Merityre Article Archive

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.

Article Resource
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.

As the credit crunch takes hold and we are all finding less money in our pockets it’s a good time to look for ways to save money. From checking your car tyres to finding the cheapest parking spots, motoring costs can be reduced in numerous ways. Here are ten suggestions to follow:

1. Don’t use your car for short trips
An obvious point to start with but probably the simplest way to save money. Even if it’s a chilly morning, put a thick coat on and walk to the newsagents at the end of your road. A cold car engine uses far more fuel travelling short distances than it does on a long journey.

2. Research before buying car insurance
Rather than just renewing your old policy shop around to see what money you can save. Price comparison websites make this very easy to do and you will be amazed how much the quotes can vary.

3. Drive with care
Sudden acceleration and sharp braking will increase fuel consumption. The wear to your car tyres will also be increased, hastening the time when they need to be replaced.

4. Switch off the air conditioning
Use air conditioning only when really necessary. It can increase fuel consumption by 11%.

5. Use higher gears
Fuel economy can be improved by up to 20% if you are driving in fifth rather than third. Be careful not to accelerate too quickly into fifth as this will ruin all the benefit of driving in this gear.

6. Close windows and remove roof rack
If you are reading this article in winter, keeping your windows closed will not be an issue. But you may have left a roof rack on after a weekend away. This needs to be removed. Open windows and items such as roof racks adversely affect the aerodynamics of a car, increasing fuel consumption.

7. Plan journey before setting out
Extra journey miles, increased fuel consumption and driver frustration are all a result of not knowing the best route to your destination before setting out on a journey.

If you are planning a long trip try to use the motorways; there will be less stopping and starting which will improve the car’s fuel economy and reduce wear on your car tyres.

Always plan the shortest route. It may not be the most scenic but it will be the most cost effective.

8. Keep to the speed limit
It has been proven that driving at the speed limit significantly reduces fuel consumption, especially on the motorways. The difference between 70mph and 80mph is considerable. In some cars it can be up to 5 miles per gallon.

9. Car sharing
Consider sharing a car on your commute to work or if travelling to an out of town retail park. Not only will this reduce your motoring costs, it’s also a lot more fun having someone to chat to.

10. Check car tyre pressures
By spending an extra 5 minutes at the petrol station checking your car tyres are inflated to the manufacturer’s recommended pressure, fuel economy can be improved by 10%.

Soft car tyres increase the rolling resistance on the road, making the car engine work harder and using more fuel. If one car tyre is a different pressure to the rest then there is an imbalance which will also increase fuel consumption.

By maintaining correct car tyre pressures money can be save in other ways including:

a) Increasing the life of the car tyres; under-inflated tyres wear out faster.
b) Improving a car’s performance, especially braking and road handling.
c) Avoiding a fine of up to £2,500 if you are caught with unroadworthy car tyres.

Article Resource
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.

There is a good chance everyone will experience a puncture at sometime in their driving lives. But it’s amazing how many people still don’t know how to change a car tyre and rely on the help of a passer-by.

There is one place you should not attempt to change a tyre yourself- on the hard shoulder of a busy road. In this instance call the emergency services and retreat to safe distance until they arrive.

In all other situations changing a car tyre is not as difficult as it may seem. This article is a guide to how it is done:

1) Find a safe place to stop, on flat ground. If it’s dark look for somewhere with adequate lighting. Park as far away from traffic as possible and put your hazard lights on.

2) Turn the engine off, pull the handbrake on and put the car into first gear or ‘park’ if it’s an automatic.

3) Find the tools for the job. These will include a jack, wheel wrench and the spare tyre. All are usually located in the boot of a car.

4) Remove the hubcap or plastic wheel cover using the flat end of the wheel wrench or a screw driver.

5) Loosen the wheel nuts by turning half a turn in an anti clockwise direction. Do NOT remove them. That happens at a later stage.

Tight wheel nuts can be the hardest part of changing a car tyre. If the wheel nuts are proving stubborn use a metal tube to extend the wheel wrench’s handle and provide extra leverage. Alternatively place one foot on the handle of the wheel wrench and carefully use your body weight until the nut is loosened.

