Floods have featured heavily in the news media lately. We've just experienced the wettest summer in UK history, and the consequent flooding has affected a number of cars. In some instances the results have included fatalities. Your car tyres may provide as much grip as you need – until your car starts to float. Yet the tyres won't stop a car sinking, or being swept away. Here's how to deal with floodwater.
There you are, driving along, minding your own business. It's pouring with rain but you're perfectly confident about your car tyres' abilities on wet tarmac. Then it happens, you're faced with glossy sheen of floodwater in your path. Your thoughts begin to race. 'Should I keep going, or turn round?'; 'Will I get stuck?'; 'How deep is it?'
Depth is the very first thing to consider in such a situation. In most instances, a car can handle floodwater as deep as its wheel rims – the car tyres will be submerged but they'll cope. The snag is; how do you gauge the depth of the water?
There is no simple answer to this question. You may have local knowledge to tell you what to expect in a given location. You may have a good view of the white line, or you may have just seen another car successfully wading through the water. There are, however, warnings to consider. For example, you can bet your car tyres that a flood stretching away out of sight, such as around a blind bend, is liable to get deeper. Similarly, your seeing a big 4x4 happily paddling doesn't mean your saloon car will manage.
Apart from your car tyres' role, the major element to consider is your engine. All engines compress the fuel and air mixture that enters their cylinders. A petrol engine may squash the mixture by a factor of fourteen, while a Diesel engine might compress the mixture to twenty-five times atmospheric pressure. Here's the rub: you can compress air, you can compress vapourised fuel but you cannot – repeat cannot – compress water. A surprisingly small drink of floodwater will instantly stop whichever pistons encounter it. However, the connecting rods will still be pushed upwards by the crankshaft…but not for long. Broken or bent conrod(s) – for which read 'scrap the engine' are the inevitable result. This is exacerbated by many modern cars having a low-mounted air intake. Cool air drawn form low down equals improved combustion. Water drawn into the air intake equals a dead stop.
What, then, is in our line of defence before we try to dip our car tyres into floodwater? Local news, via the TV, radio or Internet, are helpful sources, provided you pay attention to them. It's also a great idea to have a fully charged, functional mobile phone with you, just in case. Remember that, if you encounter a flood, asking around – especially if the police are present – could save your life, let alone your car.
Now for the worst-case scenario. You arrive at flood and have to decide on how to tackle it. Stop and take a look, getting out of your car unless you're 100% sure of the water's depth. Is the white line, or the underwater tarmac surface visible? If so, remember you can go to about the depth of your car tyres' sidewalls in most cars. Is the water still? If it's rushing, forget it – unless you fancy being on the news. Moreover, if someone starts beeping at you to hurry, invite him/her to go first. You'll know what to do if this car suffers a grinding halt.
Assuming you plan to go for it, put your trust in your car tyres and go slowly forward. Use a low gear, so that the increased engine revolutions will allow the exhaust gases to keep the water at bay. Go slowly, so as to not create a big bow wave – which might just drown your engine. And remember to stick to the crown of the road, where the water will be shallowest.
Finally, though your car tyres will dry off after a few revolutions, your brakes will stay wet. Lightly touch the brake pedal until you feel the brakes bite again.
Article Resource
Merityre.co.uk are one of the leading UK independent suppliers of car tyres. Why not visit their website for an online tyre quote or contact your nearest fitting centre.
Thursday, 13 December 2012
Life Lessons. How To Maximise Car Tyre Life
Maximizing your car tyres' useful life is as much about being both safe and legal as it is about saving money in the long run. Your car tyres may not receive too much of your attention but a combination of forethought and maintenance will help you achieve the very best results for your car tyres.
Buy the right tyres
Car tyre choice is a matter of making an educated selection. So-called 'long-life' tyres may perform as advertised but can have downsides. They are liable to be noisier in use than 'normal' tyres, whilst also being less grippy. Similarly, 'normal' tyres could save you a few pounds but could let a higher performance car down grip-wise. The solution? Trust your tyre fitter.
Make sure your wheels are properly aligned
Given that wheels running out of alignment spell an early demise for car tyres, it's worth having a wheel alignment check at tyre replacement time. Significant misalignment will show in odd wear patterns on the tyre treads, and can make the steering feel odd.
