Posts Tagged ‘Tyres’

Choosing the Right Car Tyres for Your Vehicle

Saturday, January 17th, 2009

You may need to replace or change your car tyres because of their age, deterioration or to improve the vehicle`s performance. This article outlines some of the key factors that need to be considered before choosing the right car tyres for your vehicle.

1) Car Tyre Size

A good policy is to choose the same size car tyres as the ones that the car was manufactured with. If you are unsure of the vehicle manufacturer`s recommended car tyre size, check the owner`s manual or look for the information on the tyre placard (usually located inside the fuel flap, on the car door or in the glove box).

Changing car tyre size can improve a vehicle`s handling and performance but be aware of the Government regulations before doing this. A car tyre specialist can provide advice on this matter.

2) Driving Habits

Certain car tyre brands are quieter than others, which is an important factor if you spend much of your time driving up and down motorways.

Driving on county lanes where the road surface can be muddy or slippery will require car tyres that can provide extra grip. This is usually determined by the tyre manufacturer`s choice of tread pattern.

Or you may be a city driver who constantly has to brake and accelerate. Some car tyres are better suited to this style of driving than others because of the type of rubber compound used in their production.

3) Price

The saying “you get what you pay for” is true with a car tyre. But if you use your car infrequently don`t buy the top of the range car tyres as economy tyres will be more than suitable for your needs.

If you use your car every day, spending extra on better quality tyres may prove more economical as they shouldn`t wear out as fast as a budget tyre.

4) Car Tyre Type

Car tyres don`t only differ by brand and price; there are different types of car tyres produced for a variety of purposes. Five common types are:

a) Standard/ All Season Tyre
An average tyre that is suitable for all year round use. It works equally well in the wet and the dry.

b) Performance Tyre
Designed to provide excellent grip in the dry. Often used on fast cars or for drivers whose style requires improved handling performance.

c) Winter Tyre
Winter car tyres are designed to cope with poor weather and difficult driving conditions. The tread block pattern on winter car tyres is larger and more pronounced than on standard tyres.

d) All Terrain Tyre
All terrain tyres provide good grip on loose surfaces such as dirt and sand. Often used by off road vehicles, they can be used on standard roads but are very noisy.

e) Run Flat Tyres
Run flat tyres are a relatively new concept but are becoming more common on new cars. They are designed to operate without air to enable the vehicle to continue being driven when it has a puncture.

5) Weather Conditions

The UK weather conditions can be very changeable. Summer can have temperatures in the high 20`s. And then winter brings freezing temperatures, icy conditions and wet weather.

Cold weather car tyres are becoming a popular choice as they are designed to cope with the cold and wet weather of winter but with no significant downside if used during the summer months.

Standard or performance car tyres are suitable in countries with a warm and dry climate all year round.

For further help consult a car tyre specialist who can provide you with impartial advice on which are the best tyres for your vehicle, budget and driving circumstances.

Merityre.co.uk are a leading UK independent supplier of car tyres. Visit their website for free vouchers, including 10% off your next MOT, free wheel alignment check and free locking wheel nuts.

Five Different Types of Car Tyres

Monday, December 22nd, 2008

There are many different types of car tyres. The one you choose will depend on factors such as the make of car, driving style, where you live, the time of year and how your car is used.

For instance if you spend a lot of your working day driving up and down the motorways, you will need a hard wearing tyre that doesn`t create a lot of noise. If you live in the countryside a tyre that provides better grip on muddy roads would be more suitable.

This article identifies five different types of car tyres and highlights some of the differences between them:

1) Standard/ All Season Tyre

Your car was probably driven out of the factory on all season tyres. It is an average tyre that is suitable for all year round use. It works equally well in the wet and the dry.

The tread block pattern is designed not to be noisy when used on standard roads but enables adequate water dispersion to provide grip in wet conditions.

The rubber used is a harder compound to extend the tyre`s life. This can comprise on handling and cornering but for the majority of drivers it is not noticeable.

