How to choose the right tyres for UAE roads and heat: reading your size, picking the right type and tier, and knowing when it is time to replace them.
01Start with your tyre size
Your tyre size is moulded on the sidewall, for example 205/55 R16 91V:
- 205 is the width in millimetres.
- 55 is the aspect ratio: the sidewall is 55% as tall as the tyre is wide.
- R16 means radial construction for a 16-inch wheel.
- 91V is the load index (615 kg per tyre) and speed rating (240 km/h).
Pick your width, profile and rim in the size selector at the top of this page and we only show tyres that fit. You can also find the size on the placard inside the driver’s door or in the owner’s manual. Or look up the factory sizes for your car.
02Tyres for UAE heat
Summer road temperatures in the UAE regularly pass 60°C. Heat raises tyre pressure, softens the compound and speeds up ageing, so a few habits make a real difference:
- Check pressures in the morning, when the tyres are cold, and set them to the figure on your door placard, not the maximum on the sidewall.
- Choose a recent year of manufacture. Every product shows the year, and you can filter by it.
- Match the load index and speed rating to your car, and use XL tyres where the manufacturer specifies them.
- If you drive on sand or gravel, an all-terrain tyre copes far better than a highway pattern and lowering pressure for the desert is safer with a stronger sidewall.
03Which type of tyre?
- Car & sedan: quiet, efficient tyres for everyday commuting and highway driving.
- SUV: larger sizes with higher load ratings for crossovers and SUVs that mostly stay on tarmac.
- All-terrain (A/T): a chunkier tread for 4x4s that split time between the road and the desert.
- Mud-terrain (M/T): aggressive blocks for serious off-roading; noisier and faster-wearing on the road.
- Van & commercial: reinforced “C” tyres for vans and pickups that carry heavy loads every day.
- Run-flat: keeps you moving for a short distance after a puncture; only for cars designed for them (many BMW and MINI models).
04Premium, mid-range or value?
The difference between tiers is in how much grip, comfort and tread life you get for the money.
| Tier | Brands we stock | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Premium | Michelin, Pirelli, Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Goodyear | Maximum grip, comfort and tread life |
| Mid-range | Nexen, Yokohama, Hankook, Nankang, Kumho, Vredestein | A balance of price and performance |
| Value | Seam Tyre, Tracmax, Landspider, MatraX, Leao, Laufenn | Everyday driving on a budget |
Premium tyres usually stop shortest in the wet and last longest; mid-range brands often share technology with them at a lower price; value brands suit lower-mileage cars and city driving. Compare all tyre brands.
05How buying works
- Choose your size, then narrow the list with the filters: brand, vehicle type, run-flat, year of manufacture, warranty and country of manufacture.
- Compare fitted prices. The price on every card is per tyre and includes fitting, balancing, nitrogen, rotation, new valves and VAT; the set-of-4 price is shown next to it.
- Add the tyres to your cart and pick a fitting station, date and time at checkout. For mobile fitting at your home or office, or pickup & drop-off, WhatsApp us.
- Not sure? WhatsApp us a photo of your tyre sidewall and we will confirm the size, stock and price.
06When to replace your tyres
- The tread is worn close to the wear indicator bars in the main grooves (the bars sit at 1.6 mm; wet grip drops noticeably below about 3 mm).
- You can see cracks, bulges or cuts on the sidewall.
- The tyres are several years old. Heat ages rubber faster, so check the four-digit date code (week and year) on the sidewall.
- You feel vibration, pulling or more road noise than usual.
Not sure? Send us a photo of your tyres on WhatsApp and we will tell you honestly whether they need replacing.