Tyres may not be the most fascinating topic of conversation. But if you’re a committed car lover (and thousands of people in the UAE are), discussing the final contact point with the ground and the best tyres to fit to your Lexus is one of the most important conversations you can have.
Your tyres dictate a wide range of aspects of your car, from the handling and performance to fuel consumption, comfort and agility, safety and even noise. So how do you choose the best rubber for your rims? Here are a few tips from Al-Futtaim Lexus on how to select tyres that will deliver on all counts.
It may seem basic, but getting the right size tyre is crucial. Not only does the rim size have to be correct (obviously), but you need to think about the width and height too. If your Lexus is a coupe, low-profile tyres may suit a stiffer chassis to give you better handling. If you’re driving an SUV then clearly, tyres with higher sidewalls will give you better ground clearance and more grippy traction on uneven surfaces.
When you buy a Lexus in the UAE, you’ll get an owner’s manual that tells you all about your car. You can also talk to the dealer to find out exactly what tyres Lexus recommends for your model. It’s wise to take the advice of the manufacturer. They have spent years developing not just the car itself but finding the best tyres to fit the exact parameters of each model, too.
In the UAE, we are fortunate enough to have fabulous roads that take you into the heart of some of the most stunning deserts, along amazing coastlines, and through extraordinary cities. We don’t suffer from very cold conditions, but we can experience extreme heat in the summer. While it may be tempting to choose a softer compound that’s ‘stickier’ for better handling and grip, that could be detrimental during the summer months when the road surface can hit temperatures of 40°C or even higher. Choose tyres that are optimised for our conditions in this part of the world.
A load rating is the maximum load a tyre can carry in kg. Tyres also have a maximum speed rating. When you’re choosing the right tyre for your Lexus, consider what kind of driving you’ll be doing. If you do a lot of higher-speed highway driving, make sure your tyre speed rating index is well within tolerances.
Punctures are the bane of every motorist’s life. Run flat tyres keep you going if you suffer a puncture and, while they’ll get you enough range to get to a tyre repair center, they’re not designed for driving long distances with a puncture. Check with your Lexus representative if your car has the correct technology to fit run flats, as not all cars can be fitted with them.
There’s a saying – always fit the most expensive tyres you can afford. Cheap tyres are invariably lower quality. They won’t last as long, may not be as grippy in wet or challenging conditions, and may wear much more quickly. Fitting a more expensive tyre from a known brand such as Continental, Michelin or Dunlop is more suitable for UAE road conditions, is more refined and long-lasting, and gives better grip and performance in all conditions.
If you need to renew the tyres on your Lexus, talk to Al-Futtaim Lexus. Our tyre specialists can give you all the information you need to make an informed decision on which tyres to fit to your car. Our Tyres Replacement & Maintenance service is here to keep you rolling safely by inspecting, repairing and fitting new tyres, balancing and aligning tyres for smoother running, and advising you on the correct tyre pressure.
For more information, contact our Tyre Replacement & Maintenance service today.