Low profile winter tires pluses and cons. Low profile tires - properties, advantages and disadvantages. Low-profile rubber manufacturers

Automakers regularly improve new models of cars in terms of speed of movement and comfort of driving, from which it is quite logical to make adjustments to the wheel design. Development and fairly widespread use of low-profile rubber has become one of these innovations. It not only changed the design of vehicles, but also has a positive effect on the undercarriage.

What rubber is considered low profile?

Low profile rubber was developed by the French company Michelin in 1937 specifically for use on racing cars. However, the experience of their use on ordinary tracks was so negative that the company Pirelli in 1978 began to return to such an idea.

Low profile tires to distinguish from ordinary marking. For example, 225/55 R16, in which, respectively, the first number indicates the width of the tire in millimeters, the second is the ratio of the width and height of the profile in percent, the third is the type of rubber: standard, low-profile or sports. The ratio of the cross section of rubber to its width in low-profile rubber should not exceed 80%, that is, 0.8.

Types of low-profile tires

Despite the fact that several dozen years ago, the tires of the low profile were tires a series of no more than 70, today only those tires, a series of which does not exceed 55. The low-profile tire indicator for passenger cars over time and the development of technologies is gradually decreasing. : Car owners when choosing such tires are repelled, as a rule, from the 55 series in the direction of its decrease. The main difference of such rubber from other types of tires is the speed index: H and V - 210 km / h and 240 km / h, respectively. For conventional rubber, only one speed index is characterized, corresponding to 190 km / h.

Almost all modern brands and rubber models can be attributed to low profile, since the width of the tire almost always exceeds the height of the Cord, and the most common label is from 50 to 75. For example, on cars and cars increased passibility R18 255/100 tires are installed, which are very effective in off-road conditions and are absolutely useless in the city feature.

Low profile tires They differ in greater rigidity at a small height of the wheel, which ensures the resistance of the car on turns, fuel economy and better controllability. In most cases, low-profile tires are completed brake discs Increased diameter, which improves braking efficiency and reduces the brake path of the car, thereby increasing the level of security. Despite the fact that the reduction of the profile made it possible to achieve such advantages, it entailed and certain minuses characteristic of this type of tires.

Benefits and disadvantages of low profile rubber

Car owners in their reviews based on the operation of the tires, mark the pros and cons of low-profile rubber. We list the mains that drivers lead.

Dignity

1. Compared to conventional tires - higher speed indexes, in other words, the full range of low profile rubber capabilities is revealed at high speed.
2. Improved brake characteristicsproviding a short braking path and increased ride safety.
3. Supports exchange rate stability and provides excellent clutch with high speed track.
4. In comparison, C. ordinary rubber - faster overclocking and speed set.

disadvantages

Silent for low-profile rubber high-speed parameters Distracted by disadvantages, especially noticeable while driving through a low-quality track. It is manifested in the rapid wear of the disks and the damage caused by the driving vehicle.

Car owners in recalls about low-profile rubber notes the following flaws:

1. Fast rubber wear.
2. High noise due to increased tire contact area.
3. The high risk of aquaplaning due to the large width of the tire and the impossibility of the water removal from the contact spot.
4. Increased load on the power steering and steering Due to high rigidity.
5. Most old car services are not equipped with special low-profile rubber, and therefore the installation of such tires is significantly complicated.
6. The need to control tire pressure, since even its minor change can provoke a loss of control.
7. Low-profile tires are at times more expensive than ordinary analogues, moreover, the installation of such rubber is accompanied by the acquisition of larger radius discs, which is associated with considerable expenses from the car owners.

What needs to be taken into account

When answering the question of which low-profile tires is better, it is necessary to take into account the conditions of operation of the car. Ideally vehicle should be used only on a flat highway with the possibility of movement on maximum speed. In addition, when choosing low-profile rubber, the recommendations of automakers regarding brands and tire models suitable for installation on a particular car are taken into account.

