A Guide to Choosing Automobile Tires

By The Mother Earth News Editors
Published on July 1, 1988
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ILLUSTRATION: DON OSBY
Charles Goodyear knew he was onto something when, in 1839, he tossed a wad of raw rubber against a hot woodstove and discovered vulcanization.

A glimpse into the complex task of choosing automobile tires.

A Guide to Choosing Automobile Tires

Charles Goodyear knew he was onto something when, in 1839, he tossed a wad of raw rubber against a hot woodstove and discovered vulcanization. But, visionary though he may have been, the then-destitute inventor could hardly have imagined the capabilities of today’s automobile tire. This guide provides information the consumer needs when choosing automobile tires.

Carcass Design

It almost goes without saying that you’re in the market for a radial-ply tire. Almost, because the country dweller may be one of the few people who still have a reason other than plain stinginess to buy a bias-ply tire.

In every way save one, the radial is technically superior to the bias-ply. It lasts up to twice as long; it offers more traction–wet or dry; it runs quieter; it has as much as 20% less rolling resistance, which gives better fuel mileage. The one thing it doesn’t do as well as the sturdy bygone is withstand heavy impacts–say, from a nasty pothole on a country lane or a rock on a logging road. Let’s look at construction methods to see why.

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