2) Performance Tyre

Also known as summer tyres, performance tyres are designed for provide excellent grip in the dry. Often used on fast cars or for a driver whose style requires increased handling performance. They can be used all year round if you live in a region with a warm climate and little rain.

A soft rubber compound is used which decreases the lifespan of the tyre but provides enhanced grip.

It is important that the car tyres are kept in excellent condition. Driving in the wet is hard enough with these tyres but if there is any sign of wear it is virtually impossible to get good grip.

3) Winter Tyre

Winter car tyres are designed to cope with the poor weather and difficult driving conditions that the winter season brings. They can handle snow and ice. Winter tyres can have small metal studs embedded into the tread for extra grip in extreme conditions.

The tread block pattern on winter car tyres is larger and more pronounced than on standard tyres. This improves grip but also increases the tyres` operating noise.

These tyres cannot be used all year round because in dry conditions they wear out extremely quickly and damage the road surface.

4) All Terrain Tyre

All terrain tyres provide good grip on loose surfaces such as dirt and sand. Often used by off road vehicles, they can be used on standard roads but are very noisy.

Like the winter tyre the tread block pattern is large to improve grip. The tyre`s sidewalls are stiffer to cope with uneven surfaces and unexpected potholes.

Mud tyres are an extreme type of all terrain tyres, designed to be used in mud and dirt. They have very large tread block patterns that are only suitable for driving on that type of terrain.

5) Run Flat Tyres

Run flat tyres are a relatively new concept but are now becoming more common on new cars. They are designed to minimise the loss of handling that occurs after a puncture.

The car tyre can operate without air to enable the vehicle to continue to be driven. However this is only suitable for a short distance and at a reduced speed, until the tyre can be safely changed.

For further advice consult a car tyre specialist who will provide you with impartial advice on the best tyres for your vehicle.

Merityre.co.uk are a leading UK independent supplier of car tyres. Visit the website to join their discount club and receive a fabulous 5% extra discount off future purchases from their massive range of top brand car tyres, alloy wheels, batteries and exhausts.

Three Reasons Why You Should Change To Cold Weather Tyres This Winter

Monday, December 22nd, 2008

Winter brings icy and wet roads. Why not consider changing your tyres to cold weather car tyres? This article gives three reasons why this is a good decision:

1) Safety

Probably the best reason for changing your car tyres. Did you know that the number of accidents caused by wet road conditions increases in winter by 267%.

The changes in weather conditions in the UK can be extreme. In the summer it is not unusual to have temperatures in the high 20`s. And then winter brings freezing temperatures and wet weather.

As its name suggests, a cold weather car tyre is designed to cope with the cold and wet weather of winter. The tread compound contains more natural rubber than a standard tyre, which prevents it hardening when the air temperature falls below 7C. This means grip is improved with cold weather car tyres and you`ll experience significantly shorter stopping distances.

2) Performance

With the extra grip that a cold weather tyre provides you`ll experience better driving performance.

Cold weather car tyres improve braking, cornering and acceleration. It gives you more confidence as a driver that your car is performing to its best ability on poor road surfaces.

Think of cold weather tyres as a pair of shoes. On an icy morning you wouldn’t go out in a pair of smooth, leather soled shoes, but would probably opt for the extra grip that a pair of trainers can provide. The same is for a tyre; your car`s shoes!

3) Economy

Cold weather car tyres can save you money in two ways; by improving fuel economy and by reducing car tyre wear.

Fuel economy is improved by the improved performance of your car. Without the extra grip that a cold weather car tyre provides, the engine has to work harder and fuel consumption is increased.

The wear on normal tyres increases in the difficult driving conditions that winter brings. With cold weather car tyres this wear is significantly reduced and mileage can be improved by up to 20%.

Remember that your car tyres are the only point of contact between the car and the road and should be looked after.

a) Check the pressure of your car tyres at least once every 4 weeks.
b) If the tread depth a car tyre is less than 1.6mm across the central 3/4 of the tyre then replace it immediately.
c) Look for any unusual cracks, bulges or signs of damage on your car tyres. These can result in slow punctures or blow-outs.