Popular brands of low-profile tires

When choosing a low profile rubber, recommendations are recorded not only by autoconecern, but also the manufacturer of the rubber itself: the quality and safety of the tires should not cause complaints, otherwise there is a possibility of loss of control on the road and the risk of an accident.

Car owners and experts identify several brands and low-profile tire models, distinguished by high quality and popular with motorists.

Rubber BFGOODRICH G-Grip 255/35 R19

American summer low-profile rubber has the following advantages:

• Increased coupling stability of the car due to the central edge of the tread.
• Increased braking efficiency and abbreviated braking path due to self-locking slats.
• Strengthened shoulder blocks increase the controllability and stability of the car.
• Fast and high-quality water removal from the spot of the tire contact with the track.

The only minus of this rubber brand is high level Noise while driving on the highway.

Rubber Low Profile Pirelli Winter Sottozero 225/45 R17 91H

Italian winter tires Low profile is installed mainly to high-speed cars equipped with engines high power. The main advantages of the tires are as follows:

• Symmetrical pattern of a tread that guarantees a high level of clutch with a road surface.
• Guarantee of the car stability.
• High speed parameters.
• The possibility of movement along the snow-covered highway without spikes thanks to 3D lamellas.
• Special composition of rubber, increasing tires.

Lack of rubber - it is not suitable for operation in harsh winter conditions.

Low Profile Tires Goodyear Wrangler F1 375/40 ZR20 102W

American Low Profile Tires, created for SUVs and crossovers, have the following advantages:

• Protectors are equipped with special blocks that increase traction.
• Improves the handling and stability of the car.
• Provides fast acceleration and speed set.
• Low noise level.
• The possibility of operation in the urban feature.

The only drawback is to damage exposure.

RESULTS

Low profile tires - Individual selection of each car owner who has positive all positive and negative sides this type Tires. On the one hand, a low profile guarantees not bad and saving fuel, on the other, it requires frequent repair of discs and suspension. If this rubber is still installed, then it is necessary to comply with certain operation requirements and stick to the neat driving manner. The low profile bus is not recommended for novice drivers, since in the absence of due experience of driving increases the risk of loss of management and emergency situations on the highway, as well as the rapid wear of the tires themselves, as a rule, they cannot withstand one of the seasons of active operation.

One of the fashion trends has recently been to low-profile tires. This is especially manifested in the period of sale. summer tires. About, how to treat low-profile busWhat features it possesses, will be talked below.

What is low-profile tires?

IN modern world Low profile is considered a tire with an attitude of its profile height (tire height) to a width of 55% and lower. Thus, the low-profile tires include, for example, the following dimensions:

Given the current trends in the development of tire sizes and the emergence of new cars, it can be said that the 55th series as the border between the standard profile and low-profile will no longer be considered as such. In reality, this has already happened among those who deliberately searches for a tire with a narrow sidewall, size 205/55 R16 is not considered low-profile. And if you refer to the story, then at the dawn of the appearance of low-profile tires, the parameter separating them from standard tires was at all 70%! And, for example, the size of 195/70 R14 has already been considered low-profile.

For the first time, low-profile tires were issued by Michelin in 1937. However, the condition of the roads and the equipment of mass vehicles did not allow wide use of such tires and they were installed solely on racing cars.

The absence of necessary depreciation can also lead to more sad consequences than loss of comfort, as it increases, for example, the load on the car suspension. It is also worth remembering that the transition to low-profile tires is always accompanied by an increase in the seed diameter of the discs, which means that purchase is necessary. In addition, the low-profile tires themselves are usually more expensive.

How to choose?

Choose low-profile tires It is worth in accordance with the recommendation of the automaker. As a rule, the car manufacturer to each model offers 3 - 4 sizes, among which low-profile will be present. Below is an example of selecting a tire for car Ford. Focus:

Today I want to talk to you about low-profile tires, namely what it is and why is it generally needed? After all, there are quite a lot of cars (I think more than 80%), which are equipped with such rubber. So good or bad, read on ...

For starters as usual definition.

