What is the low-profile rubber. Low profile tires for the car. Benefits and disadvantages of low profile rubber

Car tire It is an important element vehicleFrom which the main operational parameters depend on, namely:

• controllability;
• speed;
• load capacity;
• patency;
• brake properties.

Low profile is considered to be tires, the height of the profile of which is at least 70% by aspect ratio. For the first time, such a tire was created in 1937 by Michelin and was used for sports auto racing. The second development of these tires received at the end of the seventies of the last century, when Pirelli has mastered serial production.

Currently, almost all the world's leading manufacturers have such tires in their production line. Unlike standard (Standard), they are marked as performance (low profile). There are still sports auto strokes (High Performance), which have the lowest landing.

The development and demand of low-profile tires is primarily due to the advent of high-speed and dynamic cars. It is such such cars that are needed tires that have a strong clutch with road web and high braking indicators. Low profile tires always have a high speed indicator:

• H - 210.0 km / h.
• V - 240.0 km / h.

Standard car tires have a high-speed index T (190.0 km / h).

The advantages of low-profile wheels

Compared with standard auto strokes, low-profile rubber has the following advantages:

• gives the car additional features of the sports and dynamic external image;
• has elevated brake qualities, provides a more efficient braking process;
• forms high speed indicators;
• increases stability and handling by the vehicle;
• allows drives and turns at higher speeds;
• reduces fuel consumption;
• using together with alloy discs reduces the mass of the car and increases the dynamic parameters;
• reduces speed set time.

Almost all of the specified parameters allow you to talk about increasing safety during operation of high-speed vehicles with low-profile tires. In order for the listed advantages to be used mostly, it is necessary to control the prescribed pressure in such wheels. Increased pressure in low-profile wheels sharply reduces comfort when moving, and the reduced leads to overheating tires with possible damage.

Disadvantages of low-profile wheels

Despite a wide range of advantages, low-profile rubber has a number of certain deficiencies, of which it is necessary to allocate:

• increased noise, formed due to the increased contact area of \u200b\u200bthe tire with an expensive;
• lower resource compared to standard wheels;
• reduced resistance to damage and wear;
• not intended for use in crude weather due to a tendency to aquaplaning;
• increased steering loads;
• a more time-consuming tire processing process, in addition, not all workshops are equipped with machines for repair and maintenance of such rubber;
• high price;
• the possibility of operation only on high-quality roads.

The existing shortcomings of low-profile rubber allow it to be safely used only on urban and country roads with high-quality solid coating. In other cases, it is necessary to use standard autoresin.

If the car is not equipped with an electric or hydraulic steering wheel Rubber with a low profile sharply increases the effort. The increased load requires additional physical efforts from the driver, and also worsens the maneuverability of the car especially at low speeds.

Selection of autoresine

When choosing low-profile tires, you must first of all orient to the conditions in which the car will be operated. Such tires are not designed to work on poor-quality road surface. In addition, the design of the car suspension should apply this type of rubber, which is indicated in the appropriate vehicle operational standards. If automakers' tolerances do not allow the use of low-profile rubber, then its installation is strictly prohibited. When used, a car suspension resource will be reduced, which is extremely dangerous during operation.

The following point should be attributed to the features of the use of low-profile rubber, which, when parking a vehicle, such a tire remembers its position. This is characterized by the appearance of smooth flat areas on a tire. Therefore, in such cases, it is necessary to perform a certain wheel heating the purpose of restoring their technical characteristics. Application at high tire rates with such sites sharply reduces security. It is also necessary to comply with the rules for long-term storage of such tires in order to eliminate the occurrence of such flat surfaces.

In addition to the operating conditions of the car when choosing low tires You should pay attention to the manufacturer. The most famous and qualitative are the following brands:

• Bridgestone.
• Pirelli.
• Michelin.
• Nokian.
• Hankook.
• Googyear.
• Dunlop.
• Continental.
• Yokohama.

Tires of these manufacturers have the following structural advantages:

• enlarged shoulder blocks for high stability;
• special anti-wear composition of the rubber mixture;
• special compacted placement of lamellamas to increase the trailing and coupling characteristics.

Conclusion

Installing low-profile tires on your car solves each owner independently. At the same time, it is necessary to carefully analyze the possible advantages and disadvantages when using this rubber. In addition, such wheels require more thorough care, as well as a careful and neat car control style. Aggressive driving and use of rubber on bad roads can lead to rapid loss by expensive wheels of their technical qualities, as well as to possible breakdowns disks and elements of the chassis of the car.

It is also not recommended to use such rubber drivers who have a little driving experience. The lack of experience can be accompanied by departures on various irregularities or ingressing even small holes, which unequivocally leads to deformation of low-profile rubber and increasing financial costs.

Video

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 tires (tires) -these are tires whose ratio cross section 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 rubber, it will not be able to keep a lot of weight, not for commercial vehicles (put almost always on 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.

In this article, let's talk about low-profile tires, their main advantages and cons. Should I go to the tire data if there is a modified or ordinary car?

What it is?