Although the ideal situation is to have two sets of car tyres, `summer` and `winter`, cost can prevent this. Today`s cold weather tyres have been developed to deliver the best possible performance and safety during colder months but with no significant downside if they are used during the summer months. Cold weather car tyres are just as quiet and comfortable as normal tyres.

For more information the TyreSafe organisation has produced a leaflet that is available to download from their website, or consult a car tyre specialist for advice.

Merityre.co.uk are a leading UK independent supplier of car tyres. Visit the website to join their discount club and receive a fabulous 5% extra discount off future purchases from their massive range of top brand car tyres, alloy wheels, batteries and exhausts.

Correctly Inflated Tyres Minimise Wear & Improve Fuel Mileage

Friday, December 5th, 2008

Gas prices are one of our daily concerns, sometimes these drop by a few cents and later on spike to all time highs and the worst part is that the consumer (you and I) do not have any control over these prices. It is a widely known fact that any market is driven by demand and supply, and in most cases the higher the prices are set for a certain good the lower the demand will be, this doesn`t apply to monopolies though; for all other markets it does, the only problem is that transportation and gas utilization has become an essential part of our lives, just as essential as food, water and shelter. People living in small towns do not feel such dependency to fuel, however people living in bigger cities rely heavily on transportation because their home is far away from the work place.

Without transportation (car) there is no way to get to work and if we don`t work our cash flow is interrupted, if this were to happen we would find ourselves in a serious predicament, this is where the fuel problem and the demand become constant, as long as we have the need to earn money through work, there will always be a demand for fuel, it is inevitable.

Understanding the scenario described above we conclude that we must learn how to save money on fuel by calibrating our vehicles so that every gallon of gas gives us better mileage. There are several adjustments you can make to your car in order to increase your mileage per gallon of fuel, however one of the commonly neglected parts are the tyres.

Old tyres which have lost their traction or are not properly inflated tend to decrease the rolling resistance which translates to a bigger demand for engine power in order to keep the tyres moving and since the engine relies on fuel to generate power the expense will increase. Fuel efficient tyres are those which are properly inflated and are able to keep good traction.

Properly inflated tyres can improve your gas mileage by 3.3%, tyre pressure is directly affected by weather conditions. During the summer season the gas inside your tires expands after you have been driving around so if you take your tire gauge to calculate the PSI you will most likely get an incorrect reading, it is important to let them cool down for a couple of hours in order to get a good reading; during the winter season the inverse happens. No matter what type of tyres you have, if they are not properly inflated your fuel efficiency will undoubtedly decrease which translates in a money wasted.

Learn more about tyre inflators, car tyre pumps and how they can help you save money. TheUltimateFinish.co.uk provides a wide selection of tyre pumps according to your needs.

Don’t tread on dangerous ground with unsafe tyres

Thursday, November 13th, 2008

Few of us put much thought into the state of our tyres until it’s either MOT time or one goes flat. However, leaving them unchecked can prove costly, and potentially lethal.

According to an investigation by Auto Express, more than one third of British motorists are dangerously negligent when it comes to maintaining their tyres with many motorists leaving them completely unchecked for a year.

Common problems included rubber that was under-inflated – some by twice as much as the recommended rate. Others lacked tread depth or were bald, while some were over-inflated.

If it doesn’t sound like a big deal, think again – tyre pressures affect how quickly a car can stop in the event of an accident due to a significant reduction in grip when over-inflated and a loss of rigidity that affects steering control when under-inflated.

Of course accidents can be potentially fatal and even in a ‘best case’ scenario are sure to hit your wallet through increased car insurance premiums. Any claims made can wipe out part or all of your no-claims discount and reduce the chances of you finding cheap car insurance.

It’s not just car insurance premiums that are likely to increase, however. According to Michelin, a car driving at 56mph on rubber that is under-inflated by 14psi will use an extra 3% of fuel.

To avoid these costs it is recommended that drivers invest in hand-held gauges and check tyre pressures regularly – at least once a week, or preferably more often. Drivers should also carry out thorough visual checks to look for unusual bumps and scratches.