If you've encountered a big pothole, road debris, or have had an argument with a kerb, get the alignment checked as a matter of course.
Use the right pressure
You can usually find this out from a sticker on your car's doorpost, or from your user manual. Too little tyre pressure can cause fuel-wasting drag, excessive tyre flexing and tyre failure through overheating. Too much air in your tyres can lead to premature wear and unreliable handling.
Drive with sympathy
…,for your car tyres, that is. Consistently taking corners at 9/10th of your car's (or your) abilities shortens tyre life. The same goes for aggressive accelerating and braking. Movie stunt men don't have to pay for their car tyres!
Give your tyres a break
Following on from the previous tip, this kind of mechanical sympathy specifically concerns physical damage to your car tyres. We have, for our pains, got to put up with speed bumps and speed pads on our highways. We don't, however, have to let them damage our car's wheels and tyres.
The way to tackle these devices is to treat them as what they are – hazardous to your car tyres. Always cross them slowly. If you come across the kind of speed restrictor where there's one speed pad per carriageway, never straddle them. Instead, let the wheels on one side of your car traverse them. Also, try to avoid touching a kerb, far less mounting one.
Driving like this will protect your car tyres, as well as greatly reducing the chances of expensive and/or dangerous damage to wheels.
These are proven practices that will prolong the life of your car tyres. They can also help save wear and tear on your car's wheels, suspension and steering. Don't be misled by knowing that car tyres are very tough indeed. They are tough but they aren't invincible. Pay attention to the above and stay safe, and you will save money by not having to replace your tyres before their useful life ends.
Article Resource
Merityre.co.uk are one of the leading UK independent suppliers of car tyres. Why not visit their website for an online tyre quote or contact your nearest fitting centre.
Buy the right tyres
Car tyre choice is a matter of making an educated selection. So-called 'long-life' tyres may perform as advertised but can have downsides. They are liable to be noisier in use than 'normal' tyres, whilst also being less grippy. Similarly, 'normal' tyres could save you a few pounds but could let a higher performance car down grip-wise. The solution? Trust your tyre fitter.
Make sure your wheels are properly aligned
Given that wheels running out of alignment spell an early demise for car tyres, it's worth having a wheel alignment check at tyre replacement time. Significant misalignment will show in odd wear patterns on the tyre treads, and can make the steering feel odd.
If you've encountered a big pothole, road debris, or have had an argument with a kerb, get the alignment checked as a matter of course.
Use the right pressure
You can usually find this out from a sticker on your car's doorpost, or from your user manual. Too little tyre pressure can cause fuel-wasting drag, excessive tyre flexing and tyre failure through overheating. Too much air in your tyres can lead to premature wear and unreliable handling.
Drive with sympathy
…,for your car tyres, that is. Consistently taking corners at 9/10th of your car's (or your) abilities shortens tyre life. The same goes for aggressive accelerating and braking. Movie stunt men don't have to pay for their car tyres!
Give your tyres a break
Following on from the previous tip, this kind of mechanical sympathy specifically concerns physical damage to your car tyres. We have, for our pains, got to put up with speed bumps and speed pads on our highways. We don't, however, have to let them damage our car's wheels and tyres.
The way to tackle these devices is to treat them as what they are – hazardous to your car tyres. Always cross them slowly. If you come across the kind of speed restrictor where there's one speed pad per carriageway, never straddle them. Instead, let the wheels on one side of your car traverse them. Also, try to avoid touching a kerb, far less mounting one.
Driving like this will protect your car tyres, as well as greatly reducing the chances of expensive and/or dangerous damage to wheels.
These are proven practices that will prolong the life of your car tyres. They can also help save wear and tear on your car's wheels, suspension and steering. Don't be misled by knowing that car tyres are very tough indeed. They are tough but they aren't invincible. Pay attention to the above and stay safe, and you will save money by not having to replace your tyres before their useful life ends.
Article Resource
Merityre.co.uk are one of the leading UK independent suppliers of car tyres. Why not visit their website for an online tyre quote or contact your nearest fitting centre.
Monday, 19 November 2012
Eight Car Tyre Challenges: What Affects Tyre Life
All car tyres wear – they are, after all, consumable items. However, some car tyres wear faster than others. Let’s take a look at eight aspects that affect car tyre life.
