How to choose the most suitable tyres for your vehicle

Along with flat batteries, punctured tyres are one of the biggest causes of roadside callouts in the UK.

As a chauffeur service, the very last thing you need is for a tyre blow as you or one of your drivers is transporting a client.

The inconvenience, time wasted, and expense could not only result in losing that client, but also there’s a risk of your business taking a reputational hit – and all because your vehicle could have been fitted with more suitable tyres.

In this article we detail some of the varieties of tyres available, and the pros and cons of each.

While there’s a range of different tyres available, offering different solutions depending on the vehicle and the weather conditions, do you know which type of tyre is right for your vehicle(s)?

One of the most popular tyres available are all season tyres. Until recently when climate and weather conditions have been more unpredictable, these have been ideal for the UK, designed to match both wet and dry conditions. These tyres generally don’t need to be changed over with the season, so could be a more cost-effective option when considering options for your chauffeur-driven cars Summer and winter tyres are designed for specific weather and should be changed over as the seasons change. In summer conditions, you’ll appreciate the softer material with less grooves in the tyre tread which allows more contact with the road. This can provide greater handling and fuel economy.

Come winter, tyres tend to need a thicker type of rubber to withstand colder temperatures. These   have a higher groove ratio than that of summer tyres, which may prevent splitting. These also provide greater grip on wet or icy surfaces, and are better suited to channelling water away which can also help reduce the chances of the vehicle aquaplaning. This is a situation where a wedge of water builds up between the tyre and the road surface, the tyre loses road contact, and the vehicle is no longer responsive to steering. If you don’t want a client gripping onto the seat in fear, then ensuring you have winter tyres fitted in good time ensures your driver is always fully in control of the drive.

A puncture is the driving situation we can’t completely avoid, but some tyres can handle that situation better than others. Run flat tyres a resist the effects of deflation when punctured. They won’t allow you to continue to drive normally once the air has escaped but are instead designed for a limited number of miles at a lower speed – ideally to get you to a place of safety. Let’s also consider the drawbacks. These tyres are generally a little more expensive than traditional tyres, and if being fitted to cars without a tyre pressure monitoring system, will give you little or no indication that your tyre pressure is dropping.

Different types of vehicles can also benefit from specific tyres, such as 4x4 or off-road tyres.These use particular tread patterns specifically manufactured to grip soft ground or steep inclines. What could be better when transporting a group of clients to a country retreat off the beaten track?  They’re generally constructed with stronger materials to withstand the rigours of off-road driving. As a result, when used on normal roads they can offer less fuel economy.

Reinforced orXL tyres are strong, durable tyres with robust internal structures, able to deal with heavy loads without compromising on grip and handling. Where all tyres have something called beading – which allows them to stay firmly on the wheel rim – reinforced tyres have additional beading, making them stronger without coming under too much stress. While these tyres are useful for off-road driving, they can increase fuel consumption.

Whatever tyres you choose for your vehicle, it’s important to remember to keep regularly monitoring their condition. Neglected tyres end up costing more money, and if the air pressure isn’t kept at the correct levels, it’s likely to increase the amount of fuel use as well as wear and tear on various components.

It’s worthwhile remembering that your tyres are the only physical point of contact between your car and the road, so make a real difference to your safety – and of those in your vehicle. A well-maintained, chauffeur-driven vehicle is nothing without the suitable tyres it deserves.

We hope that this guidance and insight helps when you choose your tyres.

If you like to discuss how we can keep your business covered, please call 020 8256 4916 or email [email protected].