Tyres

All-Terrain tyres have it tough – they’re expected to be everything to everyone.

Tyre-specialist Sumitomo Rubber Industries has teamed up with Kansai University to develop new-generation rubber that can harness electricity while vehicles are on the move.

The temptation to fit so called semi-slicks, also known as R-compound tyres to your high performance road car is strong, especially if it's modified with increased power and dynamic enhancements.Most tyre companies offer semi-slicks that promise optimum grip compared with a standard road tyre. The subtext to that is that they are talking about a motorsport environment - race-track driving.A growing number of sporty car owners are under the mistaken belief that semi-slicks will better suit their car for everyday road use because of the high grip levels they offer.But according to a Toyo Tire Australia spokesperson, "They are chucking money away because semi slicks ride much harder, have limited heat cycles before the rubber 'goes off', wear quicker and take longer to warm up to full grip temperature."It's probably more a case of bragging rights rather than any gain in overall driveability"They would be much better off with performance road tyres such as the Toyo Proxes T1 Sport and have their R-compounds on a second set of rims that can be fitted for competitive events," they said."Semi-slick tyres look more aggressive but it's probably more a case of bragging rights rather than any gain in overall driveability on the street," says Steve.Toyo Tire Australia make the Proxes R888, a semi-slick which the spokesperson says is a good all round medium R-compound tyre suitable for various circuit racing and competition applications particularly on production cars and slightly modified vehicles.They say they are ideal for track day driving and will see plenty of laps without losing grip - right down to the bottom of the tread.We took the spokesperson at their word and fitted a set of R888s to a Mazda MX-5 for a track day super sprint event that comprised eight six-lap "races".Once we arrived at the correct pressure when the tyre is hot (about 32 psi), the R888s hunkered down and did not lose grip once during any session despite lapping in the top 10 on the day against cars with more power some of which had full slick tyres.Though they are made to offer progressive break away that simply did not happen on our track day session. They offered a rock solid feel with quick steering and no noise at all - no squealing as well as stable braking. The car is set up with fairly aggressive steering alignment and even after a full day at the track, the tyres looked good and still ready for the next event.They are good for their intended motorsport purposeThey are legal for driving on public roads and we haven't experience any issues doing just that on the R888s but will be buying a second set of rims soon, promise.The Proxes R888s are CAMS approved for racing and are sanctioned for various production car and historical racing events.The wash up on semi-slicks is that they are good for their intended motorsport purpose.If you never go to the track, buy a set of performance road tyres instead.

Know the score before your next vehicle inspection while saving money and protecting loved ones with this quick three-point DIY tyre safety check.

Complaints are on the rise about the harsh ride and tyre noise in cars.

My question is about the spare tyre expiry life. There has been comment already about 'how long can you keep your tyre?' Having a 1991 car, I have gone through many sets of tyres. My car still has its original spare on board. Used once. So, my car has the usual spacesaver spare. I just looked at its D.O.M. and it is 2012; so that confirms the spare is now 28 years old. Do these special purpose tyres have the same expiry characteristics as the normal car tyre? I am thinking that this question is the only one that would justify having a car with either a run-flat or a No Spare Repair Kit!

Goodyear has taken its high-performance tyre technology to the next level with the introduction of the Eagle F1 Supersport tyre range, which will take on the likes of the Michelin Pilot Sport 4S and Pirelli P Zero Cup 2 in the Ultra Ultra High Performance (UUHP) tyre market.

What is the PSI for tyre pressure for my daughter’s 2000 Mazda 2 please?

I have a 2009 VE SV6 with a HSV Plate showing a modification EWC. What does that mean please?

In a perfect world, like a perfectly dry road, tread actually reduces a car's performance because it has the effect of reducing the contact patch area, and the forces that can be transmitted through the contact patch are correspondingly reduced.But in a not-so-perfect world, on a wet road, the tread is vitally important.The tread is designed to disperse water from the contact patch, thereby helping the tyre grip the road.Without tread the tyre's ability to grip a wet road is severely limited, making it almost impossible to stop, turn, accelerate and corner.The contact patch is the area of the tyre that is actually in contact with the road.It's a small area, only about as big as the palm of your hand, through which the cornering, steering, braking, accelerating forces are transmitted.Tread wear indicator bars are moulded into the tread grooves at regular intervals around the tyre to indicate when a tyre is worn to its limit of safety.{C}{C}{C}The minimum legal tread depth is 1.5 mm across the width of the tread.When the tyre is worn to the legal limit the bars will be flush with the surface of the tread.While that is the legal requirement some car manufacturers recommend you replace your tyres before they wear to that extent.Check your owner's manual to find out what your car maker recommends.Maintaining the correct inflation pressure is one of the most important things you can do to look after your tyres.A correctly inflated tyre should wear evenly across the tread, but one that's incorrectly inflated will wear unevenly.An under-inflated tyre will wear more heavily on the outer shoulders, while an overinflated one will wear more in the centre of the tread.The inflation pressure should only be set when the tyre is cold. The pressure increases when the car is driven, so setting it after driving for some distance will result in an incorrect pressure.The recommended inflation pressure is shown on a placard attached to the body – usually on the driver's door pillar – and also in the owner's manual.Inflation pressures are given for normal driving, and also when loaded up with the maximum number people the car can legally carry and luggage.Tyres need to be checked regularly, at least once every two weeks.They should also be checked before you go on a long journey, or before towing, when they might need to be set higher.Remember to also check the spare.Rotating your tyres can also help to get the most out of them.Tyres wear at different rates depending on their position on the car. On a rear-wheel drive car the rear tyres wear faster than the front tyres; on a front-drive car it's the front tyres that wear the fastest.Rotating the tyres around the car can even out the wear on all tyres. That way they should all need replacement at the same time.If you do rotate your tyres do it regularly, at 5000km intervals, so the disparity between those that are wearing the fastest and those wearing the slowest is minimised.When rotating your tyres you can also include the spare.The spare is almost always forgotten, left to sit in the dark in the boot of our car until needed in an emergency.Spare tyres that are six years or older should only be used in an emergency.A tyre that is 10 years old should be replaced.Some mechanics and tyre men will tell you your tyres need replacing by simply looking at them and telling you they're worn.Don't take their word for it, check them yourself. Visually inspect them for wear and damage, and check the depth of the grooves.To maximise your tyre life avoid spinning the wheels on acceleration, or locking them when braking.Keeping your car in tip-top shape can help extend the life of your tyres and regular wheel alignment checks are a good idea.