Occasionally, tyres will need to be changed. However, by taking care of them and ensuring they are properly inflated, they should last longer.

It’s a simple step that can save cash and lives – so refer to your owner’s manual and check your tyres today.

car tyres

Friday, November 7th, 2008

Oil content in car tyres is 6-. The legal minimum tread depth for car tyres is 1. Demand for car tyres is projected to grow 12. Regrooving of Passenger Car Tyres is not permitted. The percentage of NR in car tyres is falling while SR is increasingly used in car and light truck tyres. The impact of temperature on the pressure of passenger car tyres is approx. Although successful seasonal sales of car tyres is important for Vianor, consumer sales generate roughly a fourth of Vianor`s net sales. The minimum legal tread depth for car tyres is 1. Motorists were reminded that the legal tread depth limit for car tyres is 1. In Europe, the mandatory minimum tread depth for all passenger car tyres is 1. A company that manufactures car tyres is calling for music lovers to come forward to help test a new noise reducing tread on its new quieter tyre. Hauling car tyres is `the best training you can do`. Bouncing on old car tyres is a great way to improve balance. The safety limit set for car tyres is 1 microgram of Benzopyrene per kilo. What to do with old truck and car tyres is now a major environmental problem. In the same way that wear of car tyres is affected by how you drive, so the wear on trampoline springs is affected by the way you bounce. Dumping of old car tyres is especially a problem in Wychavon. The rubber used for car tyres is black in colour due to carbon, silica or carbon chalk that are submitted to the rubber mix before vulcanisation.

Performance Tyres Test. MICHELIN, for performance that lasts from the first to the last mile. These tyres are high-performance, low profile tyres and come as original equipment on high-performance cars. Buy High Performance Car Tyres / Tires. Avon Tyres are world renowned for comfort, safety and high performance levels. Clearly visible performance (control and grip) for demanding consumers. Yokohama`s success on the track leads to our superior road performance. Performance Tyres Direct – Performance Tyres Direct for a wide range of car tyres and motorcycle tyres in the UK. Whether you require quality , high performance , low profile, budget or economy tyres uk, cheap car tyres at the best prices delivered fast.

Quality tyres at affordable prices. Also I notice with quality tryes the tyre walls are stronger. Quality Tyres, Wheels & Mags Yes. Quality car tyres determines how your vehicle responds:. We also offer experienced, reliable and high-quality servicing, repairs and parts. We target for good quality on our products. High quality leather and our exclusive Plush Vinyl car seat covers by Trimcar. This is yet another recognition of the Company`s world class quality tyres. Get a pair of good quality tyres with just a parallel line minimal tread. This ensures a constant product quality. Our customer service is second to none and all our work is quality assured.

The alternative of total cryogenic grinding is cost and energy ineffective. Natural rubber constitutes about 24 per cent of the total cost. Whilst commodity prices might be strong the cost base is also rising apace. The choice of car can depend on factors such as cost, colour, parking space required and safety. A new cost has been introduced for the disposal of car tyres; this is necessary to meet new disposal requirements at the landfill. Tyres-Cost-by method for measuring tyre road sound emission. Reconstruction of the Hydraulic Power Plant to increase its cost efficiency. Neglecting them could be expensive and could even cost you your life. Overheating should be avoided at all cost as it can lead to costly repairs.

Oil content in car tyres is 6-. Demand for car tyres is projected to grow 12. The functioning of the furnace has no negative effects due to the fact that the percentage of car tyres is no more than ten percent in weight. Regrooving of Passenger Car Tyres is not permitted. A company that manufactures car tyres is calling for music lovers to come forward to help test a new noise reducing tread on its new quieter tyre. Building using car tyres is unlikely to be an option on a ninteenth century stone built property, but the large glass facing south wall might be. Retreading car tyres is on the decline and crumbing for horse menages is a limited avenue only suitable for truck tyres.

Car accessories: from the top to the tyres

Friday, November 7th, 2008

Everybody wants to personalise the things that they use so that it makes their presence felt. Be it their car or any other gadget that they use, people prefer to add some kits or accessories to it to give it a personalised look. Car owners are a little more fortunate in this regard! The automobile market has plenty of options so far car accessories are concerned. One can make a choice as per his need and adorn his set of wheels.