Many cars have a locking wheel nut to prevent theft. This requires a special attachment which is often found in a car’s glove compartment.

6) Consult the vehicle’s handbook to find where to place the jack. This is important because if it’s put in the wrong place the car could slip off the jack and cause serious injury.

Look for a reinforced lip on the underside of the vehicle close to the wheel arch.

When the jack is securely attached raise the car until there is enough room to remove the punctured tyre and replace it with the fully inflated spare.

7) Now continue to remove all of the wheel nuts and place them somewhere safe nearby- not near an open drain! Remove the punctured car tyre and replace with the spare tyre.

8.) Replace and tighten the wheel nuts. Don’t try to hard to tighten them until the car is off the jack.

9) Slowly lower the car down off the jack. Now tighten the nuts again. Remember to return the jack and the wheel wrench to the boot of the car.

10) Replace the hubcap or plastic wheel cover and continue with your journey.

At the first opportunity stop at a petrol station and check the new tyre is inflated to the correct pressure, the same as the other car tyres.

If in any doubt about your tyre changing ability, call into to your nearest garage or car tyre specialist.

Article Resource
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.

As the cold and wet winter months approach now is a good time to check the condition of your car tyres. Car tyres are the only point of contact between your vehicle and the road. Any signs of wear or damage will decrease the performance of your tyres and endanger not only yourself but other road users too.

It is especially important to check your car tyres during winter as there is greater chance you will be driving in wet and icy conditions.

Based on the information provided by TyreSafe, three essential car tyre checks include:

1) Check the Tread Depth

Tread depth must be a minimum of 1.6mm. This is the legal minimum and applies to the entire circumference of the tyre.

Most tyres have a wear indicator built into the tread. Look for a horizontal bar of rubber located between the tread patterns, at a depth of 2mm. When the height of the tread wears down to the height of this bar it is time to replace your car tyres.

In the wet conditions that winter brings it is good advice to change your tyres well before they reach this limit. A tyre’s grip deteriorates more rapidly in the second half of its tread life and in the wet stopping distances is significantly increased.

If you notice unusual wear on your car tyre, such as excess wear on one edge, it may be a result of your wheels being incorrectly aligned. Consult your local garage or a tyre specialist to check your vehicle’s tracking.

2) Check Tyre Pressure

A car tyre that is inflated below its recommended pressure will wear faster because of its higher operating temperature and the extra flexing of the rubber. This causes deterioration of the tyre casing and rapid wear of the tread shoulders.

Over inflation can also increase wear due to the decreased size of the contact area between the car tyre and the road. This accelerates the wear in the centre of the tread, an area importantant for protecting the tyre against impact damage.

Driving with unequal pressures in your car tyres will lead to unusual and accelerated wear. It can be potentially dangerous as the balance of the car is upset and cornering with unevenly pressurised tyres can lead to unpredictable results.

3) Check Condition of Tyres

Remove any stones and other objects embedded in a car tyre’s tread. If you find a nail do not remove it as the tyre will rapidly deflate. Instead take the tyre to a specialist who may be able to repair the puncture.

Check for any unusual bulges or lumps as these are often a sign of internal damage.

Inspect the tread and sidewall rubber for sign of cracking. Crazing and cracking due to weather exposure usually becomes evident on car tyres that are more than five years old. However tyres on vehicles that are parked outside will degrade faster than those kept in a garage.

At the first sign of cracking change the tyre rather than risking a blowout when the vehicle is in motion.

Car tyres should be checked at least once a month. Regular inspection becomes more important the longer the tyre is in use. If any damage or unusual wear is found consult a car tyre specialist who will determine whether the tyre needs to be replaced.

Article Resource
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.

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.

Article Resource
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.

The onset of autumn is the time when you need to start thinking about winter car care checks. Your car tyres, lights, antifreeze, as well as several other key components, all need to be checked. By doing this will it help minimise or even avoid situations where you have to cope with problems such as cold mornings or icy roads.