Low profile rubber (tires) -these are tires in which the cross-sectional ratio to the width of the tire does not exceed 0.8 (80%). There is also rubber with a "very" low profile if the ratio (height and width) is below 0.55 (55%)

Simple words - already out of the name it is clear that such rubber has a low (side) profile compared to the width of the wheel tire.

For complete understanding

For example - on my car are the wheels of Hankook Optimo (for the winter -) with dimension R16 205/55.

Where, R16 - denotes with 16 inches of the wheel diameter.

But we are interested in the second size 205/55. This is exactly the ratio of the width and height of the profile. 205 mm is the wheel width. 55 is the ratio of profile height and width, in this case it is 55% if the exact size is calculated - it turns out 205 x 0.55 \u003d 112.75, the side part of the wheel is 112.75 mm. That is, the ratio of 205 and 112.75 gives such a name.

Why is it generally needed?

To be honest, now almost all tires can be called low-profile, because the wheel width will almost always be greater than the height of Cord. Therefore, there are sizes with the height of Cord at 50, 55, 60, 65, 70, 75, etc. But it is very rare to find a tire, where the height and width of the wheel were the same! Suppose R18 255/100, as the width is understandable, here is equal to the height of the profile. Such tires are used mainly on large SUVs, or all-terrain vehicles, for trips for swampy terrain. Here is an example of rubber Interco Bogger, her height and width are equal, this tire The photo has dimensions R16 255/100

But such rubber in the city is useless, and I would even say and harmful (the use of it in difficult-to-walled - swampy - snow-covered localities)! Indeed, in the city most asphalt and smooth roads and such rubber will not let you move quickly and economically, the car will have to push this tire with effort, because it is heavy and relatively soft and very much (something like a pillow, because of high profile). However, such types can withstand the maximum mass or, that's why they put on large cars (Trucks, tractors, large buses).

Therefore, the second type was invented - a low-profile tire, it was for the urban regime. After all, the smaller the height of the wheel, the wheel is tougher, and accordingly it is better rolling, contributes to the resistance of the car (especially in turns), as well as fuel consumption decreases (and decently). In such types, you can quickly move along asphalt roads, as a rule, quite high. But such a rubber, will not be able to keep a lot of weight, not for commercial vehicles (put almost always on passenger cars), absolutely useless to off-road, all because it is tough, and the protector is not designed to "dig" dirt or snow. In general, you are advice to you, do not jerk with such tires in a serious dirt, even if you have a all-wheel drive parckarter!

The third species is created for very high speeds, it has a very low indicator and ratio - only 25, 30 and 35%, for example, such a size as R16 215/35 (Yokohama S.Drive AS01), as clearly, the cord of this rubber is only 35% of 215 MM (75.25 mm) is really low.

With this size, ride even in the city is not very comfortable, because there are pits, tramways and other irregularities. The car will be very tough (not comfortable), the suspension and discs can also suffer from this. Such a very low profile is needed for racing tracks and roads where absolutely smooth road. It should be noted that the speeds she keeps really high.

Now a small video, on the example of my car, tried to explain with simple words.

Ultimately

As you understood that a low profile on one side saves gasoline and gives the best car handling, and on the other hand, you should not choose too low profile - you will often repair discs and suspension. From the experience I will say - I have a friend on "tire" he told that a very low size will simply kill your disk, just one blow at speed (for example, flew into the pit or hit the tram paths). And the disk and even the suspension suffers. So think and choose the tires right! On this all sincerely your autobalkher.

Competition develops in all spheres of the market, and automotive is not an exception. One of the best results This competition can be considered low-profile tires. Undoubtedly, this type of tire decorates significantly appearance The car, but these tires have a lot of other advantages for motorists. There are also certain disadvantages that do not reduce their popularity.

Thinking in what rubber is considered low-profile, it is worth considering that this type of tires, in which the height of the side element is less than the width of the tire. Usually this indicator varies on 45 to 55. Such rubber is used for sports models Cars and use to highlight the car from the crowd or improve sports results. Often such tires are installed on racing models Car, since they allow you to reduce sliding on the track.