As we know, standard labeling sounds like this: 235/45 R20. Let me remind you that the digit after R means the diameter of the disk to which the bus is installed (it is measured in inches), and the group 235/45 shows that the width of the tire is 235 millimeters and the profile height ratio to the width is 45%.

It was originally believed that if this ratio is less than 60%, then this rubber is low-profile. Indeed, such a tire with an indicator below is 55%.

Why besides beauty needed?

And since to increase the diameter wheels It is impossible indefinitely, such an increase has to be compensated by a decrease in the height of the profile.

To increase the area of \u200b\u200bcontact of tires with expensive, you need to increase its width - It has a positive effect on the amount of air located in it (which decreased due to the reduction of the profile height). That's why speed \u200b\u200bcharacteristics Low-profile tires are significantly higher than usual, the speed index is only beginning with "H" (210 km / h), and the standard is considered "V" (240 km / h) and this is not limited to this ...

With high speed and brake properties figured out, and more thanks to the low profile, the machine is significantly smaller on the turns, which with the best clutch with the road provides higher handling.

Minuses

• Noise is the reverse side of the increase in the width of the tire, since the large area of \u200b\u200bcontact with the road increases noise;
• A large tendency to aquaplaning from which it is harder to divert water. Therefore, when driving, it is necessary to drop a shorter. For example, the 17th wheels float at a speed of 92-93 km-h, and the 19th - at 85 km;
• Increasing the load on the suspension parts and the steering hydraulic power plate - associated with greater rigidity of the control. The mass of 19th low-profile tires with wheels compared to the 17th ordinary can reach 3-5 kg. It is an increase in the radiant mass by 25 kg - therefore it turns out stronger wear of the suspension parts and worse than the driving comfort (especially if shock absorbers and springs are bad);
• Increased attention to the level of tire pressure - it is necessary to check it more often, since even a small pressure loss threatens troubles;
• Low profile tires It is more expensive than high-profile, you still have to change the discs to broader with a large radius. For example, the difference in two steps of the landing diameter of the tire and disk (R17 and R19) - increases the cost of twice.

Knowing the advantages and disadvantages of low-profile tires, appreciate them to the conditions of most trips, driving style - and make a decision whether they should go on them. It is also important that there are beautiful discs with them.

Permanent competition among car manufacturers leads to the improvement of new models of machines in terms of driving comfort and movement speed, which makes the appropriate adjustments in the design of automotive wheels. One of these key changes was the invention of low-profile rubber, which was reflected not only in the design of the car, but also on its main running qualities.

What rubber is considered low profile

The first attempts to use low-profile rubber were in 1937. The French company Michelin, which invented this type of tire on racing cars. But the negative experience of their use on ordinary roads led to the fact that a similar idea was returned only in 1978 with the help of Pirelli.

You can distinguish a simple bus from the low-profile on the marking that looks like a 225/55 R16, where the first number is the width of the tire (mm), the second is the ratio of its width and the height of the profile (in% of the expression), called the series, and the last Designation (R16) is a type of rubber: standard, low-profile or sports. In low-profile rubber, the ratio of cross-section of the tire to its width is less than 0.8 (less than 80%).

Want to know how the airbags work? In this case, you will have to be by the way

What happens the tires of this type and what she is

At the moment, low-profile is considered to be tires with a series that does not exceed 55, although about 30 years ago, the indicator was not higher than 70 times. Over time, as technology develops, the standards change that in automotive rubber It is manifested by a decrease in low-profile tires. When choosing a tires this type Strink from the 55 series and less. The main difference between the remaining types of rubber is the speed index: H (210 km / h) and V (240 km / h). W. standard tires This is T (190 km / h).

Now almost all modern rubber can be attributed to low profile, as its width is almost always greater than the height of the Cord, and the most common marking is from 50 to 75. For example, Tires R18 255/100, where the profile width is equal to its height, you can only meet only cars S. increased patency. Such wheels are useful in off-road conditions, but in the city they will not allow the car to move quickly and economically.

For this, a low-profile tire was developed, which at a small height of the wheel is more rigid, and due to this, it is well rolled, the car is more resistant to it on the turns and economically consumes fuel. Low profile rubber allows you to install brake disk Increased diameter, which is positively affected by car braking. But all these qualities are achieved due to the reduction of the profile, which in addition to the benefits revealed negative sides Low rubber.

Pros and Cons Low Profile Rubber

Low profile tires, except for giving a car more presentable and aggressive species, has the following strengths:

1. Higher speed characteristics in comparison with ordinary tires, that is, their own positive traits It will show mainly at high speeds.
2. It has high brake characteristics, providing normal braking and short brake path.
3. Provides good quality clutch of rubber and road at high speed, maintaining high-term car stability.
4. The possibility of a faster speed dialing in comparison with a car equipped with simple rubber.

