What is a reinforced tyre?
17th December 2020Many drivers of heavy loads notice their tyre pressure falling at a much faster rate than those who do not carry substantial cargo. Often, these drivers can feel the strain on their tyres and sometimes even end up popping them. If this scenario sounds familiar to you, it may be that you need reinforced, or XL, tyres. But these tyres shouldn?t be used by everyone. Reinforced tyres might be a sound investment for you - but you must understand what reinforced tyres are to determine whether they are worth the extra money.
What is a reinforced car tyre?
Every tyre has a tyre load index which has been confirmed by an independent technical tyre organisation - this index specifies the weight and mass of the load that the tyre is able to carry. A reinforced tyre is a normal tyre that has been adapted and treated to carry heavier loads than the rating given by the independent organisation. In other words, a reinforced tyre has been modified to increase its load capacity.
As any modifications made for a reinforced tyre are to the face (beneath the tread) it is hard to tell an extra load (XL) tyre from a standard load (SL) tyre. An XL tyre modification can manifest itself in many different forms such as:
- The use of higher-strength materials
- The reinforcement of the most important elements of the tyre
- The addition of stronger elements
- The application of solutions
Are reinforced tyres better?
You may be asking now whether you need reinforced tyres and whether they are better than using normal tyres. We have collated a list of the benefits and drawbacks of both to help you decide whether or not you need XL tyres.
Advantages of reinforced tyres
- Traction and adhesion - reinforced tyres give a vehicle a greater stability through their rigid structure. Their increased grip translates to an ease of handling that SL tyres cannot achieve - cars become easier to turn and easier to accelerate and decelerate with heavy loads.
- Less mechanical damage - all cars go through natural wear and tear, especially the older they get. Reinforced tyres reduce the damage caused by simply driving your car due to their strength and durability.
- Durability - XL tyres are highly durable particularly when carrying the large loads that they were intended for. Provided you follow the recommended tyre pressure, XL tyres should last a lot longer than their SL counterparts.
Disadvantages of reinforced tyres
- Greater fuel consumption - people with XL tyres often notice that they use more fuel than when they had SL tyres this is predominantly due to a thick face which increases rolling resistance meaning drivers need to use their engines to move more. The increased weight of a reinforced tyre can also have a similar effect.
- Lower comfort - although rare, it is possible that reinforced tyres will reduce your driving comfort due to their weight and other modifications.
- Noise - the XL tyres are a little bit noisier than SL tyres and, by law, they are permitted to be 1db louder than normal tyres.
Do I need reinforced tyres?
Reinforced tyres are not a necessity for everyone - they are predominantly for people who regularly use the vehicle to carry heavy loads. However, they can also be of use to people with powerful engines as they provide extra control that an SL tyre would not offer.
You can buy our XL tyres online or visit one of our garages, located across the country, and have your tyres fitted today.
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