If there is something that we do not take into account when we buy a car, it is the tires that come as standard. We focus on putting on the most beautiful tires and we forget that one day those wheels will wear out and we will have to change them . Without a doubt, this is when our pocket will suffer the consequences. To get more ideas, check out: general altimax rt43 review

Nor are we talking about buying the model with hubcaps and the finest wheels , since somehow a larger wheel gives us more security, but all in its proper measure.

Choosing a good tire can save you money without sinning in performance

It's not very logical, however attractive it may be , to equip an Opel Adam-style utility vehicle with 17-inch 215mm-wide tires, right?

Choosing the wrong wheels when buying our car will result in less driving comfort and higher consumption. So as we say, you have to put reason before the heart when choosing tires.

Manufacturers usually do not allow us to choose the tires that our car will mount, but are associated by default according to the tire we choose or the sports package if we choose the most aggressive package. The more sporty it seems the wider the tire should be .

Tire codes, something you will stop seeing abstract

When changing the wheels of our car, we will have to look at a series of codes printed on the tire to choose the ones that best suit us and suit our car.

In some cases, and as long as it is explicit in the technical sheet, we can mount a thinner tire . This will only be possible in case our tire supports it.

These are the elements, according to the FIRSTSTOP tire dealer , that represent each number you see in the image shown a little above:

• Width : is the width of the inflated tire, in millimeters.
• Height : corresponds to the aspect ratio between the height of the profile and the width of the tire, as a percentage.
• Rim : is the diameter of the rim for which the tire is designed. It cannot be mounted on a larger or smaller one.
• Load index : refers to the maximum weight that a tire can support. That number is not the equivalent in kg. Rather, it is associated with an equivalency table.
• Speed ​​code : this value is associated with the maximum speed that the tire can withstand during a period of ten minutes without being a hazard. It can consist of a letter or a letter and a number, and it is also associated with an equivalence table, which you will find at equivancias.info .

We must also take into account the year of manufacture of the wheel , to be sure that we do not have old wheels.

For this, we will have to see the group of four digits that appears in the image on the right; the first two indicate the manufacturing week, and the last two the year. In this case, this tire was manufactured on week 14 of 2016.

The myth of wheels that reduce consumption

A range of low rolling resistance tires has now become very fashionable . Some manufacturers claim to use components that generate less friction when rolling on the asphalt and, in turn, reduce wear; some even promise to reduce the fuel consumption of our vehicle.

Now that we have the European Community energy rating labels, we see how this is not as true as they say . Even within the same brand we observe how sports tires have a level of consumption and noise very similar to that of low rolling resistance.