1. Wheel Alignment
When your car’s wheel alignment is correct, the tyres can run true on the road. This means that a balance exists between the car tyre’s drag and the amount of compliance in the car’s suspension. Incorrect alignment spells increased wear, and can affect your rear wheels as well as the front ones.
2. Speed
Continuous high-speed driving accelerates car tyre wear. If you doubt this, just take a look at Formula One – pit stops aren’t to give the driver a rest while the tyres are changed!
3. Driving Style
If you drive sympathetically, your car tyres will last longer. Drive aggressively and you’ll pay for it through having to replace your car tyres sooner. An aggressive driving style will raise car tyre flexing and running temperature, and increase tread wear.
4. Car Tyre Placement
On a rear-wheel drive car, the front tyres must cope with steering and braking while the rear tyres offer traction as well as grip. On a front-wheel-drive car, the front tyres have still more to do, consequently wearing faster.
5. Vehicle Weight
Heavier vehicles wear our car tyres faster than lighter ones. There are, of course, heavier duty car tyres to compensate for this to some extent. However, the basic principle remains.
6. Car Tyre Type
Car tyres are constructed to meet particular needs. A performance tyre will give superior grip but will wear out sooner, as it has a softer rubber compound. Conversely, a harder, long life tyre will offer a longer life, at the cost of lesser grip and increased noise. There are tyre types that offer a compromise between the various demands on car tyres.
7. Tyre Pressure
An underinflated car tyre flexes more, runs hotter and wears faster than a correctly inflated one. Underinflation also increases fuel consumption, by creating additional tyre drag. Overinflation is nearly as bad, causing strange wear patterns and reducing grip.
8. The Passage of Time
This is the one aspect affecting tyre life that can’t be avoided. Ultra violet light causes rubber to degrade, as do chemical spills on the road. The usual giveaway is the appearance of cracked sidewalls…themselves indicative of a car tyre that is old. A car that is garaged will receive better car tyre life than a car that lives outside.
As is now clear, the factors affecting car tyre life – and performance – are many and varied. Mechanical sympathy and assiduous car maintenance positively affect tyre life. Conversely, it isn’t really surprising that bad habits can affect tyre life negatively.
Article Resource
Merityre.co.uk are one of the leading UK independent suppliers of car tyres. Why not visit their website for an online tyre quote or contact your nearest fitting centre.
1. Wheel Alignment
When your car’s wheel alignment is correct, the tyres can run true on the road. This means that a balance exists between the car tyre’s drag and the amount of compliance in the car’s suspension. Incorrect alignment spells increased wear, and can affect your rear wheels as well as the front ones.
2. Speed
Continuous high-speed driving accelerates car tyre wear. If you doubt this, just take a look at Formula One – pit stops aren’t to give the driver a rest while the tyres are changed!
3. Driving Style
If you drive sympathetically, your car tyres will last longer. Drive aggressively and you’ll pay for it through having to replace your car tyres sooner. An aggressive driving style will raise car tyre flexing and running temperature, and increase tread wear.
4. Car Tyre Placement
On a rear-wheel drive car, the front tyres must cope with steering and braking while the rear tyres offer traction as well as grip. On a front-wheel-drive car, the front tyres have still more to do, consequently wearing faster.
5. Vehicle Weight
Heavier vehicles wear our car tyres faster than lighter ones. There are, of course, heavier duty car tyres to compensate for this to some extent. However, the basic principle remains.
6. Car Tyre Type
Car tyres are constructed to meet particular needs. A performance tyre will give superior grip but will wear out sooner, as it has a softer rubber compound. Conversely, a harder, long life tyre will offer a longer life, at the cost of lesser grip and increased noise. There are tyre types that offer a compromise between the various demands on car tyres.
7. Tyre Pressure
An underinflated car tyre flexes more, runs hotter and wears faster than a correctly inflated one. Underinflation also increases fuel consumption, by creating additional tyre drag. Overinflation is nearly as bad, causing strange wear patterns and reducing grip.
8. The Passage of Time
This is the one aspect affecting tyre life that can’t be avoided. Ultra violet light causes rubber to degrade, as do chemical spills on the road. The usual giveaway is the appearance of cracked sidewalls…themselves indicative of a car tyre that is old. A car that is garaged will receive better car tyre life than a car that lives outside.
