CEAT SecuraDrive
We slap on a set of CEAT SecuraDrives to our long-term test Sonet, to find out if aftermarket tyres can improve the experience
TYRES ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT and the most overlooked part of any car. Think about it for a second — all that power, all that technology and years of research and development get filtered through just one layer onto the road — your tyres. You could have a Ferrari 488 Pista or a Kia Sonet, all cars operate at the limit of their tyre’s grip. Nothing more. With bad tyres, those 700 rampaging horses aren’t going anywhere and your carbon ceramic disc brakes would only be tickling the ABS module. And that’s why, via the simple task of slapping on better rubber, you can substantially improve the dynamic ability of your daily car without losing out on comfort or fuel efficiency. That’s the reason OEMs can spend years developing the perfect compound for their cars to roll out of the showroom with, but are those OE tyres always the best option? Sure, high-performance cars like the Pista have a single-point agenda and the OE tyres usually do their best to chase that. But on the more affordable side of the spectrum, cars serve multiple purposes. And wants can depend upon the customer — fuel economy, comfort, performance, wet-weather grip. It could be a number of different priorities and a ‘one for all’ solution doesn’t really do it justice. So, can aftermarket tyres help improve the driving experience of your car?
New shoes
We’ve got a set of CEAT SecuraDrive tyres for our long-term test Kia Sonet to help us figure out if they actually make a difference in real world conditions. But before we talk about that, let’s talk about what the SecuraDrive aims to achieve. The SecuraDrive is a new range of tyres designed for premium hatchbacks, compact-SUVs and premium sedans. It aims to provide stability at highspeeds and cornering grip, as well as everyday comfort. The tyres come in two speed ratings — H (210kmph) and V (240kmph) and ten different sizes and can fit over 60 different cars. We got the SecuraDrives in the OE size which is 215/60 R16, to keep the playing field relatively level. Talking of the playing field, we devised a few tests that cover acceleration, braking, cornering and comfort, to compare the CEATs to the OE tyres.
(@karansinghh_ )
OEMS CAN SPEND YEARS DEVELOPING THE PERFECT TYRE FOR THEIR CARS TO ROLL OUT OF THE SHOWROOM WITH