Every motorist needs to know how to change the tires and you certainly don’t want to get stuck on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere without this knowledge. In addition to knowing how to change the tires, there are a few things that you need to know beforehand to ensure that you can do this safely and successfully.
Alteration in Car Behaviour
It is important to understand that when you change the tires on a car, this could change the way in which the car behaves. Even if you are replacing with the same size tire, you might find that they are a different weight and/or are engineered to perform in certain conditions. Therefore, you need to be cautious when you get behind the wheel and be prepared for a slight change in car performance.
Larger Wheels Can Increase Fuel Usage
Following this, you will find that if you put larger, heavier wheels on the car that it will result in larger fuel bills and a reduced performance. Switching from a 15 inch steel wheel to a 19 inch replacement could see a 10% reduction in fuel economy as well as a 4% fall in 0-60 acceleration, so this should certainly be considered when choosing replacements.
Check With the Manufacturer
Seeing as a replacement tire can have such a big impact, you should always check with the manufacturer’s recommended sizes and load ratings. The vehicle handbook will have this information or if you are replacing the original tires then this information is actually printed onto the tires themselves in the form of a code.
Don’t Cheap Out
Replacing tires is certainly not cheap, but much like buying a new pair of shoes it is always smarter to invest in quality. Not all tires are created equal and a cheap set could not only reduce the performance of the car but even cause damage to the car and/or make it unsafe to drive. You can then maintain these tires to keep them in good condition.
Arrange tire Insurance
Following on from this, it is also a good idea to arrange tyre insurance from a specialist which will cover the cost of a replacement set or repairs if they are either damaged accidentally or through malicious damage. This could save you a huge amount of money as well as provide peace of mind knowing that you are protected.
As you can see, it is not simply a case of sticking on any set of tires and setting off so you need to make sure that you take your time and find the right set before replacing them.
