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Tyres have to meet a lot of different, and sometimes conflicting, requirements. That means there are a few things to consider when you’re choosing what type of new tyres to buy.
- Tyres designed for long life are made from harder compounds, but these may make more noise.
- Tread pattern can affect noise too.
- Tyres made from softer compounds will give a quieter ride but will wear out more quickly.
- First fit (original equipment) tyres often last longer than replacements.
Buying part-worn tyres
We wouldn’t recommend buying part-worn tyres. You don’t know the history of the tyres, like how they’ve been stored or looked after. You may not know how old they are either.
Original fit car tyres
We’re often asked if it’s important to stick with the same tyres your car came fitted with when it was new.
There’s no legal requirement to stick with the same tyres. But car and tyre manufacturers do work closely together during the development of a new car model to pick the size and tread pattern best suited to the car.
They’ll consider things like noise and handling as well as the look of the vehicle. Changing brand or pattern could affect handling or mean more noise.
New tyres to the front or back?
Check your handbook first for guidance. If it doesn’t give any specific advice, the best or newest tyres should be on the back. That’s a good rule whether your car’s front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive.
Making sure you have your best tyres on the back will favour ‘understeer’ rather than ‘oversteer’ when grip’s limited, like in very wet or cold conditions.
- Understeer – The car tends to go straight on even though you’re turning the wheel.
- Oversteer – The back end breaks free and the car is likely to spin.
Tyres with deeper tread grooves are less likely to puncture too. So if you put your new tyres on the back and worn tyres on the front, you’ll be less likely to get a punctured back tyre. It’s easier to control a car that has a damaged front tyre than one with a damaged rear tyre.
Spare wheels and new cars
Don’t assume that any new car you’re buying has a full-sized spare in the boot. Many cars now have a ‘skinny’ spare or just an emergency tyre sealant kit. There may not actually be enough room to carry a full-size spare.
If you do have room for a full-sized spare, then it may be possible to buy one as an optional extra. You may also have to buy a modified boot floor and/or a jack and wheel removal tools too.
Your spare wheel needs to be in just as good condition as the wheels you drive on. So make sure your spare is in good nick and don’t use an old worn tyre as a spare.