Merityre Article Archive

‘There are lies, damned lies and statistics.’ Mark Twain claimed Benjamin Disraeli said this in the 19^th Century. True, some say that statistics can be misleading but they can also be sobering, to say the least.  Take, for example, this figure, released in September by the Department for Transport. Apparently, illegal, defective and underinflated car tyres caused over 1,210 road casualties in Great Britain during 2010. Over the last five years, 164 motorists have died as a result of having defective car tyres, 18 of those deaths occurring in 2010, according to the Road Casualties in Great Britain report.

What can be done about this? Well, October is Tyre Safety Month. Not for profit organisation TyreSafe was established in 2006 and is now one of the UK’s leading tyre safety organisations. As its chairman Stuart Jackson says, “The latest figures are truly shocking and emphasise why we need ongoing action, education and awareness about tyre safety issues.”

TyreSafe is working hard to ensure that we are informed about the importance of looking after ourselves and the safety of others by looking after our car tyres. As part of Tyre Safety Month, drivers will be given a free tyre safety check. Where? Hundreds of tyre dealers and garages are taking part, so try your local ones.

There are also a number of online resources, to show you how to carry out critical car tyre safety checks quickly and easily. An enlightening online video, of a car being driven on ice, demonstrates the benefits of winter tyres.

Stuart Jackson continues, “If all drivers took just a few minutes every month to check their tyre pressures, condition and tread depth, we could help prevent this needless injury and loss of life. Our website contains some really simple guides to help drivers understand what to look for.”

Tyre Safety Month is as much about education as awareness. The abovementioned website has material that will leave you fully informed about your car tyres and safety. You can learn about checking your tyres’ tread depth and ensuring they contain the correct tyre pressure. There are also TyreSafe’s ‘Magnificent 7 Car Tyre Safety Tips’.

As we all know, the tail end of the summer season heralds the onset of poorer weather. We should also bear in mind that the need for car tyre safety monitoring will continue ad infinitum…it won’t go away when November blusters its way in. In the short term, you can take a look at the TyreSafe web site. In the longer term, you may want to consider investing in a set of winter tyres. Or you could reflect on the wisdom of looking after the tyres you already have, keeping them in prime condition and being aware of the need to replace then as and when necessary.

The bottom line is this. As has been said time and time again, your car tyres are all that are ultimately keeping you on the road. Assuming you have no desire to become a statistic, neglect them at your peril.  Why not take a look at keeping your tyres safe– it might just be a life-saving bit of browsing.

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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.

Driving carefully by not over accelerating, braking hard and sharp corning is the best way to extend the life of your car tyres. This article has five other tips to keep your car tyres in good condition:

1. Correct Tyre Pressure

Regularly check your car tyres are not under or over inflated.

Under inflation causes greater flexing of the rubber, increasing the operating temperature and reducing the tyre’s lifespan.  The wear on the edge or shoulder of the tyre is increased and damage can be caused to the vehicle’s suspension when driving over a pothole.

Under inflation also results in poor fuel economy. Increased rolling resistance makes a car engine work harder and uses more fuel.

Over inflation is equally bad by increasing the wear in the centre of a car tyre’s tread; an area important for protecting the tyre against impact damage.

To find the recommended tyre pressure check the owner’s manual or look for a plaque on the inside of the fuel flap.

2. Balance and Alignment

Whenever your car tyres are repaired or replaced make sure they are correctly balanced when remounted on your car. If not this will cause vibrations, increasing tyre wear, damaging suspension and leading to driver fatigue.

Correct alignment is necessary to have the steering, suspension, wheel components and car tyres all working in harmony to achieve the optimum performance from your vehicle.

It doesn’t cost much for your local garage or car tyre specialist to check the vehicle’s balance or alignment.  Without it the resulting cost of repair will be far greater.

3. Inspection

A visual inspection once a month does not take long and is important to maintain your car tyres in a safe condition.

Check the tread depth. Most tyres have a tread wear indicator built into them. 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.

Check the car tyres for any unusual bulges or lumps as these are often a sign of internal damage. Inspect the tread and sidewall rubber for any signs of cracking. If found change the tyre as soon as possible as cracking can cause a blow-out.

