Which tread should you choose? We buy tires for city driving.

The type of tires you have has a significant impact on your driving safety. If the tread on your used tires is damaged, you may face unpleasant consequences – the car's grip on the road will significantly decrease, often leading to collisions or even accidents. This will also be grounds for a traffic stop – every driver is responsible for maintaining tread depth, which should be at least 1.6 mm . If the tread on your tires is drastically approaching the limit, you should consider new tires. Today, we're advising which tires to choose for a car used primarily for city driving.

Currently, the automotive market offers tires with three tread patterns: symmetrical, directional, and asymmetrical . The type you choose will significantly impact your driving safety and comfort . Which one should you choose if you primarily use your car for commuting to work, shopping at the supermarket, and visiting your child's preschool?

Symmetrical, directional and asymmetrical

As mentioned above, there are currently three types of treads available on the market. Each has its own advantages and disadvantages , so it's worth understanding them before making a choice. Let's take a closer look at each.

The simplest and most common tread is the symmetrical tread. Tires of this type have an identical shape on both sides, so there's no difference in mounting direction. This also affects the degree of wear – they wear evenly, with no one side dominating. Furthermore, the symmetrical tread is characterized by low rolling resistance, ensuring quiet operation and minimal wear. Another undeniable advantage of this type of solution is the price – it's the most attractive compared to other types. These tires are most often used in small and medium-sized passenger cars, vans, and trucks.

tires with a symmetrical tread recommended for urban use

Directional tires , thanks to their V-shaped tread, have an attractive appearance. They are ideal for driving in difficult, rainy conditions, providing excellent traction during acceleration and braking, making them recommended for sports cars. Unfortunately, they are not cheap and, moreover, wear out faster.

tires with a directional tread are characterized by a high coefficient against aquaplaning

Directional tires recommended by LadneFelgi.pl

Directional summer tires:

• Uniroyal RainExpert,
• Toyo Proxes T1-R,
• Zeetex HP102+

Directional winter tires:

• Debica Frigo 2,
• Goodyear UltraGrip 9,
• Nokian WR D3,
• Continental ContiWinterContact TS850.

The last type – asymmetric tread tires , like directional tires, guarantee good traction and excellent water drainage. They are characterized by different tread patterns on each side. They have better cornering properties at higher speeds. However, they are not prone to rapid tread wear. Unfortunately, they are not the cheapest, both to buy and to operate – their use translates to higher fuel consumption. Asymmetric tires are mounted with the sidewall marked "OUTSIDE," "SIDE FACING OUTWARDS," or "MOUNT THIS OUT SIDE" facing outward.

tires with asymmetric tread are characterized by good grip when cornering at high speeds

Asymmetric tires recommended by LadneFelgi.pl

Asymmetric summer tires:

• Continental ContiPremiumContact 5,
• Dunlop SP Sport Bluresponse
• Debica Presto
• Fulda Ecocontrol HP

Asymmetric winter tires:

• Nokian WR A3,
• Barum Snovanis 2,
• Continental ContiWinterContact TS830 P
• Pirelli SottoZero 2

Which one to choose for city driving?

Asymmetric and directional tires offer excellent driving characteristics, commensurate with their purchase and operating costs . Choosing them seems justified only if you own a premium vehicle or frequently visit demanding locations exposed to harsh weather conditions. For city driving, usually on clean asphalt, over short, undemanding distances, the most sensible choice seems to be the symmetrical tires, which are simply the cheapest. It's not without reason that they are considered ideal for city cars. Budget-class tires are perfectly adequate.

Budget tire offer in sizes: 195/65/ R15 , 205/55/ R16

Alternatively, if we do not want to choose the cheapest solutions, our eyes should turn towards asymmetric tires, unrivaled for city driving and beyond.