There are accessories for both interior and exterior designing of a car. From the top to the tyres, there are options for all the parts of a car. By keeping roof boxes or roof racks on the top of the car, one can increase its capability for carrying luggage that cannot be accommodated in the trunk or the boot. In similar fashion, there are alloy wheels that make the car scintillating when it zings down the road swiftly.

Looking back to the inside, there are plenty of options to accessorise a car. Dash kits, seat covers, seat belts, gear knobs, pedal sets, leather gaiters, handbrake handles, and a lot more car accessories are there to adorn a car. However, one accessory that bears special importance is car mats. This is an integral part of any car. It serves dual purpose: keeping the floor safe and providing comfort to your feet.

It is not that car accessories are used for the purpose of stylizing a car or to make it more comfortable to drive. Some accessories are made by keeping the security side in mind. Adding these accessories to a car means ensuring higher security. What more, for the fair sex, specially made car kits are there. Pink has universal appeal to the girls. Hence manufacturers of auto accessories supply lots of kits in pink colours. Thus, there are options galore for all type of users.

About The Author:

Alexus Devon is an automobile writer specializing in automobile and car accessories (such as car accessories) products and has written authoritative articles on the car accessories industry. He has done his Master in Business Administration and is currently assisting directcaraccessories.co.uk as a car accessories specialist.

Four Tips For Selection Of Tyres

Thursday, November 6th, 2008

Every person in USA has its own car and need to maintain the car based on the usage. The proper tyre gives comfortable to the users. Every one wants comfort to give peace in the mind while lie-down on the sofa or on the chair. It is advisable to select the proper tyre for comfortable seating and sleeping. There are various types of tyre available in the market like wood, plastics, metals and other types. According to your budget, you can select the tyre of your choice.

1. There are various types tyre companies offers variety of tyres depends on the applications. You must have to visit the local tyres shop to get the idea about the types and quality of tyre available that suit to your budget. You have needs to check the prices of the tyre.

2. You must have to see your usage of the tyre like it is of same size, type of structure; brand of your car. It is not advisable to use the different tyres; you must have to purchase the tyre as per your usage. Suppose you want to buy tyres you must have to indicate about the usage and types of the tyre need as per your car. You must have too select the tyre best fitted to your budget too.

3. You must see that the company gives the warranty or not. There are various famous brands of tyre are available in the local market.

4. Finally. You also need to see that the tyre is fit into your car. It is advisable to select the best and durable tyre as per your need.

You must have to see that there are various companies’ offers different types of tyre with heavy discount. You must have to select the tyre of your choice. It is better to spend some time in the tyre shop and get the proper.

About Author:
Christy Myers is a writer for Discount Tires , the premier website to find tires, truck tires, tire rack, discount tires, tires plus, tire dealer, automobile tire, tire store, cheap tires, wheels and tire, tire size, discount tire company and many more.

Make Sure Your Car Tyres Are Road Worthy

Thursday, November 6th, 2008

Making certain your car tyres are in sound condition is one the most vital parts of good car maintenance. Tyres need to be checked for wear, bulging, cracking, pressure and for objects caught in the tread on a weekly basis.

Car tyres that are defective and not fit for purpose are incredible dangerous. It should also be remembered that in the UK if the police find a car tyre to be defective (with a tyre tread of less than 1.6mm across the central 3/4 of the tyre or in any other way not roadworthy) then the car owner will face a fine of up to £2500 and 3 penalty points per tyre.

To underline how important tyre maintenance is the UK driving test includes a section on general car maintenance called the show me, tell me test which includes a question on tyre safety.

All new car tyres have tread wear indicators, six small ribs across the bottom of the main tread grooves. When the tread surface becomes level with these ribs the tyre is at the legal limit and must be replaced.

Tyre pressure should be checked weekly. Remember to check your spare tyre also. Having the right tyre pressure will give you optimized braking, handling, grip and fuel efficiency. If the pressure is below the manufacturers recommended level then the tyre will have an higher risk of failure. Fuel consumption will also increase.