1) The condition of your car tyres is particularly important. They are the only contact that your car has with the road. Your car tyres will have to work extra hard when the road is wet or icy, to give maximum traction and control.

Car tyres should have a good tread and as little wear as possible. Think about changing to winter car tyres when conditions demand it.

The alignment of your wheels is another thing you should consider as part of your winter car care checks. Wheels that are out of alignment will create unnecessary wear on your car tyres, which will cause extra steering problems when driving on wet or icy roads.

2) You should regularly check the engine coolant level. Add the correct mixture of anti-freeze before you need it to protect your engine from possible frost damage. Add the proper proportions of anti-freeze to the windscreen washer as well. This allows you to wash your screen even when temperature falls below freezing.

Check the engine oil levels on a weekly basis using the dipstick. It is important to maintain the oil level between the minimum and maximum marks indicated. The best time to check the oil level is when the engine is cold.

3) The pressures of your car tyres are important. Maintaining the recommended pressure improves a car tyre’s performance in difficult driving conditions.

Remember to check the spare tyre’s pressure and tread depth. Make sure that it is a similar condition to the other tyres or is adequate to use for a short period of time, until the damaged tyre can be repaired or replaced.

4) Your car lights are important, especially in winter when there is reduced daylight and much of your driving will require the lights to be used. Check that all bulbs are working properly. It is best to carry spares, as well as the tools to replace them. Have the alignment of your lights checked at a garage to give yourself the maximum vision possible, and to prevent blinding other drivers.

5) Check the condition of your windscreen wipers. Make sure they clean the screen adequately to allow a clear view of the road. If in doubt then replace them; it is not expensive to do.

If you are not comfortable doing the checks yourself, a local car garage will be able help. They will inspect the car to make sure everything is in good working order, ready to endure the adverse weather condition and the darker nights that the winter season brings.

As an extra precaution there are some items that are useful to carry in your boot at all times. A reflective jacket, shovel, tow rope, jump leads, water and extra screen wash will help in most situations. And a warm coat, gloves, boots and some biscuits will certainly be appreciated if your car breaks down in an isolated location.

Article Resource
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.

If you are looking for ways to save money on motoring costs then some simple adjustments to your driving style can really help the budget.

It is not just fuel consumption that your driving style has an impact on. The rate of tyre wear can be directly linked to the way your car is driven. Ask a boy racer who favours fast driving and spinning tyres how often he has to replace his car tyres compared to a more sedate driver. One thing is for sure- the boy racer will have less money in his pocket because of his higher motoring costs.

This article highlights five ways to change your driving habits and reduce car tyre wear:

1. Careful cornering

Aggressive cornering will cause extra wear on your car tyres. If you corner harder one way than you do the other way, then expect to get uneven wear on your car tyres. It also puts unnecessary stress on key components of your car’s steering and suspension mechanism, helping to wear them out faster too.

2. Gradual acceleration

Accelerating hard from a standing start will put extra wear on your car tyres, especially the front tyres, which wear out faster than the back ones in any case. It also puts strain on your car’s drive shaft and gearbox, as well as several other components. All of these parts are expensive to replace.

3. Keep to the speed limits

Driving regularly at high speed will help to wear out your car tyres faster than if you travel at a more reasonable speed. At high speeds the temperature of tyres increases. This wears out car tyres faster.

4. Avoid hard braking

Braking hard places the entire load onto the front tyres, which helps to accelerate wear. It also wears out brake pads faster and puts all kinds of stresses on the whole car. Of course you will need to brake hard in an emergency; that’s what the brakes are for, but remember to go easy when you don’t have to.

5. Maintain recommended car tyre pressures

A car tyre that is inflated below its recommended pressure will wear faster because of its higher operating temperature and the extra flexing of the rubber. Over inflation can also increase wear due to the decreased size of the contact area between the tyre and the road.

Driving with unequal pressures in your car tyres will lead to increased wear. It can be potentially dangerous as the balance of the car is upset and cornering with unevenly pressurised tyres can lead to unpredictable results.

