Passenger tyres
Passenger tyres are engineered to provide a smooth and comfortable ride. Designed for personal use, these tyres are not ideal if you haul heavyweight or cargo. A passenger tyre is considered ideal for SUVs, crossovers, sedans, coupes, hatchbacks and should not be used on vehicles that are heavier in weight such as a light truck, van, bus or a large-sized SUV.
Offering optimal traction on roads, highways and other smooth surfaces — these tyres mostly come with an all-season tread that can handle both moderate winter and moderate summer season. If your passenger tyre has M+S marking on it, this means the tyre can be driven on both mud and snow. A distinctive benefit that passenger tyres come with is the long-lasting tread.
Light Truck Tyres
Light truck tyres are expensive than passenger tyres. These have the ability to carry heavy loads because they have extra stuff on the sidewall and under the tread. Sometimes, LT truck tyres also feature an extra steel belt to make it more durable. Some LT tyres are 8-ply (Load Range D), while others are 10-ply (Load Range E). LT tyres can carry hefty loads, fulfil severe hauling needs and perform intense towing when required.
While these tyres are robust and powerful, you may have to trade a few attributes for this, like less sharp handling, more fuel consumption and noisy rides. Tire mileage and tread life are almost the same for passenger tyres and LT tyres. If you drive more in off-roading conditions, you should consider light truck tyres because the tread in these tyres can resist gravel roads. On the other hand, P-metric tyres give an exemplary performance on well-paved roads and highways.
In the end, it all comes down to your driving needs. Many people are interested in passenger tyres because they are cheaper than light truck tyres. But don’t fall for the cheap price because if you carry heavy loads on passenger tyres they will wear out much faster, whereas the light truck tires will last much longer.
Truck and Bus Tyres
Truck and bus tyres are designed for large trucks. These can withstand tougher conditions and different seasons. From carrying numerous passengers to carrying massive loads, truck and bus tyres fulfil various needs.
Types of tyres for different weathers
All-season Tyres
All-season tyres or all-weather tyres are versatile enough to handle moderate summer and winter climates. These tyres are perfect for places which have moderate climates throughout the year. For instance, if the place you’re living doesn’t experience heavy snowfall and the summers are not too hot, you can go for an all-season tyre.
All-weather tyres can also perform well in rainy conditions. However, there are a few cons that come with outstanding versatility. While the durability of tyres is brilliant, the braking and cornering abilities of all-season tyres are not exemplary.
Winter Tyres
Snow or winter tyres are ideal for places where the temperature drops under 7°C. All-season tyres or summer tyres become hard and stiff during cold weather which makes it difficult for the rubber to maintain traction with the ground.
The many tiny grooves on snow tyres help to maintain an optimal grip. You will find a snowflake symbol on winter tyres. If your tyres also have an M+S symbol on it, then you can drive on mud and snow both.
Summer Tyres
Perfect for wet and dry conditions — summer tyres have large grooves which divert water from beneath the tyre and maintain traction with the ground and reduces the risk of hydroplaning. If the country you live in experiences extremely hot weather, then summer tyres are ideal for you. The type of tread these tyres feature is perfect to be driven on highways and roads. Hence, summer tyres offer smoother rides.
Nevertheless, it is advisable to avoid using summer tyres in cold conditions and vice versa.