Excellent speed characteristics of low-profile tires are wrapped in certain disadvantages that manifest themselves on a low-quality road surface. This is especially noticeable of damage to the suspension and all running, as well as on the disk resource - when entering the obstacle or to damage the disk or break through the tire is very easy. The main disadvantages of low-profile tires are as follows:

1. Low resource. Rubber is faster and damaged.
2. Increased tire contact area with expensive strengthens the noise created when moving.
3. The increased width of the tire and the complexity of the lead from under the water makes it prone to aquaplaning.
4. High management rigidity creates an increased load on steering and power steering.
5. The complexity of the tire is due to the absence of old one hundred equipment adapted to low-profile tires.
6. The need for enhanced tire pressure control, as even a small loss can turn into serious trouble.
7. The cost of such tires is an order of magnitude higher than their high-profile analogs, and when replacing a low-profile rubber, it may be necessary to be wider, and with a large radius disk, which is also associated with considerable expenses.

Want to know if low-profile tires are suitable for domestic cars? Find out of the video:

Low-profile rubber manufacturers

Choosing low-profile tires, first of all, you need to consider the conditions in which the car will be operated. The perfect is the smooth and smooth road similar to the racing route where it is possible to ride at high speed. Also, when choosing low-profile tires, the manufacturer's recommendations of the manufacturer of a particular car brand are taken into account to the types and brands of rubber, which are suitable for installation on this model of the machine. Masters and the name of the brand, which traditionally produces products of reference quality.

Such manufacturers include Pirelli, Nokian, Hankook, Dunlop, Googyear, Bridgestone, Continental, Michelin, Toyo Tires, Yokohama, and others.

Outcome

Is it worth installing low-profile tires - decides every car enthusiast, weighing strong and weak sides This type of rubber. Low profile on one side provides good car handling and saves gasoline, but on the other, thanks to the unimportant quality of roads, makes it more often to repair the suspension and discs. If the choice in favor of this type of rubber is made, you need to follow more careful and neat management manner and more often control tire pressure. Beginner drivers install such wheels on the car, since until the next season, they may not live.

The overwhelming majority of motorists agree with the statement that low-profile tires significantly improve the exterior of almost any vehicle, giving it solidity, aggressiveness and style. It is for this reason that every year more and more drivers in the offseason prefer to "shove" their car in fashionable summer models with a low profile.

A bit of history

For the first time, low-profile tires saw the light in 1937. These were the tires of the 88th series, represented by the famous Michelin brand. Despite its external appeal, this rubber has not received widespread due to the reason for this, both the condition of roads and specifications Auto time. These factors made low profile tires unsuitable for everyday use. On the other hand, this model It was highly appreciated in the racing environment.

They remembered the "wide" tire only after four decades when Pirelli presented the R6 and P7 tires that were subsequently legendary. Appearing on the roads in 1977, these models opened the enormous interest of motorists, which only increased each year. This fact is confirmed by the fact that today there are similar tires in model row Each serious tire manufacturer.

Advantages and disadvantages

According to existing standards, low-profile rubber is a tire, in which the ratio of the profile height to the width of the tire does not exceed 60 percent. For example, if there is a marking of 210/70 R18 95 V on the side surface of the tire, then this means that the model has:

1. The width of the tread is 210 millimeters.
2. Landing diameter - 18 inches.
3. Radial location of Cord - R.
4. The ratio of profile height to its width is 70%.

If we compare the models under consideration with standard analogues, then it can be noted that the first differed noticeably large tire width ratio to its height.

So, in addition to stylish external viewDoes the tires with a low profile so attractive? Recall that low-profile tires are oriented, first of all, it appeared and it appeared when this characteristic of transport began to increase. This fact is not difficult to explain. High-speed cars Need more effective brakes, and low-profile models, relatively with standard, have a greater tread width, providing better grip and a larger contact spot. The increase in this parameter with the preservation of the proportions of the conventional tire would provoke incorrect perception of the machine's weight.

Thus, tires, increased only the width of the tread, creating a low-profile bus, which, compared to traditional models, has both pros and minuses.

So, to the indisputable advantages of low-profile tires include:

• Reducing the brake path.
• Increased clutch with road web.
• Fast speed.
• Improved handling of the vehicle.

That before flaws, they are obvious. Rubber with low profile:

• Higher noise.
• Less resistant to.
• Creates a great return on the suspension.
• Worse absorbs irregularities.
• Less comfortable.

Low profile tire pressure

Owners of auto, drowning in low-profile tires, you need to carefully follow. By virtue of constructive features Such tires, low air pressure in the chamber can cause sidewall distortion, which will enter more intensive wear of rubber. Therefore, experts advise regularly check and maintain pressure at such a level, which is recommended by the tire manufacturer for maximum load and speed (usually this is the V or H) index. Note also what is verified this parameter Exceptionally cold rubber.

Among other things, it must be remembered that the auto strokes with a low profile in the parking lot "remember" their position. In other words, after stopping the auto pin, the tire spot is flattened, after which it pouring, while maintaining the flat sections of the tread after the resumption of movement. As a consequence, the first few kilometers of the path can be uncomfortable, until the rubber warms up, and will not be true. In situations, when the car was worth a long time, or the tires were stored in the offseason, it is not true before using low-profile rubber in its chambers to lift the pressure to the level indicated above.