As is now clear, the factors affecting car tyre life – and performance – are many and varied. Mechanical sympathy and assiduous car maintenance positively affect tyre life. Conversely, it isn’t really surprising that bad habits can affect tyre life negatively.
Article Resource
Merityre.co.uk are one of the leading UK independent suppliers of car tyres. Why not visit their website for an online tyre quote or contact your nearest fitting centre.
Changing a Car Tyre the Professional Way
Back in the mists of time, motorists used to change their own tyres – by hand. No doubt there are diehard enthusiasts who still do this but for us mere mortals, there are car tyre bays. Here’s how a car tyre is changed – by machine.
To be attended to on a tyre machine, the car wheel with the tyre to be replaced must be taken off. Enter the trolley jack and powered wheel nut wrench. Almost without exception a key or adaptor to cope with the locking wheel nut is needed now. Soon enough, the errant car tyre will be detached from the car, complete with wheel.
Now the fun begins! We’re contemplating separating a big, tough rubber ring from the big, heavy metal wheel it’s been embracing, probably for many miles. The tyre fitter can unscrew the tyre valve and let the air out, but he can’t make any impression on the car tyre/wheel combination without mechanical assistance. This is why the tyre machine has powerful, compressed air-powered jaws, better known as the bead breaker. With the deflated car tyre placed correctly, all the fitter need do is press on a pedal. The jaws seize the tyre and separate the bead from the wheel rim.
The failed car tyre now has to go up in the world. More accurately, it has to lie flat on the tyre machine, with the wheel clamped firmly in place. More compressed air is used to let the machine seize the wheel firmly. Then, the fitter will place the hooked head of the tyre machine by the car tyre’s bead. Lifting the broken bead carefully over the wheel rim with a tyre lever, the fitter will flip it over the machine’s head. Another press of a pedal releases compressed air, causing the wheel to rotate. The tyre machine’s head peels the upper bead of the car tyre up and off the wheel rim. Repeat the process for the lower bead and that’s it – the old car tyre is off.
Now for a spot of wheel preparation. The old tyre valve’s inner fitting is sawn off and the valve is drawn out. The old balance weights will be peeled off or unclipped and, in some instances, the fitter will use a hand wire brush to clean corrosion off the wheel rim. Then, after having replaced the tyre valve, the fitter will apply a special compound to the wheel rim and the new car tyre. This stuff is a lubricant that will make fitting the new tyre easier. However, where there has been an air leak between the old tyre and the wheel, the fitter will brush on a special sealant.
The tyre machine comes into play again now. Once cleaned, lubed (or sealed) and re-valved, the wheel is ready to accept the new car tyre. The machine is simply used in reverse order, the push the new tyre over the wheel rim, bead by bead. Using a compressed air line, the fitter will then inflate the new car tyre. Sometimes, the tyre/wheel will need encouragement to seal but the tyre will eventually seat itself – sometimes with a loud bang – when air pressure builds up. Throughout the car tyre-fitting process, the tyre machine has done most of the heavy work, while the tyre fitter carried out the intelligent tasks.
So, are we finished? Not quite – the wheel and car tyre combination need to be balanced. There’s another machine for this. Having placed the wheel on the tyre-balancing machine and clamped it on firmly, the fitter will close a safety guard and start the machine. The machine spins the wheel up to a given speed, which is usually about 200 revolutions per minute. Now it’s the balancing machine’s turn to be clever. Using its sensors and electronics, the machine will tell the fitter how heavy the balance weights need to be and exactly where they must go. Using the machine’s recommendations, wheel weights will be fitted and the newly balanced wheel taken up to speed again. Fine-tuning can be done but it’s rarely needed.
What used to be done manually, and could lead to sore hands and backache has been done quickly and efficiently. Should you watch from the comfort of the waiting area, you’ll know exactly what the fitter was doing at each stage of the tyre change…and why!
Article Resource
Merityre.co.uk are one of the leading UK independent suppliers of car tyres. Why not visit their website for an online tyre quote or contact your nearest fitting centre.
To be attended to on a tyre machine, the car wheel with the tyre to be replaced must be taken off. Enter the trolley jack and powered wheel nut wrench. Almost without exception a key or adaptor to cope with the locking wheel nut is needed now. Soon enough, the errant car tyre will be detached from the car, complete with wheel.
