– a softer tyre is faster but wears out sooner. A harder compound lasts longer, but doesn't provide the best performance. Soft tyres – These represent the fastest rubber, but are likely to wear out before the harder compounds do.
Hard tires will last longer and be able to withstand rougher conditions. So, while the soft tire will perform better initially than the hard compound, over time, as they each wear down, that will reverse.
Thanks to the use of a harder compound, summer tyres guarantee optimum performance when the temperature is above 7°C. On the other hand, winter tyres are designed to operate at temperatures below 7°C, when their softer compound ensures better grip and limited wear to the tread.
"The rule of thumb for the lifespan of tires is five years," says Al Premji, owner of Vancouver's ABC Tire. "After about five years, the rubber becomes hard and, even if the tires are looking good, the traction reduces and weakens quite dramatically, actually.
A harder tire wears out slower, while a softer tire grabs the road better, it's particularly benificial in snow, rain, or off road, but while being safer they wear out quicker.
Soft tyres can be more expensive than harder types, usually due to them wearing out quicker and needing to be replaced more regularly.
Front tyres tend to wear faster, up to 2.5 times faster on some cars. The left front tyre has it the hardest. It is the most heavily loaded and responsible for transmitting most of the steering during right hand turns.
HARD TIRES: they are hard enough, this lasts way longer than a soft tire but it is not quicker than the soft tire in the race track. it is mostly used when the track is not ideal for the soft ones, like, high temperature which leads to higher degradation of the tyre when accelerated at higher speed.
However, on average, the different types of tyres can last as follows: Hard tyres tend to last for approximately 40 to 50 laps. Medium tyres for around 30 to 40 laps. Soft tyres for roughly 20 to 30 laps.
When should 4x4 tyres be replaced? On average, a decent set of 4x4s could last anywhere between 30,000 to 60,000 kilometres. Many manufacturers and tyre experts also recommend replacing tyres once they reach 10 years old – counting from the date of manufacture.
A harder tire wears out slower, while a softer tire grabs the road better, it's particularly benificial in snow, rain, or off road, but while being safer they wear out quicker.
Softer tyres provide more gripping action since they heat up faster. Tyre friction on the track surface heats up the Formula 1 tyre. As the tire grips the track around corners, lateral forces will cause it to slide. Slides generate heat, which makes rubber more malleable (sticky) and pliable.
Harder tires will give your car better traction, which means they'll be able to handle top speeds; this is because they don't have as much grip. If you want to know how fast your car can go, take a look at the speed rating located on the tire.
Higher driving speeds cause more heat to build up in the rubber, breaking down the tire more quickly than at slower speeds. Similarly, taking turns at slower speeds and avoiding skidding on turns also helps the tire last longer.
Avoiding driving too fast or heavy braking and abrupt cornering will be better for your tyres in the long run. By making sure you are calm when behind the wheel and drive smoothly at all times you could prolong the shelf life of your tyres.
The History of the Science. In 1989, ADAC, Germany's consumer advocacy group concluded: “Even tires that are just six years old – though they appear to be brand new – can present a safety risk. Tire experts even say that if they are not used, indeed, tires age more quickly.”
Risks of under-inflated tyres
And less grip on the road isn't the only problem you'll have with under-inflated tyres. They can even increase your car's braking distance and reduce their endurance, causing faster degeneration and even increasing the possibility of a sudden puncture.
Let's state the facts: all-season tyres (also called all-year tyres) have a harder compound than winter tyres. And that's what makes them more durable and less prone to wear than winter tyres. The hard compound also reduces the rolling noise. But they're softer than summer tyres to better endure colder conditions.
The biggest downside to a solid tire, besides that fact that operators can't drive fast, is the fact that “you don't get the same traction with the solid tire that you're going to get with a pneumatic tire because you get virtually no deflection. Solid tires don't cushion machinery the way pneumatic tires do.
Tire Damage and Wear
Overinflating your tires can make them more vulnerable to damage. Like an overfilled balloon, tires filled to their maximum capacity are more stiff and inflexible, which makes them more susceptible to damage from potholes, curbs, or debris.
According to Tire Review, new tires should always go in the back. Rear tires provide the vehicle stability, and if they have little tread, then stability is lost.
The most common reason for tyre wear on the edges is underinflation. If you've noticed wear on the inside, check the outside of the tyre too. Underinflated tyres tend to distort the tread away from the road in the centre, which results in the edges becoming worn.
As a general rule, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) recommends that drivers change the tires on their vehicles every six years. However, there are several factors that can place additional wear and tear on tires that force drivers to change them more frequently.