When you pass through the UK, you may not give another thought on what is beneath your tyres. Roads are simply roads, right? However, the surface that you have been using is a contributing factor to the rate at which your tyres are wearing. Be it the occasional crunching up and down gravel tracks, the concrete stretches of the highways in the major town, or the regular use of either smooth asphalt or rough gravel means, the road surface you are on gives a varied account of the way your tyres wear out.

This blog describes the effect of asphalt, concrete and gravel on the wear of tyres among motorists in the UK. This is the case with the majority of the UK driving in general and it gives you a clear picture in order to make wiser choices on the vehicle you drive, and your safety.

Asphalt: Smooth but Deceptive Comfort

A majority of main roads in the UK are asphalt. This surface is common in motorways, A-roads and in modern residential streets since asphalt offers a compromise between smoothness and grip.

The impact of asphalt on the wear on tyres:

• Asphalt is of good friction, that is, your tyres become grippy without excessive abrasion.
• The softer texture enables fewer vibrations and noise which creates less shock to your tyre construction.
• A uniform wear pattern of the tread is achieved due to the uniform contact patch.

Nevertheless, asphalt is weather dependent. In summer, the surface becomes softened and this can become a little bit more rubbish due to the heat which can accelerate wear during long trips. During winter, the asphalt hardens and loses its flexibility, offering a lesser grip, yet generally mild wear.

 On average, asphalt is the best surface to be used by motorists in the UK for car tyres Coventry.

Concrete: Durable but Hard on Tyres

Although not the most widespread type of road, concrete roads do exist in some parts of the UK, notably older bypasses and industrial estates. Concrete has good structure, but it offers a problem to tyres.

The impact of concrete on the wear of tyres:

• Concrete is stiffer than asphalt, which makes it harder and frictional, and hastens tyre wear.
• There are concrete surfaces having grooves that are textured to enhance drainage of water. Tyre tread is continuously scraped by these grooves.
• Heat loss on concrete is poorer. The rubber accumulates heat accelerating the process of breakdown particularly when the vehicle covers long distance.

Since concrete raises wearable friction, car owners in the UK have reported that the tread depth tends to wear down faster on the concrete than on asphalt due to regular use.

Gravel: Lowkey Tyre-Shredder

Gravel is the worst surface to tyres. This incorporates rural lanes, unpaved car parks and individual drives. Gravel is made up of free stones and gritty slopes which repeatedly strike the tyres at various angles.

How gravel affects tyre wear:

• This is due to uneven texture resulting in uneven wear of treads.
• The rubber can be chipped, cut or punctured by sharp stones.
• The micro-impacts keep on undermining the sidewall of the tyre.

To UK motorists who like taking trips to the countryside, or frequent construction sites, gravel will aggravate the risk of:

• Tyre cuts
• Sidewall bulges
• Slow punctures due to trapped debris.

 In this case, the durability of tyres is taken into consideration rather than smooth performance.

Choosing the Right Tyres Matter

The response of your tyres to these surfaces is determined by your tyre compound and your tread pattern. A softer rubber has a better grip but it is also more prone to wear. A more durable rubber is longer lasting but could diminish the ride comfort and traction.

It is the reason why a number of drivers give their attention to familiar brands. Indicatively, motorists tend to pay attention to durability and grip when shopping car tyres or comparing Michelin tyres Coventry. Michelin is also associated with good tread compounds and durable performance, which contributes to the fact that they do not wear too fast on more challenging surfaces. However, it does not imply that Michelin is the only way out of the situation as various brands have touring tyres, performance tyres, reinforced all-terrain tyres, which are more efficient in gravel.

The trick lies in the fact that you must select tyres according to your driving conditions and not necessarily the cost.

The Road Ahead

Each road is a story and your tyres show how the story is played out. Asphalt provides a smooth ride and also stable wear. Concrete must be sturdy and strong. Gravel is tested on toughness and resilience.

Being a car owner in the UK, this is important to help you in planning in advance. By making the appropriate tyre selection, routine maintenance and intelligent driving skills, you increase tyre life, improve safety and save on long time expenses.

Tyres are not just rings of rubber. They are the relationship that exists between you and all the roads you are going to.