The science behind selecting tires for performance driving

There is no one change that can affect the overall braking, handling, and cornering ability of an automobile more than a set of tires. For sportier drivers, choosing a new set of tires can be an agonizing decision. Unlike certain racing teams bound by a contract or series rules to run a specific type or brand of tire, today’s corner carving motorists can choose from a vast array of street legal ultra high performance [UHP] tires. Some of these tires are even thinly disguised DOT approved R-compound racing tires. Before running out and shodding your ride with the stickiest of shoes, consider that driving on public roads in harsh weather and driving on a prepared racecourse on a sunny day are two entirely different things.

Costly Compromise
The key to Ultra High Performance (UHP) tires’ superior grip over more conventional tires is a combination of internal construction and rubber compound. Saving the usual string of acronyms is that a UHP tire has a stiffer carcass than its softer grocery getting counterpart. The UHP tire’s softer rubber compound works with the stiffer carcass to make a UHP tire what it is. Choosing a UHP tire for daily driving usually means choosing once, and replacing often. The tradeoff for rolling on super sticky shoes is rapidly accelerated wear over conventional, less gripping tire compounds. The measure of tire tread wear is called the Uniform Tire Quality Grading (UTQG) tread wear rating. A UHP tire with a UTQG rating of 100 will in general wear out four times faster than a tire with a 400 rating. Even with this standard measuring system, UHP tire tread wear can vary based on driving style or type of vehicle.

Wheels on Fire
A high horsepower all-wheel-drive car such as a Mitsubishi Lancer Evolution can easily burn through a set of the expensive stock summer UHP tires in less than 10,000 miles of spirited driving. The EVO rolls off the showroom floor shod with a set of UHP tires with a UTQG tread wear of 120. Less enthusiastic drivers may be able to stretch the same set of tires on the same car to 20,000 miles. This is why using only the UTQG tread wear rating as a guide is not an exact measure of potential UHP tire wear. Beyond the tread wear rating is the traction and temperature rating. Traction is certainly the name of the game with UHP tires, but temperature rating is also extremely important. A summer UHP tire can turn as hard as a hockey puck when the thermometer dips down to winter levels.

Traction Season
While a set of dedicated snow tires is the only answer for driving in snowy climates, there is a new class of tire in the UHP market. While rapid wear is still the name of the game with the stickiest summer UHP tires, a new class of all-season UHP tires brings improved tread wear along with super handling potential all-season around. Like the UTQG ratings, the term all-season should be approached realistically. Occasional snow in the winter and rain in the summer is the operating world of the all-season UHP tire. The all-season UHP tire falls in between a near R-compound summer-only UHP and a less gripping performance tire. An all-season UHP is a good middle ground between the two.

Sizing Up
When upgrading to a higher performance tire, the safest and easiest strategy to tire performance improvement without upgrading the wheels is to upgrade to a UHP tire of the same size as stock. The next step up is actually a step down. Decreasing the sidewall height of a tire while slightly increasing its width is called a Plus Zero. While it is tempting to shoehorn as wide a tire as possible on to stock wheels, this strategy is potentially dangerous and can actually decrease performance. Dramatic changes in the width or sidewall height of a tire starts with changing the size of the wheel itself, which is another story entirely. Shortening the height of the sidewall can improve handling and possibly looks, but also bring with it a harsher ride.

Stop by your local Tire Pros to help you evaluate the many choices available today. Based on your individual needs and driving habits, the experts at Tire Pros can help you make the best choice.

Now at Tire Pros purchase four new Michelin passenger or light truck tires and receive a $70 prepaid MasterCard. Michelin Spring promotion runs from April 29 – May 31, 2010.

See your local Tire Pros today and save!

Tire Pros is featuring a promotion on BRIDGESTONE that begins April 1 and goes through May 1, 2010.

Get $100 value back on an American Express Branded Prepaid Card by mail when you buy a set of four Bridgestone Dueler H/P Sport, Potenza RE050A Pole Position, Turanza V or Z with Serenity, Dueler H/L Alenza, Potenza RE-11 or Dueler A/T Revo 2 tires.

Get $75 back on the Turanza EL400V, Potenza RE960AS Pole Position or Turanza H with serenity tires.  Get $50 back on the Turanza EL400H, Potenza G019 Grid, Dueler A/T or Potenza RE760 Sport tires.

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Call or visit your local Tire Pros today to take advantage of our Bridgestone promotion.

A vehicle’s tires play an important role in the safety of your vehicle. A recent survey of about 5,500 vehicles found that only nine percent of vehicles had four properly inflated tires and 49 percent of vehicles had at least one under inflated tire.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that more than 600 deaths and 33,000 injuries per year are due to under inflated tires. Improperly inflated tires also lowers the fuel efficiency of your vehicle.

Here are some tips to help your keep your tires running smoothly and safely.

Now at Tire Pros, from March 1, 2010 to April 10, 201o, get a free TomTom GPS with purchase of any 4 Continental tires. It’s the Continental Go Anywhere promotion, now available at our local Tire Pros.

In order to have traction in the rain, tires need to be able to channel the water away; that’s why there are grooves in the tread. Rain tires, such as the Michelin HydroEdge, have one or two large grooves running around the tire for that purpose. By channeling the water away, the tread can make contact with the road (this is good, as it allows steering and braking). In contrast, a well-worn tire doesn’t have deep enough grooves to do this, and so can ride up on the water. This is called aquaplaning or hydroplaning (not good as you won’t be able to steer or brake).

In short, it’s not worth the risk by driving around on worn-out tires. Sure, you may not notice it if you mostly drive on dry roads, but when the rain comes and you’re sliding all over the place, you’re gonna wish you replaced those hoops.

Checking your alignment regularly is always a good idea. You’ll ensure your tires will last the full life for which they were intended. Ask your local Tire Pros for an alignment inspection today. Find your local Tire Pros here at Tire Pros Dealer Locator

The Michelin Ride of Your Life promotion is going on now at Tire Pros. Save $70 on any 4 Michelin passenger or LT tires. Promotion runs from October 1 through November 15, 2009. Call or visit your local Tire Pros today!

From now through the end of September 2009, save $60 on a set of any four Michelin tires only at Tire Pros. It’s our exclusive Zero-to-60 promotion!

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Tire inflation pressure is the level of air in the tire that provides it with load-carrying capacity and affects the overall performance of the vehicle. The tire inflation pressure is a number that indicates the amount of air pressure– measured in pounds per square inch (psi)–a tire requires to be properly inflated.

Manufacturers of passenger vehicles and light trucks determine this number based on the vehicle’s design load limit, that is, the greatest amount of weight a vehicle can safely carry and the vehicle’s tire size.The proper tire pressure for your vehicle is referred to as the “recommended cold inflation pressure.” (As you will read below, it is difficult to obtain the recommended tire pressure if your tires are not cold.)

Because tires are designed to be used on more than one type of vehicle, tire manufacturers list the “maximum permissible inflation pressure” on the tire sidewall. This number is the greatest amount of air pressure that should ever be put in the tire under normal driving conditions.

CHECKING FOR PRESSURE
It is important to check your vehicle’s tire pressure at least once a month for the following reasons:
- Most tires may naturally lose air over time.
- Tires can lose air suddenly if you drive over a pothole or other object or if you strike the curb when parking.
- With radial tires, it is usually not possible to determine underinflation by visual inspection.

For convenience, purchase a tire pressure gauge to keep in your vehicle. And as always, if you have any tire related questions please visit your local Tire Pros. Click here (http://www.tirepros.com/dealers.php) to fine a Tire Pros near you.

Team Tire Pros