Marking on a tire

General description:

• A specific speed index - from 210 to 240 km / h is denoted by symbols H or V.
• This indicator is indicated by the second digit after the drawing line in the marking. For example, in marking 215/36 R17, the number 36 denotes the ratio of rubber width to the height of its profile, and the R symbol indicates the size. IN this example You can see that the tire is low-profile.
• Good challenges on the road. This is noticeable for a good clutch with the road.

Additional Information!

This type of tire implies the installation of enlarged brake discsWhat improves the braking process.

Major Pros and Cons Rubber with Low Profile by 15 inches

Fifteen-year-old model

Like any other tires, a low profile rubber by 15 inches has its advantages and disadvantages. Many motorists are considered advantages:

• Best grip.
• Good maneuverability and smooth entry into the turn.
• High-quality braking.
• Low resistance to the process of movement.
• Saving gasoline.
• In combination with light discs, reduces the overall massiveness of the car and improves the dynamics.
• Installing low-profile tires facilitates a set of speeds.

These advantages of low-profile tires are complemented by a special pattern of tread and soft tire base. Most often at high-speed types of rubber, the directional pattern of the tread and a durable side part.

As for minuses, they are also worth mentioning:

• Low service life.
• Low level of comfort - tires are very sensitive to various irregularities on the road.
• The noise level - the contact stain in these models is increased, which leads to an increase in foreign sounds. This effect provokes the directional pattern of the tread.
• Excessive suspension pressure - rigid ride injured chassis element car.
• Weight - if there is no power steering in the car, it can affect the turns, worsened their quality and smooth input.
• Narrow application area - do not install them for trips around the city.
• Not intended to ride in rainy weather, since they have an aquaplaning or hydrodynamic wedge, that is, when driving in the rain, the adhesion is worse.

Additional Information!

Considering the pros and cons of low-profile wheels by 15 inches, before purchase, you should decide on the main road conditions, driving style and after that you can make a decision about buying them. It is desirable that shiny discs are purchased with them.

What tires are considered low-profile and why

Model size 205/55 R16

Low profile are counted tires with cross section Height above 0.55 and less than 0.8 inches. Low-profile tires include rubber with the following nomenclature:

• 205/55 R16;
• 205/45 R17;
• 225/40 R18.

Additional Information!

You can add the nomenclature of low-profile rubber R17 to the same list.

Is it safe to use low-profile autores R17

Model R17.

As you can reveal from the characteristics, the low profile rubber is more logical to use for smooth road surfaces, but when driving on other roads there may be problems.

What can lead to wrong use low-profile winter or summer rubber:

• If you need to change the wheels, it will be difficult to find a car service, which risked to take up such a task. All operations will have to be carried out independently.
• Riding on bumps and pits can provoke a reduction in pressure, which will lead to a complete deconstruction of the wheel and emergency situations.
• On Russian motorways, the use of this type of wheel can lead to serious consequences.

Note!

The final selection of every car owner makes himself based on its preferences.

As for the basic rules of operation, it should be borne in mind that riding on them is possible only on even tracks. It is important to monitor the pressure so that the tire does not burst. Driving a vehicle with such rubber is very neat. Tire care must be carried out according to the season. In winter, it is desirable to inspect the tires to various chips. A special danger to such tires is salt and other components used by the utilities to combat ashole.

Wheels need to be washed as often as possible using automotive shampoos, not forgetting thoroughly flush them with water. When the spots of gasoline or any other combustible material appear on the rubber, they must immediately be written. Be sure to check the state of thorns and remove contamination from them. The tread pattern should not be erased. Store tires need at a temperature not higher than +25 ° C, better in the garage. With vertical storage, they should occasionally turn over, and if they are already equipped with discs, then you need to hang them.

In summer, tires are often susceptible. high temperatures From driving along hot asphalt, so in the evening the tires must be cooled. In addition, tires should be protected from ultraviolet with help special Tools. It is desirable that in their composition there is no silicone.

