Wheels and Tires Key Terms

Use wheels and tires key terms to show your knowledge of vehicular parts

Learn how to use wheels and tires key terms to your advantage when communicating with others about your vehicular needs. Learning the terminology helps you communicate effectively with those in the automotive industry.

Whether you plan to work with professional, personal or leisure vehicles, knowing wheels and tires key terms helps you understand the perfect product for your situation. From go-carts to off-road vehicles, understanding key terms for wheels and tires educates you on the mechanics behind the products.

 

Spare tire

This term refers to an extra tire held in a vehicle for emergency situations. Some models use a spare tire called a donut, which is a tire made for short distances, while other models use full-size tires as spares. Some models have special mounts on the base of the frame to store spare tires, and others hold spare tires in the trunk space.
Try: Edmunds shows how to find the spare tire in your vehicle and how to use it to replace a damaged tire.

High performance

The term high performance generally refers to tires that have an S-speed rating or higher. Their aspect ratios are 70 or under 70.
Try: Expert Pages explains the use of high-performance tires and discusses their design and mechanics. It also covers some of the history of the high-performance car tire.

All season

This type of tire under performs in extreme conditions compared to other tires built for specific categories. However, the tires work well in a variety of road conditions from snowy roads to dry or wet or even muddy roads.
Try: Discount Tire offers a comparison of all season tires compared to winter tires.

All terrain

All terrain tires, also called AT, offer quality performance standards both off road and on the road. The tread pattern handles off road terrain, but since its lugs are tighter than a mud tire's tread, it is not as loud on the street.
Try: Sliprock Media offers advice on choosing the perfect tires for your vehicle. It focuses on mud and all terrain tires.

Pneumatic

This term describes tires filled with compressed air, acting as shock absorbers when a vehicle hits a bump or carries a load.
Try: CartsandWagaons offers a detailed description of pneumatic tires and wheels and offers benefits for using the tires. It also displays an image of what a pneumatic tire looks like.

Run-flat

This type of tire has a design that resists deflation in a pneumatic tire in case of puncture. It's called run-flat because the design allows an automobile to go a bit further after experiencing problems. However, the punctured tire needs replacement as soon as possible.
Try: Tire Rack explains the sealing process behind run-flat tires and explains the benefits of using them on a vehicle.

Copyright © 2011 Business.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

---