What Is the Difference Between 4×4 Tyres and Standard Road Tyres?
Without wanting to state the obvious, the tyres are on your vehicle play a pretty essential role in keeping you and other road users safe β thatβs why there are such strict regulations about how much tread you need on them to give you the right amount of grip.
Of course, most cars spend their time on well-made tarmac roads, where the most challenging conditions are likely to be presented by rain, ice or snow. If youβre using your 4×4 vehicle for driving off-road, it follows that the surfaces youβll be negotiating are going to be a lot rougher and tougher on the tyres.
And that means that youβll need very different tyres to be able to do that safely. Basically, 4×4 tyres have much wider and deeper treads than standard ones, while the rubber itself is softer. Put the different tyres side by side and youβll quickly see the difference.
The differences between these tyres has a significant effect on the way the car in question performs, and that can mean pluses and minuses depending on what surface youβre driving on. Letβs look at different aspects of what you want from your tyres and see how each type rates.
Tyre Grip
4×4 tyres are softer than standard road tyres which, combined with those deep and wide treads, means that youβll get a lot more traction when negotiating the slippery and/or uneven surfaces theyβre used on when off-roading. Put them on a normal road, however, and itβs a different matter, because youβll lose much of that grip and find your braking distance needs to be extended significantly. However, drive over an excessively slippery surface in standard tyres and youβll probably have next to no grip at all!
Wear
That softer compound on 4×4 tyres means that if you try to use them instead of standard tyres while out on the road, theyβll wear out a lot quicker, and youβll find that youβll need to replace them far more often. Itβs all because of the greater rolling resistance β which basically means that it takes more energy to keep the tyres rolling β which in turn means thereβs more friction the rubber has to withstand.
Strength
Just as 4×4 tyres wonβt be able to stand up to much when it comes to driving on roads, nor would standard tyres last long if you tried to go off-roading on them. Those rough surfaces can hold all kinds of hazards that could soon lead to a puncture for a standard tyre. 4×4 tyres have strengthened walls, which makes them better able to withstand sharp rocks or other objects that would make short work of your normal carβs tyres.
Mix and Match?
Weβd always recommend that, in any car, tyres on the same axle are matching, in terms of the make and amount of wear. But with a 4×4, you need all four tyres to be matching, because the engine is driving all four at the same time, so variations can impact on how your car performs β something that could have serious repercussions if youβre negotiating tricky terrain.
Whatever tyres youβre after, you wonβt find a bigger or better choice if youβre in North or West London than at UK Tyres. Weβre a family business thatβs been providing exceptional services to drivers in the area for over 80 years β and, as well as tyres, weβre now trusted to deliver on everything from MOTs and servicing to looking after your brakes, exhaust, air conditioning and much, much more.
Want to know more? Then get in touch with the friendly team at UK Tyres today β and if youβre in need of emergency help with your tyres, donβt forget to ask about our mobile tyre fitting service.