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

4. Repairs

Don’t risk driving on a car tyre that is losing pressure. Take it to a specialist who will give the tyre a complete inspection and make the decision whether it can be repaired or replaced.

Driving on a flat tyre for even a short distance will damage it beyond repair.

Never try repairing a car tyre yourself. This should be handled by a trained professional.

5. Tyre Rotation

The weight of a vehicle is not evenly distributed on all of the car tyres. By regularly rotating the tyres their lifespan is extended and uneven car tyre wear is avoided.

Visit a car tyre specialist for further advice and to check the condition of your current car tyres.

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You don’t have to be an automotive expert to spot potential problems when buying a new car. Here are five visual checks that will help you make the decision whether to buy a second hand car.

1) Car Tyres

Ask when owner last fitted new car tyres. Check the tread depth. If it’s below 3mm the car tyres will soon need to be replaced. The legal limit for tread depth is 1.6mm.

Look for uneven wear. This may indicate a problem with the car’s steering, suspension or brakes.

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

Inspect the car tyres’ sidewall rubber for signs of cracking. Crazing and cracking due to weather exposure usually becomes evident on car tyres that are more than five years old.

Don’t forget to check the spare tyre.

2) Vehicle Identity Number

The vehicle’s identity number (also known as the VIN number) is a 17-digit figure that can be found on the car’s engine, at the base of the windscreen or on the driver’s door. Check that it matches the number printed on the car’s registration document and logbook.

Don’t risk purchasing a car if the VIN numbers do not match or cannot be found in any of the specified locations.

3) Bodywork

Check the car’s paint finish and look for any signs of repair. It is easier to spot dents and imperfections by looking along the side of a car.

Compare the seams where the body panels join. Any differences may indicate the car has been repaired after an accident.

It is worth lifting the carpet in the boot to look for any evidence of hidden repairs and check the engine for any signs of welding.

4) Oil

Use the dipstick to check the vehicle’s oil. If the level is low this may indicate a leak or the engine may be burning oil. Have a look underneath the car for further signs of leakage.

The oil on the dipstick should look relatively clean and golden. Black and tar-like oil indicates it has been a while since it was last changed.

5) Mileage

‘Clocking’ is term applied to the illegal practice of winding back a car’s mileage counter.

Look for any evidence that the dashboard has been tampered with. Check the steering wheel and driving pedals for signs of wear and see if this tallies with the car’s mileage. A shiny, worn steering wheel is often a giveaway for a vehicle with low mileage.

If in doubt ask to see the MOT certificates as these will have the car’s mileage printed on them. If not available then there are companies who can provide this information, usually for a fee.

For further advice about car tyres, bodywork or checking the vehicle’s documentation consult a specialist or visit your local garage.

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Car tyres are the only point of contact between a vehicle and the road. Keeping them in good condition is essential for safe driving and achieving the optimum performance of your car.

Here a ten car tyre tips:

1. Regularly 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%.

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. It accelerates the wear in the centre of the tread, an area important for protecting the tyre against impact damage.

2. Always carry a spare. It is not a legal requirement but you’ll be thankful you have one when a tyre gets a puncture in a remote location. If using a compact spare tyre remember not to exceed 50 mph and replace it at the earliest opportunity.

3. Check the car tyres for any unusual bulges or lumps as these are often a sign of internal damage. Inspect the tread and sidewall rubber for any signs of cracking as this can cause a tyre blow-out.

4. Keep the tyre valves clean and always remember to replace the dust cap.

5. Avoid driving over of potholes in the road. The extra flexing of the rubber will hasten the tyres deterioration.

6. 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.

7. Keep the car in a garage if possible.  Weather exposure causes crazing and cracking on the car tyres of vehicles kept outside.

8. Take care when using a pressure washer as it can cause damage to a tyre’s sidewall. Only use at a safe distance.

9. Try to replace all four tyres at the same time. If this is not possible replace either the two front or the two back tyres together. It will prevent uneven wear which can affect the vehicle’s handling.

10. Consult a car tyre specialist before replacing a tyre. They will advise on the right choice of tyre according to your car’s make, your budget and your driving circumstances.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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.