What is the difference between suv tires. What are the abbreviations for tire types

Very often, motorists can come across the abbreviations CUV and SUV in car names. We decided to deal with these terms and finally find out what they mean. We have previously discussed the issue, this article will be an addition to the previous material. Read our thoughts below.

What is CUV.

CUV(Crossover Utility Vehicle) is an abbreviation for a family of vehicles designed for use both on civilized roads and off-road. We put off-road in quotation marks for a reason, since a typical crossover will not be able to conquer severe off-road. For the first time, the CUV classification, or more commonly used in our country " crossover", dates back to 1987. This term was adopted by Chrysler, and originally referred to all models with all-wheel drive station wagon. At present, the type of such vehicles is more often called SUVs, but AVTO-KA considers this judgment to be erroneous.

Later, the term "crossover" or CUV lost its original meaning, today this abbreviation more often denotes a type of car with increased ground clearance and a load-bearing body and predominantly all-wheel drive, designed for urban use with short trips to the country or a picnic. Note that on most cars qualifying as an SUV or SUV, all-wheel drive is carried out by means of a viscous coupling, which means that CUVs and SUVs are different classes!!! Typical representatives of CUV are Toyota RAV4, Honda CR-V.

What is SUV.

Term SUV(Sport Utility Vehicle) originally designated a family of vehicles for outdoor enthusiasts. First of all, an SUV is a car with a high ground clearance, in the performance of a station wagon. Probably the abbreviation SUV can denote SUVs.

It was assumed that the SUV class is intended for the departure of citizens for the weekend in nature. Hence the high ground clearance to drive down a country road, and a roomy wagon body to take the whole family, a tent, manga and a case of beer and sausages.

We did not find any indication that an SUV is necessarily an all-wheel drive vehicle. Moreover, in America, even pickups with one drive axle are classified as SUVs.

From this we can assume that the SUV class, or SUV can be attributed to cars with one drive axle, but with increased ground clearance. For example Geely MK Cross, Renault Sandero, Nissan Qashqai. By the way, the domestic car VAZ-2104 also falls under the category of SUV.

SUV or CUV?

The same Nissan Qashqai can also be designated as a CUV, since there is a modification of the Nissan Qashqai with all-wheel drive. And note that not only Nissan has in its lineup models that are available in mono- and all-wheel drive versions.

It begs a conclusion. The SUV and CUV classes are practically the same. It is very difficult to give a clear classification. Often the abbreviation is put by the manufacturer for marketing purposes. Most modern cars have such an original technical solution that it becomes almost impossible to classify a car. And yet we take the risk.

• CUV - all-wheel drive with a load-bearing body, crossover.
• SUV - SUV, not necessarily all-wheel drive with a load-bearing body.

We look forward to your comments on this matter.

The SAV class is also often mentioned, but this is an erroneous abbreviation. It came from the interpretation of SUV into Russian by SAF, and of course, then someone wrote SAV.

Understanding what the SUV class is is not as easy as it might seem at first glance. The term is currently used by sellers to refer to a large group of SUVs, although SUVs are not really SUVs. Another common name for SUV cars is a jeep, although it is also not entirely correct, since the off-road characteristics of such cars are not complete, and they are not designed to overcome serious off-road conditions.

All SUVs have features that are similar to standard passenger cars. But unlike conventional "cars", the SUV class is more versatile and can easily perform specific tasks:

• carry more passengers, by analogy with minivans;
• transportation of heavy, oversized cargo;
• towing large trailers;
• overcoming difficult sections of the road that are not subject to standard cars.

Car for outdoor enthusiasts

The abbreviation SUV can be translated as a sports car, which is due to the fact that initially such cars were intended and actively used to transport a variety of sports equipment - boats, bicycles, etc. Thus, cars of this class received a fairly high ground clearance, a spacious interior and a roomy trunk. For the first time, the Chrysler company used the SUV classification, and since 1987, all all-wheel drive station wagons were assigned to it.

Currently, SUVs include cars with a sufficiently large ground clearance and a load-bearing body. In addition, the drive of such cars is mostly full. This makes it possible to comfortably operate an SUV-class car in the city, and also allows you to overcome light off-road conditions - a trip to the country house, going to the forest, etc. As a rule, on SUV class cars, the all-wheel drive system is implemented on the basis of a viscous coupling, therefore full-fledged SUVs wrong.