These days replacing car tyres has become less expensive as there is a greater selection of budget tyres available for most vehicle types and driving styles. But at this time of high petrol costs and with the financial pressures of a poor economy any saving, however small it may be, is a bonus.

Consult a car tyre specialist. They will be able to inspect your tyre to ensure their road worthiness and also provide advice on how to adjust your driving style based on the wear of your current car tyres.

Article Resource
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.

Car tyres inflated to their correct tyre pressure can save the motorists up to 10% on their fuel bill. But a survey by TyreSafe reveals many are ignoring this advice.

The survey coincides with the start of Tyre Safety Month; a campaign to highlight the dangers of driving without the correct tyre pressures.

Maintaining the car manufacturer’s recommended tyre pressure can:

1) Increase safety by improving the vehicle’s braking, steering and accelerating performance.

2) Prolongs the life of a car tyre.

3) Save money by reducing fuel consumption. Under inflated tyres have a larger contact patch with the road surface, which increases drag and causes the car engine to work harder.

4) Have a positive environmental impact by reducing the number of tyres that need to be disposed of and reduce harmful gas emissions from the car engine.

TyreSafe’s advice is to check air pressures at least once a month and always before a long journey. Motorists should use the manufacturer’s recommended tyre pressure. This can be found in the vehicle’s handbook or on a plate inside the fuel filler flap.

While checking air pressure conduct a visual inspection of the car tyre to ensure it is in good condition. Look for cracks or unusual bulges. Stones lodged in the tyre tread should be removed. If in any doubt about the tyre’s condition consult a specialist such as Merityre for a free car tyre check.

It’s a legal requirement to maintain a tread depth of a minimum 1.6mm in a continuous band throughout the central three-quarters of the tread width and over the whole circumference of the tyre. Most tyres have a tread wear indicator. Look for a horizontal bar of rubber located between the tread patterns, at a depth of 2mm. When the height of the tread wears down to the height of this bar it is time to replace the car tyres.

Other tips suggested by TyreSafe include:

1) Check the pressures when the car tyres are cold.

2) Adjust the car tyres pressure when travelling with increased weight from passengers or a heavy load. Towing a trailer or caravan will also require the pressures to be increased. The vehicle’s handbook will advise on the correct tyre pressure required.

3) Don’t forget to check the pressure of the spare tyre.

4) Ensure the pressure gauge used is reliable and accurate.

5) Always replace the dirt free valve cap.

Rob Beddis, TyreSafe chairman, says; ‘By taking just a few minutes every month to check the pressure of each tyre and adjust it to the recommended level, significant improvements to road safety will be made and motorists could also save money through reducing fuel consumption.’

For more information about the TyreSafe campaign visit their website at www.tyresafe.org.

Last year an EU Landfill Directive banned the disposal of almost all tyres in landfill sites. So what can you do with old car tyres?

Car Tyre specialists like Merityre pay over a £1 to ensure every used tyre is disposed of in an environmentally friendly manner. And when they have over 200,000 to get rid off each year the money really starts to add up.

Nationally, tyre retailers, garages and vehicle dismantlers collect over 40 million tyres a year. 12% of these are reused after having a new tread applied. More innovative uses include creating flood defences. Others are recycled and used for products such as carpet underlay or road surfaces. An emerging market is energy recovery. It is hoped that tyres could partly replace coal as fuel source for many industries.

There are ways we can reuse car tyres at home rather than sending them to specialist disposal companies. Here are 10 great ideas:

1. Raised Beds
Car tyres are ideal for creating a raised bed for planting flowers, herbs or vegetables. A single tyre works well for lettuce and herbs. Use two or three tyres to grow potatoes.

Paint the car tyre bright colours to create a wonderful display when planting flowers.

2. Resoling Shoes
Use the rubber from the car tyre to resole shoes. It is very hard wearing.

Alternatively add a piece of leather and create a pair of sandals or flip flops.

3. Car Tyre Swing
Most people have memories of playing on a tyre swing when they were young.

Just use some strong rope and securely attach the car tyre to a sturdy tree branch for hours of fun.

