TYRES | UNDERSTANDING THEM

Tyres: The Unsung Heroes of Safety and Performance

Car tyres are so technologically advanced today that they rarely call attention to themselves — until something goes wrong. For most drivers, tyres are “out of sight, out of mind.” But when you’re travelling at highway speeds with your family onboard, what do you think is keeping your entire vehicle connected to the road?

Just four small contact patches — that’s it.

When you stop to think about it, those patches suddenly matter a whole lot more. It might even change how you think about tyre maintenance and care. It certainly should.

The Contact Patch: Engineering at Its Finest

According to industry experts like Discount Tire Direct, the contact patch — the part of the tyre that touches the road — is a precision-engineered element, carefully designed for each individual tyre model. It affects everything from traction and cornering to braking, treadwear and stability.

Two factors that significantly influence your tyre’s contact patch:

• Vehicle load (how much weight the tyres are carrying)
  
  

• Tyre pressure (whether you’re over- or under-inflated)
  
  

One directly affects the other, which is why keeping tyre pressures within manufacturer specifications is critical for safety, performance, and even fuel economy.

When Tyres Remind You They Exist

Most people don’t think about their tyres until something unexpected happens — like when cornering too quickly. Suddenly:

• Your front tyres squeal.
  
  

• Your steering gets light.
  
  

• And your car ploughs straight ahead...
  
  

That’s called understeer — and in a moment of panic, you lift your foot off the throttle. The tyres bite, and you regain control. Crisis averted.

But if the rear tyres lose grip instead, the car may oversteer, with the rear swinging wide — a far more difficult situation to correct, especially at high speeds.

These moments remind you (loudly) that your tyres are the final link between your inputs and the road. Don’t wait until then to give them the attention they deserve.

Tyre Care 101

A few must-dos for safe and reliable tyres:

✅ Check your tyre pressures monthly.
Underinflated tyres deform more in corners and under load. This can lead to reduced grip, blowouts, or even total loss of control. Proper inflation improves both safety and fuel efficiency.

✅ Don’t run old tyres.
Even if they look fine, rubber compounds degrade over time — drying out, hardening, and cracking. This weakens the tyre’s structure and its ability to grip the road.

👉 Never use tyres more than 10 years old, regardless of remaining tread.

✅ Know how to read tyre codes.
Example: 195/65 R15 90H

• 195 = width in mm
  
  

• 65 = profile height (65% of width)
  
  

• R = radial construction
  
  

• 15 = rim size in inches
  
  

• 90 = load index (in this case, 600 kg)
  
  

• H = speed rating (up to 210 km/h)
  
  

These numbers aren't just technical trivia — they tell you exactly what your tyre can safely handle.

What Do Tyres Have to Do with ViTech Programming?

Tyres don’t operate in isolation. They respond to how your engine delivers power, how weight transfers under throttle, and how efficiently your vehicle accelerates, brakes, and corners.

That’s where ViTech comes in.

Our ECU reprogramming — powered by Bosch Motorsports technology — is designed to improve engine output safely, with greater efficiency and smoother torque delivery. This results in:

• More stable power curves that reduce sudden traction loss.
  
  

• Improved throttle response without overwhelming tyre grip.
  
  

• Optimised fuel economy that extends tyre life by lowering rolling resistance strain.
  
  

• Better load control for heavy commercial vehicles, protecting tyres under full payload conditions.
  
  

Our tuning respects the physical limits of your tyres, brakes, and drivetrain — so every upgrade works with your car’s components, not against them.

Conclusion: Safety Starts at the Surface

Your tyres are your first line of defense and your final point of control. Taking care of them is not optional — it’s essential.

And with ViTech's ECU reprogramming, you're not just upgrading power — you're upgrading everything that depends on it, including the safety and lifespan of your tyres.

Let’s optimize your car from the tread to the throttle.

Produced by: The ViTech Team