From classic SUV to SUV class

The very first SUVs were characterized by the obligatory presence of a frame - it was the main load-bearing element, and it was on it that all the components of the car, including the body, were attached. In severe off-road conditions, such a solution was optimal, but when operating in a city, with its smooth roads, disadvantages were clearly manifested:

The need for a more economical and lightweight car was brewing quite rapidly, so the development of a new concept began actively, which would retain the main advantages of an SUV, but would become much lighter, more comfortable and more maneuverable. This can be considered the first step towards creating an SUV class car that retained certain off-road characteristics and lost its frame.

For SUVs, the type of suspension has also been changed. If an SUV could cope with any off-road thanks to a dependent suspension, this turned out to be completely inappropriate for an SUV class car, which led to its replacement with an independent one - this significantly increased the comfort of movement on even roads, and also had a positive effect on the car's handling at high speeds. The all-wheel drive system has been changed and finalized. Currently, most SUV class vehicles are equipped with an automatically connected drive and locks.

SUV - advantages for the city

Thanks to the hard work of engineers, the new SUV-class of cars has become indispensable for the modern city dweller, who is no stranger to country trips, in which he has to deal with washed-out country roads or snow-swept roads. Despite the fact that the SUV class is not designed to overcome serious obstacles, it has proved to be extremely popular among urban residents for a number of reasons.

1. Recognizable, dynamic SUV style.
2. Sufficiently rigid body, characterized by durability;
3. The capacity of the cabin and luggage compartment.
4. Excellent handling and ride comfort on all types of road surfaces.
5. Acceptable price for a car with similar characteristics.

Among other things, owning an SUV-class car allows its owner to satisfy his own ambitions - to become noticeable and recognizable on the road. It is worth noting the maximum possible comfort of the cabin, which is noted by both drivers and passengers of such cars. It was the SUV class car that turned out to be extremely in demand on domestic roads. They are sufficiently adapted to difficult climatic conditions and a sharp change in the quality of the road surface.

Depending on the manufacturer, SUV class vehicles may also have additional options that have long been an integral part of real SUVs. These include the differential lock - center and between the wheels located on the same axis. This allows more even transmission of torque from the motor to all wheels. For comparison, in a standard passenger car, force is transmitted along the path of least resistance, so it is often possible to observe a situation where only one wheel is spinning, while the other three remain stationary. An SUV class car in such a situation will practically not be able to be.

Is SUV comfort worth the money?

Despite the presence of certain off-road characteristics, SUV-class vehicles are still not designed for really difficult conditions, since they do not have many of the characteristics of a real SUV. However, even when driving exclusively in urban areas, it is often possible to get into a situation where light vehicles are not able to overcome relatively small obstacles. For example, a sudden snowfall or blizzard often makes the movement of cars around the city very difficult.

In addition, trips out of town for a picnic or to the country may also be accompanied by the need to travel along not the best road, and if the trip is made in rainy weather, similar difficulties may arise. In such situations, it is the SUV class that turns out to be the most optimal car - the owner does not have to overpay for the serious off-road characteristics of a real jeep.

But at the same time, the car can easily cope with periodic movement on blurry or noticeable sections of roads. You should not write off the sufficient level of comfort in the interior of a modern SUV-class car, which is quite comparable with the level of premium segment cars. Separately, it is worth noting that the SUV class is devoid of such shortcomings of a real SUV as a rigid suspension, high fuel consumption and unexpressed passive safety. An overview of one car of this class can be viewed on the video:

195/65 R15 91 T XL

195 is the tire width in mm.

65 - Proportionality, i.e. profile height to width ratio. In our case, it is equal to 65%. Simply put, with the same width, the larger this indicator, the higher the tire will be and vice versa. Usually this value is simply called “profile”.

Since the tire profile is a relative value, it is important to consider when choosing rubber that if you instead of the size 195/65 R15 if you want to put tires with a size of 205/65 R15, then not only the width of the tire will increase, but also the height! Which in most cases is unacceptable! (except when both of these sizes are indicated in the car's operating book). You can calculate the exact data on changing the outer dimensions of the wheel in a special tire calculator.

If this ratio is not indicated (for example, 185/R14С), then it is equal to 80-82% and the tire is called full profile. Reinforced tires with this marking are usually used on minibuses and light trucks, where a large maximum wheel load is very important.

R - means a tire with a radial cord (in fact, almost all tires are made this way now).

