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.

Article Resource:

Merityre.co.uk are one of the leading UK independent suppliers of car tyres. Why not visit their website for an online tyre quote or contact your nearest fitting centre.

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.

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.

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.