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What are Wide Tyres? - Essential Things Explained

Sep 04, 2019 Car Tyres Tips & Tricks PitStopArabia

The United Arab Emirates is famous for its automobile scene. The world's most famous and unique cars can be seen roaming around the streets of the UAE. The UAE is also renowned for having Ferraris, Lamborghinis, and other exquisite cars in their police fleet. Therefore, do not even for a second think that you can outrun the UAE police.

The fascination people have for cars is unparalleled in the UAE. It is the reason every year, more and more motorsport events are being held in the UAE. These events and the overall fascination for cars have a significant impact on driving habits on people of UAE. While some of these habits are welcoming, others not so much.

One of the habits people are increasingly adopting is the use of wide tires on their vehicles. If you are a tire expert or a car enthusiast, you will know exactly what we mean. The non-experts and non-car enthusiasts need not to worry. In this article, we will be discussing wide tires, their usage as well as their pros and cons.

Wide Tires

As the name suggests, they are tyres which are wider than the normal/standard tyres. Some of you might understand the importance of a tire’s size (and width). For those of you which do not know, the size and width of a tire are directly related to the car’s handling and other performance characteristics.

Reasons for Using Wide Tires

Wide tyres can be used for a multiple of reasons. One of the most common reasons they are used is for enhancing the appearance of the vehicle. It is the reason that most people have given PitStopArabia when asked why they are using wide tires on their cars. It also offers certain performance enhancements as well.

One of the performance enhancements wide tires offers is on dry surfaces. It is because the contact area is larger on wide tires; they offer better acceleration and grip on dry surfaces. Moreover, they also provide better traction in winter than standard tires.

Is Wide Tire Legal?

Wide tyres are legal throughout the world. There are no safety hazards associated with wide tyres as long as you know what you are doing. Before installing wide tires, ensure that they meet the specifications set by the car manufacturer. The manufacturer will have mentioned the maximum width and size of tires you can install on the rim. This information is located inside the car owner’s manual.

Pros of Wide Tires?

There are many advantages of installing wide tires on your vehicle:

  • They feature more sipes, which interlock with the ground. It enhances grip on loose surfaces, including snow.
  • The braking distance is shortened as well. The reason is the larger tread blocks on wide tires.
  • The steering improves considerably.
  • Improves the overall look of the car.
  • Improved comfortability.

Cons of Wide Tyres?

If the car manufacturer’s recommendations are not carefully followed when installing wide tires, the following adverse effects may be experienced:

  • Noise from the wide tires will be more than standard tires.
  • The wide tire will not fit properly on the wheel. It will impact the turning radius.
  • The threat of hydroplaning will increase substantially.
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Conclusion

This concludes our article today. We recommend the drivers to keep the car manufacturer’s specifications in mind when modifying their cars. It will help ensure their safety and those of others as well.

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