Selecting The Right Tyre

Change your 4×4 tyres  and enjoy a whole new experience.

So what is wrong with the standard tyres on your 4×4 vehicle? Nothing at all is the answer. The manufacturer of your vehicle has worked closely with the tyre manufacturer to ensure the best level of performance and comfort is achieved to appeal to the demands of the average motorist.

The average motorist spends most of their time on the road, so the tyres fitted to a vehicle at the factory are intended to provide a small amount of off-road ability, with the main priorities being stability at speed, good steering and low noise on the road. Some off-road tyres can perform very well on the road but they are by nature slightly noisier and the ride can be less comfortable. This varies according to the specific tyre and the technology used in the tread design.

So these perfectly good road tyres are not the ideal product for those motorists who have more individual needs. This includes owners of ultra high performance vehicles who need the highest levels of grip possible, or 4×4 owners that need to venture off road.

Whether you are venturing off road to enjoy leisurely jaunts across green lanes or scrambling across specific terrain, for work or sport, correct tyre selection suddenly becomes very important and a whole host of new factors need to be considered. Remember that road surfaces are tarmac. Off-road surfaces can be hugely different, from damp fields, peat bogs to chalky ridges, call our team for further advice.

Contact Stonehenge for any further assistance with choosing your new 4×4 tyres.

Understanding Tyre Sidewall Markings

1. Tyre Size Designation
On all 4×4 tyres there will be an LT in front of the tyre size if the tyre is of a reinforced construction. LT means light truck (reinforced). If there is a ‘P’ or no lettering at all, then it will be a Passenger tyre type. We strongly recommend fitting the same type of tyre on all four corners of the vehicle, fitting different types of tyre on the same vehicle can cause issues with the vehicles handling characteristics.

The ‘235’ is the nominal width of the tyres cross section in millimetres. The ‘85’ is the ‘aspect ratio’ – the ratio of the side wall height to the cross-section width. The ‘R’ stands for radial-ply construction. The ‘16’ stands for diameter (in inches) of the wheel that the tyre is designed to fit. Always ensure that the tyre fitted has the correct or higher load/speed rating as specified for the vehicle. It is not recommended to mix tyres with different load/speed ratings on the same axle.

2. Indicates exterior sidewall on asymetric tyres for fitting purposes.

3. Load Pressure Information
(Not required in the UK).

4. Brand Name

5. Tyre Construction Details
(Not required in the UK).

6. European ECE Type
Approval mark number.

7. Load Capacity Index
Shows the maximum weight the tyre can carry at the speed indicated by its speed rating.

8. Speed Category Symbol
A letter which indicates the speed at which the tyre can carry the load corresponding to the Load Capacity Index. Common speed ratings are ‘Q’,’S’, ‘T’, ‘H’, ‘V’, ‘W’ ‘Y’, and ‘Z’.

9. Country of Manufacturer

10. Commercial Name & Identity

11. Location of Tread Wear Indicators
(Markings not on all tyres) Tread wear indicators moulded into the base of the the tread are set at the minimum legal depth of 1.6mm.