What Are Radial Tyres? Are They Any Good?

For car owners, buying new tyres is often a chore, filled with too many choices and decisions to make. Moreover, the various types of tyres available on the market only make this choice more difficult. However, if you are looking to buy  Churchill Tyres Reading , then we might be able to help. As you know, most cars use radial tyres, as they are one of the most commonly used tyres in the world. In fact, as the bias ply tyre has left the stage gradually, cars have started being equipped with radial tyres from the get-go. So, if you are looking to purchase a radial tyre, and are worried about whether they are any good or not, it's time you stop and read the following blog to help you make an informed decision.

Before we begin, you should know that radial tyres are one of the most used tyres in cars and have become the standard across most vehicles. So, there shouldn't be much thought around it. However, if you want to be sure, then you should first learn what these tyres are, how they are constructed, what advantages they offer, and whether there are any drawbacks. All of these are covered in the blog below, so sit tight and scroll down to explore what radial tyres are and whether they will be a good fit for your favorite car. 

Why Radial Tyres Are The Industry Standard?

When you go to buy Tyres Reading , eight out of ten tyres you'd come across would be radial tyres for sure. This is because these tyres are prevalent on the market and can easily work on any vehicle, be it a car, a minivan, or even a small load-carrying vehicle. This makes these tyres rather versatile and popular, hence easily available. 

Over the last few decades now, radial tyres have been the norm for cars. They are made using cords, or rather plies, that run perpendicular to the direction these tyres move. Such a design allows these tyres to easily counter overheating and reduce the amount of damage and wear and tear. Furthermore, due to the use of these plies, these tyres are rather flexible; hence, you can use them during different weather conditions too. Such versatility makes them a good choice as a standard tyre option. In fact, most all-season tyres are radial tyres and can be used throughout the year, reducing your expenditure on tyre replacement substantially. 

Construction of Radial Tyres

To understand better what radial tyres are and how they work, you should learn about how they are constructed:

1. These tyres incorporate reinforcing cords that are laid at a 90° angle, bead to bead. 
2. Furthermore, an additional layer (sometimes layers) of plies is laid over the one laid beneath, making these tyres rather durable and, thus, prone to damage. 
3. These plies are laid perpendicular to each other, making them go in the same direction and parallel.
4. After laying down the plies, reinforcing belts are introduced between the plies, and once the tyre is treated, the tread is applied, which is made of, either woven steel threads, nylon, or even Kevlar, making them rather tough. 
5. After the tread is applied, a layer of rubber is also added.

Benefits of Using Radial Tyres

Now, you must be wondering why you should use radial tyres. To answer this, let us list a few advantages of using radial tyres on your car:

1. First, you should know that tyres are very good at enhancing the road grip of a vehicle, due to the improved traction they provide. Radial tyres come with a larger and wider contact pitch, which results in more friction and thus provides more road grip.
2. When you drive with such tyres, you experience an increase in your cornering ability, as these tyres improve your responsiveness and control and make it easier to corner. 
3. Due to their unique tread pattern, these tyres do not wear off early. Rather, they are easier to repair and hence last longer, saving you money on tyre repairs and replacement. 
4. Since these tyres are rather flexible, you can experience a much more comfortable ride. These tyres won't lose their structural integrity, even under the car's weight, and will remain flexible, making them suited for longer drives, like a vacation, even with some weight loaded on the car. 

Limitations of Radial Tyres

As we explained in the beginning, there are always two sides to a thing. While it is true that radial tyres are the market standard and do offer certain advantages, do they have proper limitations, such as:

1. When compared to typical tyres like a bias-ply tyre, these tyres are far costlier due to their build quality, raw materials used, and manufacturing process involved.
2. These tyres, while durable, aren't durable enough, especially when compared to off-road tyres.
3. Despite being robust enough, these tyres are far more prone to punctures due to them having thinner sidewalls.

How To Know If You Are Buying or Using Radial Tyres?

This is probably the most important question in your mind when you are looking for a tyre to buy. If you are shopping for tyres online, this is a simple thing to answer; just ask the retailer. However, if you are browsing on the internet, you should:

Check the Sidewall

First, you can look at the sidewall of the tyres. Here, you will find a label stamped, which is made up of numbers and alphabets. Don't dismiss it yet, as these labels provide rather complete information on the tyre you are supposed to buy.

Look for the Term “Radial”

If you are searching for tyres online, you can try to find the term “Radial” in the product description. You can also view the pictures of the tyres and try to locate the label on the sidewall to ensure the reliability of the information.

Check the Tread Pattern

Next, you can check the tread pattern on the tyre to ensure it is a radial tyre. Radial tyres have a complex tread design, and that too with a varied tread pattern that looks like multiple lines intersecting.