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According to Continental "tyres on concept cars are an integral part of the look and feel of vehicle", so a specialist team of designers works on new eye-catching designs.




From the official Press Release:

The Continental design team’s task is to give standard tyres a unique look to compliment the manufacturers’ concept car. This varies depending on the vehicles style and audience.



"Sports car tyres require aggressive tread patterns which give the feeling of speed. These also often have colour to highlight the tread or the tyre sidewalls.



"For SUVs, the manufacturer expects prominent tread blocks for maximum off-road traction."



"The smaller the wheel arch and the broader the tyre, the more prominent the sidewall design. If more space is available for the tyre, the tread design is more important."



Every special production tire takes three to five months to develop. The manufacturers brief is taken and then the workshop creates prototypes of various design ideas by hand.



Continental has created special tyres for BMW, Ford, Jaguar, Lincoln, Mercedes-Benz, Vauxhall, Smart, Volvo and Volkswagen. This year’s IAA will again showcase concept vehicles with Continental’s elaborately designed, hand-made tyres.


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When considering the importance of vehicle maintenance, tire rotation frequency deserves as much attention as oil changes. Adhering to appropriate tire rotation frequency and understanding the appropriate tire rotation pattern for your vehicle will help ensure you get the most from your tires. Proper tire maintenance leads to long tire life, minimizes road noise issues as the tire tread wears and provides an opportunity for frequent inspection of the tires to address any developing safety concerns.




For those who have read my article about oil change intervals, I recommend keeping your tires rotated every other oil change, or about every 6,000 miles. Though it’s a good idea to reference the owner’s manual for your vehicle, if the recommended interval exceeds 6,000 miles, I encourage you to stick with my 6,000 mile recommendation. Keeping tire rotation schedule tied to every other oil change helps make it easier to remember and keeps your tires performing at their best. Extended rotation intervals generally lead to uneven tread wear, resulting in excessive road noise or safety concerns.



Equally as important as rotation frequency is the rotation pattern. The vast majority of vehicles on the road today have four radial tires of the same size on all four corners. These vehicles will benefit from a standard “cross” rotation pattern, with a forward cross being used for front wheel drive vehicles and a rearward cross being used for rear wheel drive and four wheel drive vehicles. With the forward cross, the two front tires are moved straight back, remaining on the same side of the vehicle (e.g. left-front to left-rear) and the rear tires are crossed to the front (e.g. right-rear to left-front). The rearward cross is just the opposite. The rear tires are moved straight forward and the front tires are crossed to the back.



There are some unique tire rotation needs to be aware of:



Some tires are unidirectional, meaning that they are designed to rotate in one direction only. These tires can only be rotated front to back and vice versa on the same side of the vehicle.

Some vehicles have different size wheels and tires between the front and back but the tires can rotate in either direction. These tires can only be rotated side to side on the same end of the vehicle (e.g. left-front to right-front).

Finally, some vehicles have different size wheels and tires between the front and back that are also unidirectional. These tires cannot be rotated.

Anytime you rotate your tires, be sure to check and adjust tire pressure as necessary. Additionally, inspect the tread closely for any abnormal wear. The tread should be wearing uniformly and evenly. Any “feathered” edges or wear that is uneven in appearance can indicate the need for other vehicle repairs, including: shocks and struts, wheel alignment, or even something more serious, such as a ball joint or tie rod end. Additionally, check the depth of the tread to ensure there is sufficient tire tread remaining. Tires should be replaced when there is 4/32” or less of tread remaining.



More on determining the correct tire pressure for your vehicle and measuring tread depth in upcoming articles!

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The Falcon by Enkei Performance Series features a traditional five-spoke design with a web accent between the spokes against the face. The machined lip adds contrast to the fully painted gunmetal face. Available in 16", 17", 18" and 20" diameters.






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To ensure your safety, Maxxis recommends replacing your tires with the original size or the size recommended by your automobile’s manufacturer. The "Tire Finder" locator section of this website only recommends the original equipment sizes.


View the Tire Inspection Chart for information on how to identify abnormal tread wear, sidewall damage, tire separations, road hazards and bead problems.



When purchasing new tires, it is recommended the tires be mounted by a professional; do not attempt to mount them yourself. Serious injury could result from a tire being mounted improperly. While mounting new tires, the dealer can inspect the vehicle, rim, brakes, etc., for any potential problems as well as recommend the proper inflation, correct positioning, and correct tire size.



Maxxis recommends that P-Metric automotive tires never be used as replacements for Light Truck tires or on a vehicle that is equipped with dual rear tires. Each tire is manufactured with specific speed rating and load requirements to ensure proper vehicle use





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http://www.maxxis.com/AutomobileLight-Truck/Tire-School.aspx

Maxxis Automotive Tire School


Maintaining your tires takes a little extra time, but nothing is more important for safety and long wear life. Learn about tire care in this section.



Contents:

Tire Technical Information

Tire Safety and Care

Tire Glossary

U.S. DOT Tire Identification Number

Tire Technical Information

Federal law requires tire manufacturers to place standardized information on the sidewall of all tires. This information identifies and describes the fundamental characteristics of the tire and also provides a tire identification number for safety standard certification and in case of a recall.



Tire Sizing





P: Vehicle Type

The "P" indicates the tire is for passenger vehicles.



LT: Vehicle Type The "LT" indicates the tire is for light truck vehicles.



215: Tire Width This three-digit number gives the width in millimeters of the tire from sidewall edge to sidewall edge. In general, the larger the number, the wider the tire.



65: Aspect Ratio This two-digit number, known as the aspect ratio, gives the tire's ratio of height to width in percentage. Numbers of 70 or lower indicate a smaller sidewall for improved steering response and better overall handling on dry pavement.



R: Radial Ply Construction The "R" stands for radial. Radial ply construction of tires has been the industry standard for the past 20 years.



15: Rim Diameter This two-digit number is the wheel or rim diameter in inches. If you change your wheel size, you will have to purchase new tires to match the new wheel diameter.



95H: Load Index This two or three-digit number is the tire's load index. It is a measurement of how much weight each tire can support.

 
 
Note: You may not find this information on all tires because it is not required by law.


Light truck sizes may be shown in two formats:



LT 245/70R16

LT = Vehicle type

245 = Width in millimeters

70 = Aspect ratio

R = Radial construction

16 = Rim diameter in inches



32x11.50R16 LT

32 = Diameter in inches

11.50 = Width in inches

R = Radial construction

16 = Rim diameter in inches

LT = Light truck tire



Tire Speed Rating Chart

The rating system shown indicates the top speed for which a tire is certified. It does not indicate the total performance capability of a tire.

The speed rating denotes the speed at which a tire is designed to be driven for extended periods of time. The ratings range from 31 miles per hour (mph) to 188 mph.



Note: You may not always find this information on all tires because it is not required by law.

Rating Symbol Speed (km/h) Speed (mph)


B 50 31

C 60 37

D 65 40

E 70 43

F 80 50

G 90 56

J 100 62

K 110 68

L 120 75

M 130 81

N 140 87

P 150 93

Q 160 99

R 170 106

S 180 112

T 190 118

U 200 124

H 210 130

V 240 150

W 270 169

Y 300 188

ZR Over 240 Over 150