Many mistakenly believe that R- stands for the radius of the tire, but this is precisely the radial design of the tire. There is also a diagonal design (indicated by the letter D), but recently it has practically not been produced, since its performance is noticeably worse.

15 - diameter of the wheel (disk) in inches. (It is the diameter, not the radius! This is also a common mistake). This is the “landing” diameter of the tire on the disk, i.e. is the inside size of the tire or the outside of the rim.

91 - load index. This is the level of maximum permissible load on one wheel. For passenger cars, it is usually done with a margin and is not a decisive factor when choosing tires (in our case, IN - 91 - 670 kg.). For minibuses and small trucks, this parameter is very important and must be observed.

Additional information indicated in the marking on the sidewall of the tire:

XL or Extra Load- a reinforced tire, the load index of which is 3 units higher than that of conventional tires of the same size. In other words, if a given tire has a load index of 91 marked XL or Extra Load, then this means that with this index, the tire is able to withstand a maximum load of 670 kg instead of 615 kg (see the table of tire load indices).

M+S or M&S tire marking (Mud + Snow) - mud plus snow and means that the tires are all-season or winter. Many summer tires for SUVs are labeled M&S. However, these tires must not be used in winter, as winter tires have a completely different rubber compound and tread pattern, and the M&S badge indicates good flotation performance.

All Season or AS all season tires. Aw (Any Weather) - Any weather.

Pictogram * (snowflake)— rubber is designed for use in harsh winter conditions. If this marking is not on the sidewall of the tire, then this tire is intended for use only in summer conditions.

Aquatred, Aquacontact, Rain, Water, Aqua or a pictogram (umbrella) - special rain tires.

outside and inside; asymmetric tires, i.e. It is important not to confuse which side is the outside and which is the inside. When installing, the Outside inscription must be on the outside of the car, and Inside on the inside.

RSC (RunFlat System Component) - tires run flat- these are tires on which you can continue to drive a car at a speed of no more than 80 km / h with a FULL drop in pressure in the tire (in case of a puncture or cut). On these tires, depending on the manufacturer's recommendations, you can drive from 50 to 150 km. Different tire manufacturers use different designations for RSC technology.
For example: Bridgestone RFT Continental SSR, Goodyear RunOnFlat, Nokian Run Flat, Michelin ZP etc.

rotation or arrow this marking on the sidewall of the tire indicates a directional tire. When installing the tire, you must strictly observe the direction of rotation of the wheel, indicated by the arrow.

Tubeless (TL)- tubeless tyre. In the absence of this inscription, the tire can only be used with a camera. Tube Type - indicates that this tire must be used only with a tube.

Max Pressure; maximum allowable tire pressure. Max load- the maximum allowable load on each wheel of the car, in kg.

Reinforced or letters RF in a standard size (for example 195/70 R15RF) means that it is a reinforced tire (6 layers).
Letter WITH at the end of the size (for example 195/70 R15C) denotes a truck tire (8 layers).

Radial this marking on the rubber in the standard size means that it is a radial construction tire. Steel means that a metal cord is present in the tire structure.

MO- Mercedes Original - means the tires are developed with the participation of Daimler specialists / AO- Audi Original etc.

Letter E(in a circle) - the tire meets the European requirements of ECE (Economic Commission for Europe). DOT (Department of Transportation - US Department of Transportation) is an American quality standard.

Temperature A, B or C heat resistance of tires at high speeds on a test bench (A is the best indicator).

Traction A, B or C- the ability of the tire to brake on a wet roadway.

Treadwear; relative expected mileage compared to a specific US standard test.

TWI(Tread Wear Indiration) - indicators of tire tread wear. The marking on the TWI wheel can also be with an arrow. Pointers are located evenly in eight or six places around the entire circumference of the tire and show the minimum allowable tread depth. The wear indicator is made in the form of a protrusion with a height of 1.6 mm (the minimum tread value for light vehicles) and is located in the tread recess (usually in the drainage grooves).

All class vehicles SUV have characteristics that are similar to standard passenger cars. But on such machines, you can rush along the well-groomed city streets with a breeze, go out into the countryside with a loaded trailer, not being afraid to move off the asphalt surface and easily accommodate your family in a spacious cabin. In a word, cars sports and utility purposes(that's how it stands for SUV - Sport Utility Vehicle) are simply created for the active life of modern inhabitants. SUV it doesn't have to be an all wheel drive vehicle. Moreover, in America, even pickups with one drive axle are classified as SUVs. From this we can conclude that the class SUV (SUV), you can include not only jeeps, but also SUVs and other cars with one drive axle, but with increased ground clearance.