Now the fun begins! We’re contemplating separating a big, tough rubber ring from the big, heavy metal wheel it’s been embracing, probably for many miles. The tyre fitter can unscrew the tyre valve and let the air out, but he can’t make any impression on the car tyre/wheel combination without mechanical assistance. This is why the tyre machine has powerful, compressed air-powered jaws, better known as the bead breaker. With the deflated car tyre placed correctly, all the fitter need do is press on a pedal. The jaws seize the tyre and separate the bead from the wheel rim.
The failed car tyre now has to go up in the world. More accurately, it has to lie flat on the tyre machine, with the wheel clamped firmly in place. More compressed air is used to let the machine seize the wheel firmly. Then, the fitter will place the hooked head of the tyre machine by the car tyre’s bead. Lifting the broken bead carefully over the wheel rim with a tyre lever, the fitter will flip it over the machine’s head. Another press of a pedal releases compressed air, causing the wheel to rotate. The tyre machine’s head peels the upper bead of the car tyre up and off the wheel rim. Repeat the process for the lower bead and that’s it – the old car tyre is off.
Now for a spot of wheel preparation. The old tyre valve’s inner fitting is sawn off and the valve is drawn out. The old balance weights will be peeled off or unclipped and, in some instances, the fitter will use a hand wire brush to clean corrosion off the wheel rim. Then, after having replaced the tyre valve, the fitter will apply a special compound to the wheel rim and the new car tyre. This stuff is a lubricant that will make fitting the new tyre easier. However, where there has been an air leak between the old tyre and the wheel, the fitter will brush on a special sealant.
The tyre machine comes into play again now. Once cleaned, lubed (or sealed) and re-valved, the wheel is ready to accept the new car tyre. The machine is simply used in reverse order, the push the new tyre over the wheel rim, bead by bead. Using a compressed air line, the fitter will then inflate the new car tyre. Sometimes, the tyre/wheel will need encouragement to seal but the tyre will eventually seat itself – sometimes with a loud bang – when air pressure builds up. Throughout the car tyre-fitting process, the tyre machine has done most of the heavy work, while the tyre fitter carried out the intelligent tasks.
So, are we finished? Not quite – the wheel and car tyre combination need to be balanced. There’s another machine for this. Having placed the wheel on the tyre-balancing machine and clamped it on firmly, the fitter will close a safety guard and start the machine. The machine spins the wheel up to a given speed, which is usually about 200 revolutions per minute. Now it’s the balancing machine’s turn to be clever. Using its sensors and electronics, the machine will tell the fitter how heavy the balance weights need to be and exactly where they must go. Using the machine’s recommendations, wheel weights will be fitted and the newly balanced wheel taken up to speed again. Fine-tuning can be done but it’s rarely needed.
What used to be done manually, and could lead to sore hands and backache has been done quickly and efficiently. Should you watch from the comfort of the waiting area, you’ll know exactly what the fitter was doing at each stage of the tyre change…and why!
Article Resource
Merityre.co.uk are one of the leading UK independent suppliers of car tyres. Why not visit their website for an online tyre quote or contact your nearest fitting centre.
Monday, 12 November 2012
Merityre News!!
Building will shortly commence at MERITYRE SPECIALISTS LTD, West Way, Walworth Business Park, Andover, to extend the existing retail tyre depot. Two new bays should be operational early in the New Year, adding an extra 50% to the current space available for fitting tyres, batteries exhausts and brakes.
The existing Merityre building was constructed in 1988, as a purpose built warehouse and Head Office for Merityre, which currently has a further 21 Tyre and Exhaust Branches in the South of England. The retail fitting bays were part of the original design, but were limited in size due to Test Valley Borough Council planning restrictions at that time.
Now that Andover is seeing the expansion of its housing stock at both Augusta Park and Picket Twenty, the increase in business at Merityre has prompted this expansion, to improve customer facilities and reduce waiting times during busy periods. Merityre is open for business 7 days a week, from 8.30am – 6.00pm Monday to Friday, 8.30 – 5.00pm Saturdays and 9.30am – 12 noon on Sunday mornings. Local branch manager Paul Kinnaird, and his assistant Craig Denness, are looking forward to these new facilities and remain committed to providing a top class service on Tyres, Exhausts, Brakes and associated products in 2013!
