It would seem that the car wheel is an unpretentious object, both in appearance and design. It is a round article with a rubber tire on the outside and a metal cord on the inside. So it cannot be called simple. However, there are a number of myths about car tires, in which it is high time to stop believing. Most of them are related to winter tires, but not only.
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Myth 1: wider wheels are better.
Here are a few arguments in favor of narrow tires:
- Identical performance when riding on hard pavement as their wide counterparts;
- lower aerodynamic drag;
- installation on modern electric cars and authentic muscle cars.
And on the winter road in most cases it is the narrow tires that are more effective. So when buying summer tires, give preference to wider (but without fanaticism), and when buying winter tires – narrower.
Myth 2: Wider tires are better for acceleration and braking
In fact, it is not the width of tires, but the diameter of wheels that is important for better grip in a straight line. The larger it is, the longer the tire’s contact patch with the asphalt. It promotes better acceleration and braking.
Myth 3: The main thing is the experience, not the tires
Some drivers mistakenly believe that the experience of driving is more important than the quality of tires, and there is no difference between winter and summer tires. In fact, one without the other does not ensure safety, especially on a winter road. Attention, caution, quick reaction – it is undoubtedly important. But the high-quality rubber for the season allows not so much strain during driving and really saves in extreme situations.
Myth 4: Winter tires are forbidden in Europe
This is not quite true. In some countries of the European Union, studded tires are banned, not winter tires. But it is fair to mention that in recent years, some European states have abolished the transition to winter tires. But it does not speak about their total prohibition.
Myth 5: There is no need to buy winter tires
Winter and summer tires differ in tread size, composition of the rubber compound and other parameters. Manufacturers are serious about the quality of their products. Winter tires provide the same traction on icy roads as summer tires on dry asphalt. And at temperatures below 5 degrees Celsius, summer tires freeze, so it is not safe to drive on them.
Summer tires on the winter road are often the cause of fatal accidents.
Myth 6: It is possible to drive on winter wheels in summer
This is the reverse. Some motorists think the following: if you may not drive with summer tyres in winter, you may drive with winter ones in summer. Here again we should not forget that the winter tires differ from the summer by many parameters, in
Myth 7: Driving on a flat tire ruins your tires
Actually it is possible to drive 100 km on a flat tire, it will not damage rubber and tread. True, you need to move at a speed not greater than 60 km / h. In this case, the crumpled tire will be heated within the permissible parameters, and its integrity is not violated. But you should not abuse it. If a wheel is punctured and badly deflated, you may drive it to the nearest garage. But it is not necessary to continue exploitation of such car in usual mode.
Myth 8. All-wheel drive car may be driven with any tires in winter
This dangerous misconception may lead to an accident. All-wheel drive is no guarantee of safety during emergency braking. A full stop in winter in a critical traffic situation is just guaranteed by quality winter tires.
Myth 9. Modern tires do not accumulate static electricity while driving
This was a problem in the past. Static electricity often made wheels burn. The problem had disappeared, but now it is back again! To reduce the weight of the tires, modern tire manufacturers add electrically conductive soot to the rubber compound. And now the tires once again “generate electricity” when the car is moving. True, changes have been made to the design of the wheels: now there are sections of special rubber, which are responsible for grounding.
Myth 10: You can put winter tires on one axle
This mistake is very dangerous! It is clear that it is done for the sake of economy, but because of this, safety on the winter road suffers greatly. If you want to economize, it is better to buy a set of winter tires for cheaper, but necessarily for all four wheels!
Myth 11. Organic oils in tires are a marketing trick
It is true that the formulation of rubber compounds contains organic oils and other “strange” ingredients. But it should not be considered solely as an advertising trick. By the way, the organic oils in automobile rubber also have very indirect relation to the fight for ecology. But it is a fact that citrus oil normalizes rubber viscosity at overheating.
Myth 12. Winter tires are very expensive
If you have spent money on buying a car, you should be prepared for the fact that its maintenance costs money too. It is imperative to have a winter and summer set of tires! You should not postpone the purchase of winter tires until better times, you can not save on safety. In addition, the winter tires cost a little more expensive than the summer ones, but they serve longer. And also their use helps to save fuel.
Myth 13. It is better to take low-profile tires for winter
This is another myth. Those who believe that low profile tires provide better handling are wrong. According to experts, high-profile tires are better able to cope with uneven winter roads. In addition, it is very difficult to damage the disks with them.
It should be remembered that you should choose tires depending on your driving style, the region where you use the vehicle and other important factors.