Do you own a four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicle? Statistics show that during the first half of 2020, nearly half of Australia’s new vehicle sales were SUVs, according to Car Advice. Meanwhile, nearly 65% of SUVs in 2020 were all-wheel-drive, so you might need 4WD tyres for your new or used vehicle. When shopping for these big wheels, here are some of the main features to consider so you can choose wisely:
Type
This is an important issue to weigh when picking a tyre set. Within the general 4WD category, you can select among different tyre types, including:
- All-terrain
- Highway
- Country
- Heavy-duty
- Economical
While these tyres have high durability and traction, they offer different features for different types of all-wheel driving applications. For example, all-terrain tyres are ideal for roads and highways, while economical tyres are more budget-friendly than other models.
Durability
This factor is especially critical for 4WD vehicles since all tyres will be rolling independently, unlike 2WD vehicles. The units’ design, materials, and craftsmanship are critical to provide the most durable rubber wheels possible.
Studies show that 4WD wheels last for an average of 30,000km to 60,000km. While various factors can affect this figure, the tyres’ durability is certainly a key issue. Thus, it’s important to
select strong and durable units to increase the lifespan and protect your investment.
Traction
Here is another feature to consider whether you’re travelling on big highways or country roads. It’s critical for your vehicle’s tyres to maintain a high level of traction in both cases. Studies show that about 90% of Australians live in urban areas. However, both rural and urban roads can create driving hazards, which makes traction an important factor.
It’s a technical issue, so it’s important to research the type of traction that a particular tyre model provides. While there are different options, the most critical issue is how effectively the tyres grip the road.
Price
On one hand, the benefit of sturdy and effective tyres is priceless. That’s because it can help to keep the driver and passengers as safe as possible. Other factors affect the vehicle’s overall safety, but the tyres are easily one of the most critical ones.
However, it would help if you still considered the value you’re getting from the price tag. For example, it’s critical for a tire set to include a high amount of value in durability and stability. If that’s the case, it increases the risk that your all-wheel-drive tyres will be as safe as effective.
Availability
It’s important to consider the availability of a particular tyre brand. Some websites include an online dealer locator. This factor offers information about where you can purchase tyres from a particular manufacturer. It’s always beneficial when the wheels are offered from a wide range of different stores and locations. Meanwhile, if limited availability is offered, it will be tougher to purchase the tyres.
In Australia, this includes the seven states. It’s critical to find a tyre brand within each state, which reduces the travel time needed to get to the nearest dealer. It provides the best customer experience whether you live in the largest state (New South Wales) or smallest state (Tasmania).
When searching for 4WD tyres, there are several key features to weigh when shopping for the all-wheel tyres. They include ones like type, durability, and traction. Weighing such issues can provide big results for big tyres.