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There are several factors that can affect the way a car handles. Some of them include tyre pressure, suspension settings, steering wheel position, and even the type of tyres installed.
Let's explore the most common factors that influence car handling below.
Road conditions
The first thing to consider is road conditions. For example, if you're driving on a smooth road with no potholes or other obstacles, then your car will handle better than if you were driving on an uneven road with lots of bumps and dips.
The reason for this is that when there are fewer bumps and dips in the road, your tyres have less distance to travel over each pothole. This makes the car easier to steer and control.
On the other hand, if you're driving on a rough road with many potholes, it's harder for your tyres to cover these distances quickly enough. Therefore, they'll be travelling longer distances over each dip, which means more time spent going up and down. This makes the car harder to handle, and it could even damage your tyres and suspension too.
Tyre type and condition
Another factor that influences how a car handles is the type of tyres fitted. For example, if you've got shallow, low-profile tyres (like those found on sports cars), they'll provide less grip and traction than high-profile tyres (like those found on 'regular' vehicles).
This is because low-profile tyres don't offer much contact area between their treads and the ground. As such, they won't offer as much grip as high-profile tyres.
Low-profile tyres tend to wear out faster than high-profile ones because the tread pattern on low-profile tyres isn't designed to last as long. They'll need replacing sooner, and your handling won't be optimal.
Your car's suspension system also plays a significant role in how well it handles. A good suspension system provides a comfortable ride while being able to absorb small bumps and turbulence without causing damage to the bodywork.
On the other hand, a flawed suspension system might not give you any comfort at all, and it may cause damage to your car's bodywork. It may also make the car feel unstable and challenging to drive. This is because wheel alignment can only be achieved when your suspension is in good condition.
If you’re worried about your car’s wheel alignment, book in for a free check with Kwik Fit.
If your tyres are wearing down fast, you’re feeling every bump in the road that you drive over, or your vehicle is getting harder to turn, you may need to get your suspension system condition checked.
Your brake rotors are the discs attached to the front wheels of your car. The brake pads of your car will clamp down on the brake rotors to prevent the wheels from turning. Issues with your brake rotors can cause delayed braking, affecting your vehicle handling and putting you in danger.
Make sure you maintain your brake rotors and check them regularly for signs of wear to avoid damage. If you’re not confident checking your brakes yourself, you can book in for a free brake check at Kwik Fit.
Other factors that can impact car handling include:
To accelerate, corner, brake, and control your car efficiently, your handling needs to be perfect. Unfortunately, several components can impact the direction and stability of your vehicle.
Driving in heavy rain can be tricky and bring extra risks. Check out our guide for top tips to stay safe and avoid breakdowns if travelling in wet conditions.
Is the UK on the verge of ‘the coldest winter for 50 years?’ Even if El Niño doesn't hit the UK this winter, reduce the risk of a winter breakdown by making sure your car battery is winter-ready.
Your tyre size can be found on the sidewall of your current tyre and is a sequence of numbers and letters. The most common tyre size in the UK is 205/55R16 but there are many variations so it’s important to check your existing tyre first before searching for tyres.
Tip: Take a photo of your existing tyre sidewall to make it easier to identify your tyre size using the guide below.
The first three digits. This displays the width of the tyre in millimetres. A tyre marked 225 will measure 225mm across the tread from sidewall to sidewall.
Aspect Ratio
The fourth and fifth digits of the tyre code that immediately follow the tyre width. The aspect ratio or profile height of the tyre sidewall is expressed as a percentage of the tyre width. So an aspect ratio of 55 for example means that the profile height of the tyre is 55% of its width.
Rim Diameter
The next two digits represent the size of the wheel rim that the tyre can be fitted to. It is also the diameter of the tyre from bead to bead. So a tyre marked 16 will fit on a 16-inch wheel rim.
Speed Rating
The speed rating of a tyre is represented by a letter of the alphabet at the end of the tyre size code and indicates the maximum speed capability of the tyre. Tyres receive a speed rating based on a series of tests which measure the tyres capability to handle a set speed for a prolonged period of time.
Select your tyre speed rating to find out the maximum speed your tyres can maintain.
If you are unsure what speed rating you need, be sure to check your vehicle handbook. Choosing a lower speed rating than that recommended by your vehicle manufacturer could potentially invalidate your insurance.
Load Rating
The load index provides information on the maximum weight capability for the tyre. The load index is a numerical code that can be located just after the tyre size marking and before the speed rating.
Select your load index to find out the maximum load capability for your tyres.
Although not illegal, it is not advisable to have tyres with a lower speed rating or load index than the manufacturer recommended tyre specification for your vehicle, or to have a combination of different tyre construction types. Consult your vehicle handbook to confirm your vehicle’s tyre speed rating and load index as well as any additional requirements.
0800 75 76 77 You can reach our customer care team 6 days a week from 9:00am to 6:00pm on Monday and Thursday, 8:30am to 6:00pm Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm Saturday, and 10:00am to 4:00pm on Bank Holidays.
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Front Tyre Size
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We endeavour to ensure we are displaying the correct tyres for your vehicle. However, we recommend all customers check the tyre size printed on the side wall of their tyres before proceeding with a tyre purchase as occasionally discrepancies do occur. By selecting the tyre sizes above and clicking 'Continue', you are indicating that you have checked your tyre sizes.
Please select your front and rear tyre size before clicking 'Continue'.
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Please note: There is a slope that the vehicle must be driven up to reach the vehicle ramp at this centre. This may prevent us from being able to work on some high-performance vehicles, Tesla vehicles or vehicles that have been lowered. If your vehicle has low ground clearance, please contact the centre team on 01342 314 111 before booking.
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Centres do not open until 10:00 on bank holidays. If choosing an earlier appointment time on a bank holiday, please bring your vehicle to centre at 10:00 rather than the time shown.