The existing Merityre building was constructed in 1988, as a purpose built warehouse and Head Office for Merityre, which currently has a further 21 Tyre and Exhaust Branches in the South of England. The retail fitting bays were part of the original design, but were limited in size due to Test Valley Borough Council planning restrictions at that time.
Now that Andover is seeing the expansion of its housing stock at both Augusta Park and Picket Twenty, the increase in business at Merityre has prompted this expansion, to improve customer facilities and reduce waiting times during busy periods. Merityre is open for business 7 days a week, from 8.30am – 6.00pm Monday to Friday, 8.30 – 5.00pm Saturdays and 9.30am – 12 noon on Sunday mornings. Local branch manager Paul Kinnaird, and his assistant Craig Denness, are looking forward to these new facilities and remain committed to providing a top class service on Tyres, Exhausts, Brakes and associated products in 2013!
Friday, 12 October 2012
Car Tyre Care. A Significant Investment
When you drive out for the first time on a brand new set of car tyres, you’ll probably be experiencing one of two feelings. You may have a sense of pride in the knowledge that you’ve had your tyres replaced after getting the full life from the previous set. On the other hand, you may feel frustration. Why? Because you misused or neglected your old tyres, making the new set into what retailers call a ‘distress purchase’. You had to replace your car tyres early, when a little car tyre care would have put off the evil day.
It would be naïve to expect a set of car tyres to last indefinitely – they are consumables after all. However, bad driving habits, poor road conditions and mechanical faults can limit the lifespan of car tyres. Let’s look at some of the more common causes of premature tyre breakdown.
Much as your continuing health can depend on your car tyres, the health – and lifespan – of your car tyres largely depends on you. Yes, you can drive on the limit, squeaking your rubber on the Queen’s highway at every opportunity. Alternatively, you can drive more, well, let’s say soberly, and increase your car tyres’ longevity.
Though you can’t choose the road surfaces on which you drive, you can drive according to the road surface. We’re not quite at Third World status in this country but the combination of heavy traffic, severe winters and saving money on repairing the damage these do; means we encounter some bad roads. Car tyres are of necessity tough but they aren’t indestructible. When you find yourself driving on a particularly poor road surface, slow down. This gives your tyres an easier life and gives you time to steer round potholes.
There are also road ‘surfaces’ that can be detrimental to tyre life. Traffic-calming measures (some call them ‘traffic-harming measures’) such as speed bumps and speed pads can damage your car’s tyres, steering and suspension.
These devices are designed to make you slow down. The sad truth is that if they don’t do this sooner, they probably will later, to your cost. Rule one is to never straddle a speed bump. Your car tyres and suspension are not really designed to take a load that effectively pushes them outwards forcibly. Straddling speed bumps can lead to increased tyre and suspension wear, and misalignment. Instead, drive so that the wheels on one side of your car pass over the speed bump. Hint: if driving alone, let the passenger side wheels take the strain.
You can’t avoid full width speed bumps and speed pads, even for your car tyres’ sake. You could, of course, press on regardless but even big, butch 4x4s can suffer damage from excessive speed over speed bumps.
The other car tyre killer isn’t so much a road surface as a piece of street furniture. Kerbs have their rightful place in the scheme of things. Your car tyres have no right to be traversing or hitting kerbs. Yes, your car tyres have a cushioning effect, so you can lightly touch a kerb if it confirms your position during parking. However, with low-profile tyres and alloy wheels being so common, raked rims are all too evident. Look at a few parked cars and you’ll see the results of car wheel to kerb contact. Just bear this in mind: if the wheel rim is gouged, chipped or cracked, what’s going on in the tyre?
Such damage and the effect of speed bumps can put your car’s wheels out of alignment. This in turn causes the car tyres to wear unevenly, even if you don’t feel its effect at the steering wheel. Having wheel alignment checked isn’t too expensive, and is far less costly than new tyres. Have your car’s shock absorbers checked too, and remember that over- or underinflated car tyres cost, the latter in terms of fuel consumption as well as wear.
Looking after your car tyres and its suspension and steering pays dividends in terms of economy, longevity and performance. Should these not be enough of an incentive, there’s that small matter of personal safety too.