Tires with SUV marking

They differ from conventional tires in that they are designed for significant weight, off-road operation, and high speed, so the rubber from which they are made undergoes special testing, and is also reinforced with an additional metal or reinforced cord. This is what makes these tires different from regular ones.

If a car enthusiast is the owner of a modern high-speed jeep, then for the safe operation of his vehicle, he needs to purchase tires marked SUV. (Sometimes there is a marking Sport Utility or Latitude- from the tire manufacturer Michelin)

If the designation SUV is found on the tires?

A car enthusiast should know that they are intended for modern SUVs, crossovers () or jeeps ( SUV - Sport Utility Vehicle), which can reach high speed, and have a 4x4 wheel arrangement.

*Attention! The use of simple tires can lead to the fact that they may not withstand the load and burst.

If a tire break occurs at high speed, the car may simply roll over, or the driver will lose control. This may result in a collision with an obstacle or another vehicle.

What are the main differences between CUVs and SUVs?

Crossover, as defined CUV - Crossover Utility Vehicle This is a car of increased (compared to a conventional passenger car) cross-country ability, combining the properties of an SUV, all-terrain vehicles, SUVs. They also have the pros and cons of other types of vehicles, mainly such as hatbacks, minivans and station wagons.

The most important differences are quite obvious. Crossovers combine high ceilings and landings, high ground clearance, all-wheel drive (often connected as needed). Quite economical when compared with "thoroughbred" all-wheel drive SUVs and easier to manage. In their manufacture, a monocoque (carrying body) is used - this is in fact the basis of the car, on which the entire filling of the car is attached. In this case, there is no independent supporting frame.

In the modern automotive industry, crossovers are divided into all-wheel drive and mono-drive for different interests and for different wallets. The latter, due to their smaller “off-road” qualities, were called “ parquet SUVs"or, in the common people," SUVs". Their usual habitat is the urban cycle, their main difference from some simple station wagon will be increased ground clearance, a spacious interior, often visual "wow" effects such as shiny moldings, roof racks, etc. Demand for cars that look impressive , but they cost less than full-fledged 4x4s, higher, which is why they are more common. As a result, the concept of CUV and crossover was gradually replaced by the habitually dismissive "SUV".

So, the main difference between a CUV crossover and an SUV SUV:

1. The crossover is not designed structurally for heavy work
2. No downshift in gearbox
3. There is no blocking of differentials (interwheel, interaxal)
4. The absence of a transfer case and its replacement with a power take-off shaft

In addition to the name of the manufacturer, brand, tire model and its size, the following additional markers may be indicated on the sidewalls of a car tire:

Colored markings on the tire

Yellow marker on the tire sidewall (circle or triangle) determines the position of the lightest point on the tire. Alignment with the heaviest place on the disc (usually the nipple attachment point) during installation new tire improves wheel balance.

Red marker on the sidewall of the tire (circle or triangle) determines the place of maximum power inhomogeneity. Such a mark is usually applied to automobile tires of the primary (factory) vehicle configuration.

Colored longitudinal lines, printed on the tread, are used solely to facilitate the identification of the tire model (for example, in storage conditions).

digital stamp(usually white, in the center of a circle or triangle) on a car tire is the personal marker of the inspector who carried out the final inspection of the tire at the factory.

Tire marking of car manufacturers

Some tires are marked with an alphanumeric code that indicates some features in the context of their use for installation on vehicles of specific manufacturers or brands. Tires with this special marking differ from the standard of their model. Their characteristics are optimized for maximum performance on target vehicles.

When describing tires that have a special marking of the automaker, they often say "the tire is homologated" (from the English omologation - bringing technical characteristics and parameters in line with the requirements of standards or requests). It is not uncommon for leading car manufacturers to homologate specific tire models for their vehicles, including original fittings. The homologation marker, in addition to the target indication, speaks of the high quality of the tire, since in the process of improving the tire, it undergoes serious tests for compliance with world standards and the standards of the automaker.

Some automaker specific markings limit the use of tires for a specific vehicle, while others indicate general technical features of use. For a correct understanding of the special markings, it is worth contacting specialists before buying. The following table shows the decoding of the most common designations.