Apply tools using a special sponge in the direction of rotation of the tire, and then against.

Low Profile Winter Rubber R14

Model R14.

A separate topic for drivers is a seasonal shin change. By winter, the car must be carefully prepared. As you know, rubber is studded and untouched. Rubber with spikes is optimal for roads in ice and heavy snow, but it is not suitable for riding in pure asphalt. At the same time, smooth rubber is suitable for ordinary roads, but not for winter.

Given the features of the low-profile tire, the wheels simply will not stand the winter road "surprises", since any irregularity will be literally felt by the driver's hands.

Features of buying low-profile winter rubber R14:

• Low profile rubber is rarely found in the auto shop, it is better to purchase it through the Internet.
• Buying in the Internet service will save money.
• Many sites provide independent export and delivery at the specified address.

Additional Information!

Low-profile R14 rubber allows you to improve the active characteristics of the car.

Low profile bus is a new trend in a modern automotive industry. She gives the car additional status and style. Despite its advantages, these tires are quite capricious and may not withstand features russian roads and climate. Their purchase can be quite expensive in the auto show, but find quality models are quite real in specialized Internet resources.

Competition benefits far from all producers of goods - some companies lose, others win. But consumers always remain in winnings, because as a result they get the best.

Autoresin producing firms are no exception because they are constantly in a pretty rigid competition. And today, as a result of this competition, we will consider a special kind of autoresine, which is called low profile.

General characteristics

Find the differences with a low profile from the ordinary tire you can on the side surface of the wheel: it is there a special marking. This label indicates the tire parameters, thanks to which you can always find out, low-profile is rubber or not.

For example, let's take a typical tire marking of 225/40R16 and try to decipher it:

• 225 is a number that determines the width of the tires in millimeters;
• 40 is the value of the percentage between the height and width of rubber. The height of the profile is obtained as: 225 Multiply with 0.4 and we get - 90 mm;
• R is a variety of rubber. In this case, this index suggests that the tire is radial.
• 16 - This value indicates a tire radius. In this case, 16 inches.

If there are once low-profile tires, whose ratio in percent of height and width did not exceed 0.8, now this value has decreased significantly. Nowadays, low tire profile has an indicator less than 0.55.

Therefore, the marking we considered 225 / 40R16 obvious low profile, which has a difference in width and height of just 40% (0.4).

For clarity, let's compare a tire having a 195 / 45R15 marking with a bus on which marking 205/45R15 is applied.

To do this, we will produce the calculations already known to us both for the first tire and for the second:

1. 195 x 0.45 \u003d 87, 75 mm
2. 205 x 0.45 \u003d 92, 25 mm

As the next difference with a low profile rubber from conventional tires, we consider such a characteristic as the speed index (the maximum allowable speed for the operation of those or other tires), which is also applied to the lateral surface of the tire.

At low profile tires, this value exceeds 210 km / h, while standard tires Have a speed index no more than 190 km / h. In addition to low-profile tires, a special so-called "riffness edge" is inserted, which protects the wheel drive from possible deformation.

Such a "edge" is available only in low-profile tires. In the absence of the "edge" to attract the tire to the low-profile category is already impossible.

The advantages of low-profile tires

Low tires have the following advantages:

• increase the speed parameters of the car;
• make braking quick and more reliable;
• reinforce the resistance of the car during maneuvering and at high speed including;
• provide a more extensive area of \u200b\u200btouch of rubber with road surface;
• provide fast overclocking from the start of the car;
• increase the stability of the machine on steep turns;
• they are a decoration of the car, providing him with an attractive and noble appearance.