4. Boat Bumper
Boat owners can attach the car tyres to the boat’s sides, to act as protective bumpers. Very useful when docking a boat.

5. Children’s Playground
Rather than spending a fortune on equipment from a garden centre, use a little imagination, some old wooden planks and a few car tyres to create a great adventure playground for the children.

6. Forcing Rhubarb
Forcing Rhubarb (growing rhubarb in dark conditions) has been practised since the early 19th century. It produces vibrant pink rhubarb that is far more delicate in flavour than the usual variety.

Place two or three car tyres around the plant just before it starts emerging from the ground. Cover the tyres with a piece of wood to create a warm, dark environment. From December to the end of March you will be enjoying succulent and sweet early rhubarb.

7. Sand Pits
Large tractor tyres are perfect for making a sandpit for the children. Just buy the special sand from a garden centre and fill the tyre.

8. Mini Greenhouse
Cover the car tyre with a piece of clear polythene to create a mini greenhouse or propagator. The thick rubber wall of the tyre is excellent insulation for creating a warm environment to germinate seeds.

9. Table
Place a flat piece of wood on top of two or three tyres for an easy to assemble table, suitable for the indoors or outside. Paint the tyres for a better effect.

10. Composter or Wormery
Three or four tyres stacked together create a simple composter. The warm environment created by the car tyres will make short work of composting kitchen waste and grass clipping. Access the compost by removing one tyre at a time from the top.

Ask your local garage for old car tyres. Not only will you be helping them with disposal, you will reuse a non biodegradable product in an environmentally friendly fashion.

Car tyres maybe essential when driving a vehicle but they are also extremely useful around the home and garden.

Check car tyres regularly for any signs of wear. This is important as they are the only point of contact between a car and the road. Any deterioration of the tread or damage to the sidewalls may be risking an accident.

The basic legal requirements for car tyres are:

a) Tread Depth must be a minimum of 1.6mm. This applies to the entire circumference of the tyre. A bald patch on a tyre, where the tread depth is below the minimum requirement, is against the law. Check a tyre after a skid or emergency braking as this is when bald patches can occur.

b) Tyres must be inflated to the correct pressure. Consult the vehicle manufacturer’s handbook to find the recommended pressure. Not only is this a legal requirement, it improves the vehicle’s handling and reduces fuel consumption.

c) All four car tyres must be compatible and in good condition. If a car tyre needs replacing it will need to be in the same condition as the others otherwise all four will need to be changed.

Factors that can affect the rate of car tyre wear include:

1. Make of Car Tyres

Every car tyre is designed differently to meet specific criteria. Long life tyres are made from a harder rubber compound. This can increase the noise when driving. A softer tyre compound will be quieter but will wear out faster. A car tyre specialist such as Merityre can offer advice on the different types of car tyre.

2. Position of Car Tyre

Front tyres wear out faster than back tyres, especially if the car is front wheel drive. The extra wear is caused by the movement through steering. On a four wheel drive vehicle the front car tyres should exceed 20,000 miles. This is half the expected life of the back tyres.

3. Weight of Vehicle

The heavier the vehicle the faster the car tyres wear.

4. Tyre Pressure

A car tyre that is inflated below its recommended pressure will wear faster because of its higher operating temperature and the extra flexing of the rubber. Over inflation can also increase wear due to the decreased size of the contact area between the tyre and the road.

5. Speed

Driving at high speeds increases the car tyre temperature and accelerates the wear.

6. Car Tyre Alignment

Incorrect alignment of car tyres causes uneven and increased wear.

7. Driving Style

Aggressive cornering, accelerating and braking excessively are all causes of car tyre wear.

One factor that is unavoidable is time. Tyres deteriorate naturally over time due to the effects of the weather. Car tyres on vehicles kept outside will degrade faster than those kept in a garage. Cracking due to sunlight exposure usually becomes evident on car tyres that are five years or older. When this happens, as with any signs of wear, replace the car tyre immediately.