With the evolving of seasons, different pressures are mounted on wheels and tires of a car or any other vehicle. That is why it is critical to change your tires to the right ones depending on the season of the year. In this guide, you will be introduced to the idea of seasonal changes of wheels and tires, the advantages of making this change, the choice of tires, and the correct installation procedure.
Benefits of Seasonal Wheel and Tire Swaps
Enhanced Performance
Tires work differently depending on the weather, road surface, and prevailing temperature. All-season tires can be characterized by relatively respectable performance in any weather, but this is far from the best results for tires designed for a particular type of road conditions. Summer tires produce better grip and handling in warm climates, while Winter tires have better grip when the climate is cold and icy.
Prolonging Tire Life
Tires cannot work well in extreme weather, and this will cause some uneven wearing out on the tires, thus shortening their durability. In this way, every type of tire is preserved depending on the conditions in which it must be used.
Improved Safety
Swapping with tires with the change of the weather will give the car the best handling it can get. Summer tires will become too soft and could potentially have a lack of grip on ice or snow, while winter tires will become too warm and lose their effectiveness. Having seasonal tires guarantees you are always using the correct type of tires, making you safe on the road most of the time.
Choosing the Right Tires
Summer Tires
Summer tires act best in warm temperatures during which the weather conditions are dry. They have a ‘grippier’ or higher rubber compound, which is a good thing for handling the surface. Summer tires also come with a directional tread pattern in that water is forced out of the way in order to reduce water accumulation and, therefore, improve wet grip. It will also be important to note that these tires have a relatively short working life as compared to all-season or winter tires, most likely because of the aggressive tread pattern on the former.
All-Season Tires
All-season tires are midway between summer and winter for drivers who want only a set of tires for all kinds of weather. It is not best suited in hot or cold weather but will do a decent job in almost any weather you can find. These possess a 180 / 70 – R13 tread pattern and strong rubber construction that provides a balance between grip, comfort, and wear resistance.
Winter Tires
Winter tires are created for use in a cold, icy, and snowy climate. It is made up of harder rubber compound that is pliable even in cold temperatures and treads with sipes and grooves to keep snow and ice in check. Also, winter tires have a high silica compound that keeps them from getting stiff in cold weather, increasing road traction.
Correct Measures to be followed for Fitting of Seasonal Wheels
Preparing Your Vehicle
First, it is best to be sure the car is on even ground, the engine is off, and the handbrakes are engaged before making the actual tire swap. Take the wheels on the side, which won’t be useful during operation, loose, and allow the wheels to not move. You’ll also want to make sure you have all the possible related tools, like the tire iron set, lug wrench, and wheel chocks.
Uninstalling Old Tires
First of all, take the pre-planned tire to which your wheel alteration will be limited and should start with the process of tire deflation. When the lug nuts are tightened, use the lug wrench to turn the nuts slightly counterclockwise, then lift the vehicle with a tire iron using the jack. If the jack is placed correctly under the car somewhere with respect to the jacking points in the car, lift the vehicle a couple of inches and remove all lug nuts. Gradually bring down the car to the floor and allow the release of pressure on the tire before you remove the wheel. Repeat this process with other tires till all worn tires are removed.
Installing New Tires
Mount the new tire on the wheel and use your fingers as much as possible to tighten the lug nuts. Then, the vehicle should be lowered using the same jack to their usual height after all tires are on. Next, you will need to use the lug wrench and tighten bolts with the same pressure. Never over tighten the lug nuts – use the torque wrench to tighten the lug nuts.
Balancing and Rotation
When you have fitted the tires, take your car to a tyre shop so that professional practitioners balance and align the tires. Balancing checks out the distribution of weight within the tire and wheel, and allows little vibration and offers better ride quality. Wheel alignment refers to the adjustment of your car wheels to factory recommended settings as it relates to tire wearing and how your car handles.