145/70 R12 Tyres

145/70 R12 is the smallest size in regular use on Pakistani roads, and it is what the Suzuki Alto and the older Mehran leave the factory on. The numbers read directly: a 145 mm tread width, a sidewall 70% of that width tall, and a 12-inch rim. That tall, narrow shape is deliberate — it keeps rolling resistance low, which is most of the reason an 800cc car returns the fuel economy it does.

Because the sidewall is proportionally tall, this size is more forgiving over broken tarmac and speed breakers than a low-profile tyre, and it is very tolerant of the pressure swings that come with a car that spends its week in city traffic. The trade-off is cornering feel: push an Alto hard through a roundabout on worn 145/70 R12s and the sidewall will flex noticeably. That flex is also why running this size under-inflated is particularly damaging — the shoulders scrub, and a tyre that should last four years is finished in two.

We keep this size in both new and inspected used sets. For a car in this class the honest advice is usually a mid-range new tyre rather than a premium one: the speeds involved never approach what a premium compound is designed for, and the money is better spent replacing all four at once so the car tracks straight. Whatever you fit, we balance every wheel and check the alignment before you leave — on a light car, a 10-gram imbalance is something you feel through the steering wheel at 80 km/h.