High tyre pressure will cause diminished grip, reduce stability in braking and cornering and increase risk of impact tyre damage.

It is vital that tyre pressure should only be checked when the tyres are cold. Warm tyres will give an inaccurate reading. Driving only a few miles will warm your tyres to a level which will make a accurate pressure reading difficult.

If you are not in possession of a pressure gauge then the alternative is to check tyre pressure is by using a digital air dispenser found at most petrol stations. These are simply to use and there should be instructions on how to do so on the machine itself.

A majority of car tyres are made to very high quality standards however there can still be variations in the thickness of the rubber, the steel belts and the radial webbing that forms the structure. This can lead to a slight weight difference around the tyre. This is a well know issue and can be cured by balancing the wheel and tyre. A less well known problem caused by these slight variations is a problem called run-out: a measure of how straight the tyre will run if fitted to a wheel and allowed to roll along a flat level surface.

Some tyres will run straight and true others will veer to the right or left. When buying a new tyre you will see an indication of this. Look for a red or blue line running the tread of the new tyre. this is a run-out indicator. The nearer it is to the centre the straighter the tyre will run and which side of the centre it is on shows the direction of the run-out.

If both tyres on the front axle of your car run-out significantly in the same direction a steering problem can occur. When buying new tyres it is important to go for two with run-outs that are of the same amount but in opposite directions. This way the two will cancel each other out and you have straight steering.

Car Tyres – Safety Issue – Serious defect.

Thursday, November 6th, 2008

Serious warning – Car tires may have a hidden defect that could cause drivers to lose control on the road.
A lot of us think that if our car tires look good, are properly inflated and have a good amount of tread, that they are probably safe to go out on the road with.
But few drivers ever think about the age of their tires – as we are about to learn, this can be a tragic mistake.
Tires, especially the spare tire, could be up to a decade old, making them an accident waiting to happen.
A ten year old tire can have deteriorated to the point of having rotted inside, when the tire is used at highway speeds the effect can be disastrous.
“In tires, the materials that hold the belts together — the rubber materials — will degrade and lose its elasticity, and those properties will get to the point where the tire can no longer hold together,” said
vehicle safety advocate Sean Kane. Also, in warmer climates tires start to break-down even earlier.
Six years, or older, is when we start to see a disproportionate rise in tire failures.
An American government report on tire aging, analysing insured tire claims from several states,
found that 84 percent of claims were for tires over 6 years old.
Even never used tires, such as those bought from the showroom floor, in the same age bracket, are just as dangerous, as they may indeed have been sitting there for a decade or more, just waiting to be sold.
Many auto-makers now put warnings in their new-car manuals, warning against using tires more than 6 years old. What is really needed are expiration dates stamped on the product, similar to many other consumer products, from washing machines to yogurt .
The tire industry disagrees, stating that expiration dates will only give consumers a false sense of security, Dan Zielinski from the `Rubber Manufacturers Association` says: “Consumers may view the use-by-date as the minimum service-time they can use that tire, no matter what they do to it – whether they care for it or not, or have worn it to the nub.”
Tire-makers say proper maintenance is the key to safe tires and that there is no reliable data available showing tires becoming dangerous after 6 years.
So, where does this leave the consumer?
I have some invaluable information to pass on to you!
On the outer wall, or side-wall of the tire, the bit that faces away from the car, are a series of four raised numbers and letters (actually manufactured with the tire).
The last series of four numbers actually shows the “birth-date of the tire”. e.g. if it shows 1501,
this means on the 15th week of 2001 is the date of manufacture.
Safety experts advise that if a tire does fail, the driver should not slam on the brakes, this can cause the vehicle to swerve out of control, pulling suddenly toward the affected tire, nor should drivers jerk the wheel back, possibly causing the car to roll.
Drivers should immediately back off the accelerator and gently pull the wheel back to straighten the car applying the brakes carefully once the car has slowed to a manageable speed.

More Interesting Articles can be found at: http://cartires.instantwhitewalls.com