Reinforced or Extra Load (XL) tyres are designed for heavy vehicles or vehicles with powerful engines. The sidewalls of reinforced tyres are more rigid than conventional "SL" (Standard Load) tyres. The extra rigid sidewalls mean the tyres can withstand greater loads, pressures and stresses.
A reinforced tyre has specific marking on its sidewall, such as: REINF, REINFORCED, XL, EXTRA LOAD, XLD, RFD or RF. The "XL" standard is tending to replace the other standards.
"XL" signifies "Extra Load", which means that the tyre is able to withstand a greater weight and higher pressures.
Summer reinforced tyres:
Winter reinforced tyres:
Most popular sizes:
Reinforced tires are necessary for certain sports vehicles, SUVs, powerful sedans or utility vehicles. These tires withstand more load and stress than others.
A reinforced tire is a piece of equipment designed to withstand a load and inflation pressure higher than those recommended by the manufacturer for the standard version of a given size. To help you better understand what this is about, let's take the example of a 205/55 R16 tire. By default, the standard tires (SL) of this size have a load index of 91, which is a maximum supportable weight of 615 kg. But for the reinforced versions, this index is increased to 94, which means that the tire can support a maximum load of 670 kg. The supported pressure also goes from 2.5 to 2.9 bars.
Reinforced tires are characterized by:
Reinforced tires are recognized by the special marking they carry on their side: Extra Load (XL), Reinforced (REINF), RF, RFD, or EXL. The first inscription is the one most often found on the market. It tends to replace the others which are becoming increasingly rare.
Given their particularly robust structure, reinforced tires offer many advantages to motorists. Here are some of them.
The components of a reinforced tire are stronger than those of an SL tire. Thus, for the same use, XL rubbers have logically a much longer lifespan than a standard rubber. These tires can even cover more kilometers without showing signs of damage or wear. Unlike their standard cousins, reinforced tires are equipment suitable for very intensive use. Just follow the manufacturer's recommended air pressure and you're done.
As their name suggests, tires with reinforced bands are extremely resistant. They are able to withstand without problem the dynamic shocks that usually occur when the vehicle abruptly approaches a curb or any other surface that is not at the same level as the road. The risks of scratches or cuts are therefore greatly reduced in these situations.
XL rubbers also resist very well to mechanical stresses inherent in driving: tight turns, sudden braking, accelerations…
Reinforced tires offer high performance in terms of traction and grip. Their rigid structure positively influences the behavior of the car in different situations (braking and turning mainly), which optimizes its stability. Finally, XL tires also ensure an efficient transfer of the car's power on the road.
All this allows the driver to better control his car and, consequently, to have a good road holding and optimal driving comfort.
It is important to know when reinforced tires are worth buying, as not all vehicles need them.
Reinforced tires are recommended when you often drive with heavy loads: goods, passengers… In this case, using XL rubbers will allow you to avoid changing your tires frequently. This advice generally applies to transport vehicles, station wagons and vans.
These tires are also recommended for motorists who own vehicles with very powerful engines. XL tires will allow them to better control their car in turns and especially to accelerate better.
To know if your vehicle should only run with reinforced tires, refer to its user manual. You will find all the necessary information regarding the car's approval.
Like any other type of tire, the choice of tires with reinforced tire bands should not be made at random. You must necessarily take into account certain elements:
Here is everything you need to know about each of these criteria.
Mounting new tires that are too wide or too high can have negative effects on your driving comfort. That's why it is important to consider the size of your original tires when choosing your new reinforced tires, especially if it's the first time you want to make a change.
To find the dimensions recommended by the manufacturer for your tires, consult the vehicle's user manual. You can also find this information in your fuel door.
Of course, you may choose alternative size tires to replace your old tires. But in this case, make sure to respect the limits (margins) set by the vehicle manufacturer.
Tire manufacturers are constantly developing new technologies to improve the road performance of their products. Thus, before buying a reinforced tire, do not hesitate to find out about the technologies it carries. This will allow you to know if the product you are about to choose will really meet your needs.
For example, some manufacturers incorporate in their equipment technologies that optimize the vehicle's performance at braking on wet roads. This type of tire will suit you perfectly if you often drive in rainy weather.
Other designers offer tires that are puncture resistant thanks to a self-sealing technology. If you travel very long distances for work, these types of tires can be very useful. They will for example prevent you from getting stuck after punctures in isolated areas.
How to identify the technologies integrated in a tire? Generally, this information is found in the descriptive text that accompanies the product (if you buy online). If you have any doubts, you can also ask for more details from the seller.
The rolling resistance of a tire refers to the energy that is expended to keep it moving (at a constant speed) when it is in contact with the ground. It is closely linked to the thickness of the tread. The thicker it is, the higher the rolling resistance will be, which will result in a very high fuel and energy consumption.
Given that reinforced tires naturally have thick shoulders, it is important to check that the model you are about to choose has a low rolling resistance. How to know? Just check the product's technical sheet.
It is important not to overlook the manufacturer when choosing a tire. As a general rule, the brand of a tire says a lot about its quality. To be sure to have superior quality tires that will meet your expectations, and to drive safely, turn to the most recognized manufacturers: PIRELLI, MICHELIN, HANKOOK, CONTINENTAL, BRIDGESTONE, GOODYEAR…
To buy reinforced tires, prefer the products of these big brands since they generally incorporate the latest innovations in the tire sector. This is a significant performance guarantee.
Depending on your needs and budget, you can also choose other less known brands, but which also offer good quality equipment.
Reinforced tires are not necessarily all-season tires designed to be used throughout the year. There are XL rubbers for winter and others for summer. You must take this into account when making your choice. Choose tires adapted to the climatic conditions of each season, in order to enjoy optimal driving comfort.
For any motorist who wants to change his tires, Tyreleader.co.uk offers more than 10,000 references from different brands to meet all your needs. Whether you need reinforced winter, summer or all-season tires, you can make your choice from our catalog. We offer free delivery from two identical tires.
If you wish, you can also benefit from a mounting service in one of our partner garages. We cover the entire national territory.