hesitate to contact us here at SG Tyre Wholesale as we are here to help in any way we possibly can.
2. The speed rating could affect your insurance
As well as size, it is important that you pay attention to speed rating. This is the top speed that a tyre is legally approved for. When you’re searching for tyres for your car, it is important that you select ones which speed rating match the official top speed of your vehicle. Although you may never actually travel at that speed, it’s important to get this detail correct for insurance purposes. If you fit lower quality tyres that have a reduced speed rating, there’s a risk this will cause problems for your cover policy.
Speed rating information can be found on the sidewall of your tyres following on from the information provided about its size. It’s shown as a letter on a scale from A to Y. Each of these letters relates to specific information on speed. For example, if your tyres have the letter ‘I’ on them, they can handle speeds of up to 140mph. The difference between each letter is roughly 6mph.
3. It pays to check the labels
After all that time of searching for size and speed rating information, there is one more thing we advise all motorists to do is check the labels to ensure they meet your requirements in terms of performance before making that big purchase. Tyre labels are now mandatory for all new tyres sold in Europe. They’re purpose is to enable you to understand how different tyres can perform in terms of safety, comfort, fuel economy and more. Although they are quite confusing to read and understand, once you know what are looking for, they can be very simple.
There are three main elements to these labels. They are:
Fuel economy
The label will have a fuel economy grading from A to G, with A being the most efficient and G the least. If you’re looking for tyres that are kind to your wallet when it comes to filling up at the pumps – and kind to the planet – it’s worth that little bit extra to purchase ones with a good efficiency rating. The more miles you drive in your car, the more important this information is likely to be to you. According to Michelin, selecting four A-rated tyres rather than G-rated models can reduce fuel consumption by 7.5 per cent.
Wet Grip
The label will also have an A to G rating for wet grip, meaning how effective the tyres are when you brake in wet weather or when there’s surface water on the road. The difference between each letter is around 2.5 metres if you’re travelling at a speed of 50mph. Between A and G-rated tyres, the increase in stopping distances can be nearly five full car lengths.
Tread depth can also be of huge significance when driving in wet weather conditions, to find out more information relating to tread depth, check out our blog by clicking on the link below:
Noise
One more thing to look out for, labels display information on noise. The overall decibel rating is provided clearly in large white numbers. It refers to external noise. It is important to note that the quieter tyres are externally, the less noise interference there tends to be internally which can enable motorists to enjoy their journey with as little noise as possible. This can be especially noticeable when you’re travelling at high speeds on the motorway. When you’re looking out for new tyres, it is a good idea to compare tyre labels to ensure that you are getting tyres which are best suited to your driving needs.
How can SG Tyre Wholesale help?
Here at SG Tyre Wholesale, we arestockists of all premium manufacturers, mid-range brands and have an extensive range of budget brands for you to choose from. We are committed to providing exceptional customer service to ensure that our customers’ needs are met and expectations are exceeded. We offer a professional and personal service at the best possible prices. Our experienced staff possess in-depth technical knowledge about every tyre we stock so you know exactly what you will be selling to your customers.
Contact Us Today
To discover more about our wholesale tyre range and services visit our website www.sgtyrewholesale.com email: info@sgtyreswholesale.com or call us on: +353 (0) 87 6088030
