Automotive

How To Find Best Tires For Chevrolet Equinox?

How To Find Best Tires For Chevrolet Equinox - ebuddynews

Today the Chevrolet Equinox has grown from its rental-fleet-only beginnings into one of the most popular crossovers on the market. The most famous ‘Equinox’ comes in four different trim levels. It has available all-wheel drive. It comes with one of three wheel sizes. The reason is that there is such a high level of choice, finding the right tire size can be tricky. Let us break down the options to find the best tires for Chevrolet Equinox.

What Tires Are On Chevrolet Equinox?

The Equinox comes in four trims L, LS, LT, and Premier. They can fit vehicles with one of three different wheel and tire sizes. It depends on the trim and options packages:

  • The Equinox ‘L,’ ‘LS,’ and LT’ are available with ’17-inch’ wheels and ‘P225/65 R17’ tires. The factory equipped these vehicles with Bridgestone Ecopia H/L 422 Plus tires.
  • ‘The Equinox Premier’ is functional with 18-inch wheels and ‘P225/60 R18’ tires. The factory equipped these vehicles with Michelin Premier LTX or Michelin Primacy Tour A/S tires.
  • With an available package, certain trims can be equipped with 19-inch wheels and P235/50 R19 tires. They fitted these vehicles with Hankook Ventus S1 Noble2 tires from the factory.

When Should You Replace Your Equinox Tires?

We should consider two major best factors when deciding to replace tires on any vehicle, not just the ‘Chevrolet Equinox.’

Many drivers travel somewhere between 12,000 and 15,000 miles per year. Therefore, the tires are much more likely to pass their useful life in mileage before it expires based on the expiration date.

You can somewhat predict your tire’s life by its UTQG (Uniform Tire Quality Grade) rating. If we research tires online, a UTQG will come up next to the tire name in three digits and a number (ex. 500 A A). Tire manufacturers apply their grades to tires based on tread wear. It also has the basis of traction and temperature.’

You can obtain a ‘bit of info’ from the tires by reading the following rating: 

  • 500 – They compare the durability rating of a tire to a control tire with a tread life of 100. Tires run on a 640-kilometer course for 11,520 km to obtain a grade. To provide a projected tread life, they measure the tread depth for every 1,280 km. If the number is higher, they predict the longer tread life.
  • A – That means the Traction rating of a tire indicates how well a tire stops in wet conditions. The highest letter rate is ‘AA,’ heeded by ‘A, B, and C.’
  • A – The second letter considered in the UTQG is the Temperature rating. ‘A’ is the highest, followed by ‘B and C.’ It indicates how well a tire holds up to extreme heat.

‘Time’ is the other consideration. Each tire has a presented ‘date code’ on the sidewall. The number starts with the letters’ DOT’ followed by 12 digits in ‘three or four-digit groups. The date code is the 3rd group of four digits.

To decode the date of your tires, see the first two digits represent the week that produced the tire, and the second two digits represent the year.

For example, suppose the date code of your tire is 3217. It indicates that the tire’s manufacture date is in the 37th week of 2017, sometime between September 11 and 17th that year.

Once tires go beyond five years old, they should consider their replacement. We have to remember that they do not just make the tires with rubber and steel or kevlar belts but chemicals that help them resist UV rays, temperature changes, and many other environmental hazards. The chemicals used in the manufacture start to break down after five years, and the tires are not doing the job they need to do.

Why Not Replace With Original Equinox Equipment Tires?

You may replace the tires on Chevrolet Equinox with the same ones from the factory to put the ride in the best condition. Nothing is wrong with that, but you may decide to change the tire or wheel size and type depending on the driving you’ll be doing.

When auto manufacturer purchases tires, they buy them by the hundreds of thousands. For the manufacturer, choosing a supplier, one brand or another, comes down to a price point.

You must only buy ‘one set of tires’ for your car every four years. It depends on how much you drive.

For you, you may consider it completely in a different manner. You would probably do it if you could get a tire that stopped 20 feet shorter for an additional $10 per tire over the original equipment. Similarly, suppose there was a tire that provided less road noise or longer tread life for a minimal investment overstock. In that case, you’d probably decide on the slightly more expensive tire.

Changing Chevrolet Equinox Tire Sizes

We can swap the wheels on your Equinox for a different size. It is done to maintain a consistent overall wheel and tire diameter. It may do it for various reasons, ranging from the need for a different type of tire to or desire for a smoother or sportier ride. When you decide to downsize your wheels, you must compensate for the smaller size with a larger tire size with a taller sidewall.

Downsizing wheels has its advantages. Benefits include:

Better Ride Quality

A plumper sidewall means more cushion for poor road conditions.

Cost Reduction

Large wheel sizes mean tires are more expensive, so moving to a smaller wheel will mean less costly tire purchases.

Seasonal Changes

Tires useful in Winter and snow are available for a larger selection of smaller wheel sizes. Further, we must note that the narrower footprint will provide better traction.

Off-Road

Many people choose to downsize wheels for off-road use to increase the shock absorption capabilities and bump traction of the wheels on loose surfaces.

However, going up in wheel size has its benefits on the other side of the coin: They are 

Better Handling

Thinner profile tires make for less rubber to move everywhere.

Better Looks

The one’s subjective, but many people feel that larger wheels look better than smaller wheels with more rubber.

Better Braking

Larger, wider wheels provide a greater patch of rubber on the ground to slow the vehicle, receding braking distance.

How To Read Equinox Tire Sizes?

When reading the sizes of the tires, it is important to realize ‘what the numbers mean.’ The Chevrolet Equinox Premier’s P225/60 R18 all-season tires:

  • 225 indicates the tire’s width from one sidewall to the other in millimeters. This tire is 225 millimeters wide.
  • 60 indicates the aspect ratio, or sidewall height, as a percentage of the tire width. In this case, it’s 60 percent or 135 millimeters tall.
  • ‘R’ means radial tires. It is the most common automotive tire type. They have fabric woven at various angles with a tread that is strengthened with additional layers of rubber.
  • ’18’ indicates the wheel diameter.

Now you know what comes on the ‘New Equinox‘ and how to read the size numbers. You have various choices for the types of tires. It all depends on the ‘driving’ you are doing, the vicinity of your living, and the weather. Let us look at the types of tires available:

‘Touring And All-Season’

These tires provide a smooth ride, good wet and dry traction, decent winter traction, and longer tread life. These tires are acceptable for winter use but can’t be expected to provide the traction and stop power that a dedicated winter tire can.

Performance Tires

Performance tires provide confident handling, better wet and dry traction, and a sporty feel. Their higher grip and speed ratings follow a tradeoff of shortened tread life and reduced ride quality.

All-Terrain Tires

They build them to maximize off-road traction. Further, they provide reasonable overall durability. Their construction indicates ‘more noise and less comfort’ on the street road. However, winter traction and tread wear are acceptable.

Winter And Snow Tires

These tires have special rubber compounds that maintain grip and flexibility when temperatures drop. They also have special tread patterns to maximize the vehicle’s ability to start and stop on slippery roads.

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