Disadvantages of low-profile rubber

Despite the listed pluses of low tires, this rubber has a number of shortcomings:

1. A large dependence of low-profile tires from the quality of the road. That is, all of the above advantages of this rubber occur only when driving along a high-quality road with a good smooth coating. On the tracks for SUVs such rubber is not recommended.
2. The period of operation at low-profile rubber is much lower than that of ordinary tires. This is especially manifested by bad roads - The probability of puncture and damage to the disks is quite large.
3. Long simple car with low tires Extremely undesirable. The fact is that in the place of contacting the tire coated rubber is exposed to deformation. Approximately the same thing happens when leaving the garage - the steering "Baranka" begins to vibrate. However, through the first 4-5 km vibration disappears.
4. Since such tires are rather low, car depreciation is noticeably reduced. This is especially felt on an uneven road.
5. Impact on driving comfort. The spot of contact with the road in such tires is rather extensive, and the result of the noise that can be unpleasant to the driver is increasing.
6. There is such rubber much more conventional tires, and its installation will also require considerable costs.
7. Low profile tires require enhanced internal pressure control: even small deviations from the specified parameters can lead to undesirable results.
8. Aquaplaning. This effect in low tires is significantly increased due to their large width. Therefore, riding rainy weather requires caution.

If you decide to purchase low-profile rubber for your car, then pay attention to two problems, which will not be able to:

1. Large suspension load due to increasing wheel drive width.
2. The complexity of the installation of wheels with low-profile rubber.

To solve the first problem, you will need to purchase discs from alloy materials.

The second problem by many motorists is considered more difficult - even not every professional will be able to solve it. Therefore, always before purchasing a low-profile bus, try the wheel drive to the suspension and specify whether the wheel will be clinging to cling the body parts or not.

Famous brands of low-profile rubber

Choosing a low profile tires, you will have to consider not only recommendations car brand.But also companies producing auto strokes - avoid fake or poor-quality rubber, otherwise you may have a risk of becoming a culprit of an accident.

Here are some brands of low-profile tires, which in the world of motorists cause the greatest confidence.

Autoresina BFGOODRICH G-Grip 255/35R19

it summer tires US production. Its main advantages:

• provides a car increased resistance due to a special rib placed in the center of the tread;
• has self-locking lamellas, due to which the braking becomes more reliable;
• shoulder blocks are significantly reinforced, due to which the coolestability of the machine is increased;
• high-quality drainage from the stain of the touch of a tire with an expensive.

The disadvantages of the rubber of this brand include its increased noise during movement.

Auto stroke Pirelli Winter Sottozero Serie III - 225 / 45R17 91H

This winter tires are produced in Italy. They are used mainly for high-speed machines of high power. Main advantages:

• the protector pattern is made in a symmetrical form, due to which the wheels have a sufficiently high grip with the surface of the road;
• provides reliable sustainability by car;
• pretty high speed parameters;
• 3D lamellas allow you to move without spikes when necessary;
• in the manufacture of used special composition Rubber, which gives them durability.

Disadvantage: Apply these tires is undesirable in conditions of harsh winters.

Auto stack Goodyear Wrangler F1 - 275/40 ZR20 102W

American tires intended for crossovers and SUVs. Her advantages:

• projector layer is equipped with special blocks that increase traction;
• give the car excellent stability and handling;
• with such tires, the car quickly accelerates enough;
• small noise;
• you can ride in urban conditions.

Disadvantage: Easy pierced.

Autoresina Continental ContiwinterContact TS 850 - 245/40 ZR18 97W XL FR

Designed in Germany. Advantages:

• special blocks in the protector layer provide high permeability;
• the lamella is posted fairly tight, which car becomes more stable on slippery tracks;
• the side parts of the tires are designed in such a way that the car acquires good stability and maneuverability.
• fast and reliable braking.

The disadvantage is a big value.

Installing low-profile rubber on your car, you need to know that it is produced by a variety of sizes on any machine brands.

Before purchasing such tires, be sure to consider the conditions in which you plan to exploit the vehicle, because these tires will be more reliable on high-quality road surfaces.

Also, do not forget the manufacturer's recommendations of the machine manufacturer and do not reduce the tire profile below the norm specified in these recommendations. Otherwise, unwanted consequences may arise, somehow: a reduced level of safety and comfort, as well as premature wear details of the chassis of the machine. Successes to you and safe road!