Rear, Front or all four? Know when to replace car tyres
Timely tyre replacements are vital for keeping your drive and ride safety. It’s an easy enough job if you choose a like-for-like replacement when your existing set of tyres are worn or damaged. But, as humans, we are tuned to always look for something better, something that’s an upgrade, and to go the distance in style.
In the context of tyres, you might be looking for better rubber quality that drives quieter and smoother, or a wider profile that gives you more performance and control, or a product that helps you hunt the off-road trails. And if it's your first upgrade, you must have some questions.
As the Apollo Tyres online shop completes four years of successful operation, today we are here to answer the five most frequently asked questions by our customers.
What Size of Tyres Do I Need for My Car/bike?
This is the most asked question by far about tyres, simply because a large number of people are replacing their tyres for the very first time.
Finding out your car or bike tyre size is an easy process. Simply check the sidewall of your existing tyres to find out the correct tyre size for your vehicle. The numbers should read something like this,
Here’s How You Can Read the Tyre Size:
185: This is the tyre's width in millimeters. A 185mm wide tyre.
65: This is the aspect ratio. It's a percentage representing the relationship between the tyre's sidewall height and its width. A 65 aspect ratio means the sidewall height is 65% of the tyre's width (185mm x 0.65 = ~120.25mm).
R: This denotes a radial tyre construction. This is the most common type of tyre construction today.
15: This is the wheel diameter in inches. A 15-inch wheel.
Additionally the tyre sidewall may also happen to have a letter (e.g., Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, Y, Z) after the size. These letters indicate the speed rating of your car or bike tyres. A higher letter corresponds to a higher maximum speed. However, there isn't a standardized, publicly available list of tyre speed ratings specifically for India. Tyre speed ratings are internationally recognised, but their application in specific markets like India can be influenced by regulations and manufacturers' choices.
To find the compatible tyre models for your car or bike, input the tyre size in the Apollo Tyre Finder Interface and our database will show all available products.
How Much Do Tyres Cost Online Versus a Local Shop?
A valid question because tyres are a costly investment. And given the fact that you should either replace the full set or at least both tyres on an axle, it becomes even more crucial.
Well, cost of new tyres depends on two main factors,
The type of car you are driving, and
Your typical use case for the tyre.
If you are driving a small hatchback like the Maruti WagonR, the cost of one tyre, like the Apollo Amazer series, will hover between ₹3,000 to ₹3,500. Which then translates into ₹14,000 for a full set or ₹7,000 for two tyres. However, if you are driving a premium sedan or a luxury off-roader like the Ford Endeavour, the tyre price range starts from ₹9,000 and can go up to ₹18,000 per tyre.
Secondly, when you are buying tyres for a particular use case, like driving in the snow or extreme off-roading or all-terrain performance, the price of the tyres will vary.
Again, a very simple way to check the tyre price is to use the Apollo Tyres Tyre Finder interface or to visit a tyre shop near your location.
Comparing Tyre Prices Online Versus a Local Shop
To offer a consistent experience and pricing, the shop.apollotyres.com website offers tyres through the Buy Online, Fit Offline model.
Hence there is no price difference between the online and offline prices.
Once you have placed a purchase order on the website, you are connected to a tyre shop near your location for the fitment and payment. This ensures you get the tyres at the authorized price and professional installation without any extra fees.
However, outside of the bi-annual Apollo Tyre Exchange Festivals, the tyre shop may discreetly offer a discount for your old tyres.
What Are the Return and Warranty Policies on Tyre Purchased Online or Offline?
All Apollo Tyres products come with a standard 1-year warranty and 2-year warranty that can extend up to 5-years if the terms and conditions are met. Apart from that returns and tyre replacements are offered for any manufacturing defects detected within the warranty period.
Extended warranty is a ‘goodwill’ warranty and does not include abuse or misapplication of the tyres. Intentional damages, repairable cuts and consequential costs are outside the purview of the warranty conditions.
How to Register for Warranty?
Step 1:
Customer has to register for the warranty at the dealership or call Apollo Direct, at 1800 212 7070, within a month of date of purchase and provide the following details for warranty registration:
Customer name
Mobile number
Dealer name
Number of tyre(s) purchased
Tyre size
Tyre serial number/barcode number.
Step 2:
Apollo Direct will provide the warranty registration number to the customer, which needs to be quoted to avail the warranty.
4. How Many Kilometers Do Tyres Last?
While all tyres are tested for optimal mileage, the actual tyre mileage is subject to the driving conditions and driving style of the owner.
Generally a car tyre can last from anywhere between 40,000 kilometers to 70,000 kilometers before needing replacement. However, this range is subject to driving within speed limits, driving carefully on bad patches, and maintaining the optimal tyre pressure. When driven under ideal conditions, some tyres like the Apollo Amazer 4G LIFE can even offer 1,00,000 kilometers of mileage before needing replacement.
However, tyre rubber compounds naturally degrade after about five to six years. Even if your tyres have low mileage, replacing them is crucial for safer and smoother driving.
Checking the Age of Tyres
To find out how old your tyres are, check the date of manufacture stamped on the tyre sidewall. This date is usually in a four-digit format (e.g., 1817, which means 17th week of 2018). It's typically located near the tyre's grooves or on a label near the sidewall.
Is It Okay to Replace Just One Tyre?
It's generally not recommended to replace a single tyre on your car. Either buy a full set or at least replace both tyres on the axle.
Why?
Replacing just one tyre can affect the handling, balance, and overall safety of your vehicle. Because the remaining tyres will have different amounts of tread and road grip. This can cause additional load on your suspension and braking systems.
Mismatched tyres can compromise the car's stability and handling, particularly at higher speeds or during sudden maneuvers. The mismatched tyres may also cause the car to pull or steer erratically. This is particularly noticeable on a vehicle when the tyres aren't balanced as part of the wheel assembly.
Get in Touch
So, that concludes our list of the five most frequently asked questions. If you have any more queries that you will like us to answer, call Apollo Direct at 1800 212 7070, or write to us at apollodirect@apollotyres.com. For website and purchase related queries, you can use this contact form.