Article Resource
Merityre.co.uk are one of the leading UK independent suppliers of car tyres. Why not visit their website for an online tyre quote or contact your nearest fitting centre.
It would be naïve to expect a set of car tyres to last indefinitely – they are consumables after all. However, bad driving habits, poor road conditions and mechanical faults can limit the lifespan of car tyres. Let’s look at some of the more common causes of premature tyre breakdown.
Much as your continuing health can depend on your car tyres, the health – and lifespan – of your car tyres largely depends on you. Yes, you can drive on the limit, squeaking your rubber on the Queen’s highway at every opportunity. Alternatively, you can drive more, well, let’s say soberly, and increase your car tyres’ longevity.
Though you can’t choose the road surfaces on which you drive, you can drive according to the road surface. We’re not quite at Third World status in this country but the combination of heavy traffic, severe winters and saving money on repairing the damage these do; means we encounter some bad roads. Car tyres are of necessity tough but they aren’t indestructible. When you find yourself driving on a particularly poor road surface, slow down. This gives your tyres an easier life and gives you time to steer round potholes.
There are also road ‘surfaces’ that can be detrimental to tyre life. Traffic-calming measures (some call them ‘traffic-harming measures’) such as speed bumps and speed pads can damage your car’s tyres, steering and suspension.
These devices are designed to make you slow down. The sad truth is that if they don’t do this sooner, they probably will later, to your cost. Rule one is to never straddle a speed bump. Your car tyres and suspension are not really designed to take a load that effectively pushes them outwards forcibly. Straddling speed bumps can lead to increased tyre and suspension wear, and misalignment. Instead, drive so that the wheels on one side of your car pass over the speed bump. Hint: if driving alone, let the passenger side wheels take the strain.
You can’t avoid full width speed bumps and speed pads, even for your car tyres’ sake. You could, of course, press on regardless but even big, butch 4x4s can suffer damage from excessive speed over speed bumps.
The other car tyre killer isn’t so much a road surface as a piece of street furniture. Kerbs have their rightful place in the scheme of things. Your car tyres have no right to be traversing or hitting kerbs. Yes, your car tyres have a cushioning effect, so you can lightly touch a kerb if it confirms your position during parking. However, with low-profile tyres and alloy wheels being so common, raked rims are all too evident. Look at a few parked cars and you’ll see the results of car wheel to kerb contact. Just bear this in mind: if the wheel rim is gouged, chipped or cracked, what’s going on in the tyre?
Such damage and the effect of speed bumps can put your car’s wheels out of alignment. This in turn causes the car tyres to wear unevenly, even if you don’t feel its effect at the steering wheel. Having wheel alignment checked isn’t too expensive, and is far less costly than new tyres. Have your car’s shock absorbers checked too, and remember that over- or underinflated car tyres cost, the latter in terms of fuel consumption as well as wear.
Looking after your car tyres and its suspension and steering pays dividends in terms of economy, longevity and performance. Should these not be enough of an incentive, there’s that small matter of personal safety too.
Article Resource
Merityre.co.uk are one of the leading UK independent suppliers of car tyres. Why not visit their website for an online tyre quote or contact your nearest fitting centre.
The Right Stuff. Which Car Tyres Are The Ones For You?
Car tyres? Pretty much of a muchness, aren’t they? The one-word answer is ‘no’. There are many different kinds of tyre and here are six types used with road cars.
The most commonly-fitted type of car tyre is known as a standard, or all-season tyre. Such tyres are essentially a compromise. They work well enough in both wet and dry conditions, last for a fairly long time and aren’t too noisy on normal road surfaces. A jack of all trades and therefore a master of none? You may think so but in practice, standard car tyres work well for a lot of customers. There are some sub-divisions within this classification. Some car tyres are claimed to give better fuel economy, for example. These nevertheless remain under the ‘standard tyre’ banner.
So, when might you need non-standard tyres? Winter is a good example. Winter tyres come into their own when there’s snow and ice to be tackled. These car tyres have coarse tread patterns, the better to keep the treads clear of snow and ice. Less obviously, they contain rubber compounds and structures that remain flexible at lower temperatures, which enhances performance and roadholding. On the downside, they are noisy and, in normal conditions, wear out faster than standard tyres. For this reason, some people have a set of winter wheels to go with their winter tyres.
A car tyre that performs well in cold weather is totally different from a performance tyre. These, sometimes called ‘summer tyres’, are made of softer compounds, to offer superior grip. As well as having impressive marked speed ratings, such car tyres can cope with the demands of more powerful, faster cars. To do this, they trade wear rate for performance – they don’t last as long as lesser rubberware, and they abhor cold conditions.
As their name implies, run-flat tyres can be used even after suffering a puncture. Such car tyres achieve this with the imposition of a specific distance and speed up to which they can safely be used. Space-saver tyres are a cousin of run-flat tyres. The take up less space in the car but when fitted, must be used with similar restrictions on speed and distance.
What about the still less friendly conditions we might encounter? Enter the all-terrain tyre. For use on such surfaces as gravel and sand, these are particularly tough customers with very bold tread patterns. They have stiffer sidewalls, and the kind of structure that can handle potholes and debris on the road. The car tyre for all seasons? Not really. Sturdy? Yes. Long-lived? Yes? Quiet? Definitely not!
Similarly, mud tyres have an extremely large tread block pattern and are suitable for use only in muddy conditions. Car tyres of this kind are often used on those four-wheel drive vehicles that are actually taken on rough roads; this includes 4×4s that specifically go off-road regularly. The ‘Chelsea Tractor’ that does the school run doesn’t need them.
As should be obvious, the type of tyres you choose depends entirely on the use to which they will be put. Your local Merityre staff will happily give you a professional opinion on what type will be best for your needs.
Article Resource
Merityre.co.uk are one of the leading UK independent suppliers of car tyres. Why not visit their website for an online tyre quote or contact your nearest fitting centre.
The most commonly-fitted type of car tyre is known as a standard, or all-season tyre. Such tyres are essentially a compromise. They work well enough in both wet and dry conditions, last for a fairly long time and aren’t too noisy on normal road surfaces. A jack of all trades and therefore a master of none? You may think so but in practice, standard car tyres work well for a lot of customers. There are some sub-divisions within this classification. Some car tyres are claimed to give better fuel economy, for example. These nevertheless remain under the ‘standard tyre’ banner.
So, when might you need non-standard tyres? Winter is a good example. Winter tyres come into their own when there’s snow and ice to be tackled. These car tyres have coarse tread patterns, the better to keep the treads clear of snow and ice. Less obviously, they contain rubber compounds and structures that remain flexible at lower temperatures, which enhances performance and roadholding. On the downside, they are noisy and, in normal conditions, wear out faster than standard tyres. For this reason, some people have a set of winter wheels to go with their winter tyres.
A car tyre that performs well in cold weather is totally different from a performance tyre. These, sometimes called ‘summer tyres’, are made of softer compounds, to offer superior grip. As well as having impressive marked speed ratings, such car tyres can cope with the demands of more powerful, faster cars. To do this, they trade wear rate for performance – they don’t last as long as lesser rubberware, and they abhor cold conditions.
As their name implies, run-flat tyres can be used even after suffering a puncture. Such car tyres achieve this with the imposition of a specific distance and speed up to which they can safely be used. Space-saver tyres are a cousin of run-flat tyres. The take up less space in the car but when fitted, must be used with similar restrictions on speed and distance.
What about the still less friendly conditions we might encounter? Enter the all-terrain tyre. For use on such surfaces as gravel and sand, these are particularly tough customers with very bold tread patterns. They have stiffer sidewalls, and the kind of structure that can handle potholes and debris on the road. The car tyre for all seasons? Not really. Sturdy? Yes. Long-lived? Yes? Quiet? Definitely not!
Similarly, mud tyres have an extremely large tread block pattern and are suitable for use only in muddy conditions. Car tyres of this kind are often used on those four-wheel drive vehicles that are actually taken on rough roads; this includes 4×4s that specifically go off-road regularly. The ‘Chelsea Tractor’ that does the school run doesn’t need them.
As should be obvious, the type of tyres you choose depends entirely on the use to which they will be put. Your local Merityre staff will happily give you a professional opinion on what type will be best for your needs.
Article Resource
Merityre.co.uk are one of the leading UK independent suppliers of car tyres. Why not visit their website for an online tyre quote or contact your nearest fitting centre.
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