Posts Tagged ‘driving’

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Things To Bear In Mind When Driving At Night

August 26th, 2010 | Author: admin

When it comes to driving at night it would seem that it is a key time for accidents to occur, you must always be very careful when it comes to late night driving. Here are some tips on staying safe at night when driving around in your Lease Cars car.

 

Keep The Lights On

If you are driving from the afternoon onwards you may actually forget to turn the lights on and it is very easily done, you are going to end up in bad accident if the lights are not on because people will not be able to see the vehicle. As soon ass the sun is setting the thing I would suggest you do is to turn the lights on.

 

Fog Lights

Another fact about lights is that a lot of people out there seem to turn their fog lights on for no particular reason at all when it comes to driving at night. It sounds like a great idea but it is not at all. The problem with it is that it can blind all motorists coming in the other directions, not good.

 

Stop For Breaks

Stopping every now and again for breaks is even more important when you are driving at night because of the fact you are likely to be tired. Service stops are for this and although they can be expensive it is worth just stopping to have a rest and a drink a couple of times through the nigh. Although you don’t legally have to stop if you are driving a car for personal use it is still well worth doing. Being tired causes accidents, there is no doubt on this. It will increase your gap insurance if you crash.

 

So there you have it, it doesn’t matter what car you are driving, even the range rover sport 3.0 TDV6 must be taken care of at night.


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The Way To Find An Ideal Car Insurance Plan

July 9th, 2010 | Author: Robert Shou

When you get a brand new car, you always need to consider the amount of car insurance that you need to have. Many people are actually driving on the roads today without an effective coverage plan in their car. Car Insurance isn’t only a necessity, but also legally needed with different limits in each state. While it’s an intangible product, that drivers never wish to use, it can be appreciated within the event of a claim. With the turbulence of today’s economy, drivers all around the nation are looking for ways to cut down expenses and save funds. If you are in need of a plan right now, look here in order to save as much money as possible.

You will need to look over your car and figure out how much you want to pay for coverage. You will also need to figure out how much protection you want to have on your car. This of course will depend on what you can afford as well as the condition of your car. Newer cars tend to have better policies than the older models.

Major insurance businesses which are well-known nowadays all provide online quotes to perspective clients. If you are curious about the quantity of coverage that you simply will need, fill out a quote and you’ll have fantastic options obtainable to you. Simply appear into the policy that gives you the absolute most for your money.

You should also take the time to compare different quotes. The comparison process enables drivers to see which companies actually have the very best rates and policy plans. You could save yourself a few hundred dollars a year if you do this extra step.

Roadside assistance and theft protection are all fantastic functions that may possibly be added to your policy. Look at how a lot each and every organization charges extra and then you are able to go from there. Characteristics aid to personalize your policy and make it work for you!

Look around right now in order to get the best car insurance policy. The entire process should not take longer than and hour or two and the savings is worth every minute spent. Start shopping major companies right now and see which policy is right for you!

Did you enjoy this article? You can get affordable car insurance quotes at our site. Visit our blog from more great advice and ideas on how to save on auto insurance.


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Choosing The Right Sunglasses For Driving

July 6th, 2010 | Author: admin

Being able to see clearly whilst driving is one of the most important elements in driving safely; perhaps because of this, people wear sunglasses whilst driving more than they do during any other activity.

 

Driving can be made drastically more difficult by varying degrees of visibility problems, most of which are caused by changing weather and light conditions. General glare from the sun can cause eye fatigue which can affect your vision, whilst ice and snow bring their own form of reflected glare, particularly as the sun is lower in the sky during the colder months. Even in the interim months, poor road lighting and general low-light conditions can make driving markedly more dangerous.

 

In order to address this unpredictability in light conditions, many people opt for sunglasses in order to properly protect their eyes and provide a better clarity of vision.

 

So what exactly makes a decent pair of driving sunglasses?

 

The problem with most normal sunglasses, or designer sunglasses is that they aren’t designed to adapt to changing light conditions, making them unable to optimise your vision for driving. Most people would opt for normal sunglasses; whilst ok for driving in very bright sunshine they will darken your vision far too much in lower light levels.

What you’re looking for ideally are sunglasses that contain specialised lenses which react to changing light levels. These type of sunglasses are generally referred to as photochromatic (or sometimes reactor light lenses) and will be much more beneficial in protecting your eyes during long drives.

 

Although photochromatic lenses are the ideal for driving, they’re often very expensive; if you’re looking for something a little cheaper, you can opt for polarised lenses. These will great help in reducing glare, especially when reflected off wet surfaces. Lots of designer (and non-designer) brands make glasses with polarised lenses, have a look at some of the Oakley sunglasses available for an excellent example.

 

Go into your local opticians and ask for some sunglasses designed for driving, they’ll have a wide variety available and as long as you opt for polarised or photochromatic lenses, you’ll have the right sunglasses for driving.

 


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Why a Sports Car is so Desirable

June 10th, 2010 | Author: admin

The irrational but basic appeal of the sports car has overwhelmed people’s reason ever since the first sports car was introduced. In far-flung places round the world those with money soon indicated their love for sports cars by buying one for their collection. Whether racing your sports car or merely cruising the streets, being seen in a sports car is an indication of your power and wealth. Different people find different reasons for wanting an open top two-seater sports car. Some examples of this will be explored in this article.

Ladies tend to like the Mazda MX5 more than men do. Reliability and power are typical of the engines in the Honda CRX and the Honda S2000. The Honda S2000 has several times won engine of the year in its category and this tidy looking sports car has sex appeal drawing attention from both the men and the ladies alike.Speeding along a motorway in one of these is a thrilling and satisfying experience. The dashing sporty appearance of sports cars makes them readily distinguishable from the dull family cars that infest our roads.

The majority of today’s vehicles are designed merely to be useful and cheap to run. Sports cars are all about performance and driving experience. Powerful acceleration, superb road-holding, and the feeling that you own the road are the objectives of those who design sports cars.

People are initially attracted to a sports car by its looks. The design must take into account both aesthetic and aerodynamic considerations. Their sole purpose is to entice “wannabe” owners to get behind the wheel of their very own slice of freedom, the freedom to break away from convention. Even those with great will power are likely to succumb to the sweet symmetry of the lines – just as the designers intended… Nearly everyone harbours the fantasy of succumbing to the allure of an attractive sports car.

The sports car is fun to drive and gives a person a feeling of excitement. You can have hours of thrilling experiences when driving this type of car. Because these cars are designed to be driven they are engineered to very exacting standards.

All new cars lose a high percentage of their value as soon as they are driven away from the seller’s premises. You can buy gap insurance to protect you against this loss of value. The value of a sports car, however, can often increase as the years go by. Being able to survive years of hard driving is characteristic of most sports cars. Sports cars usually end up being considered classics and can still fetch a great price many years later.

The first thoughts people have when considering a sports car concern cost, performance, and desirability. Not many modern items can match the sports car’s huge emotional appeal. Sports car enthusiasts will band together and form clubs and any free time is spent caring for and driving their pride and joy. Club members may often receive pre-arranged discounts on insurance and car warranty products.

It is impossible to identify exactly why people are attracted to fast streamlined sports cars. The freedom of the open road is best experienced at the wheel of a sports car. A convertible sports car is even more attractive. The thought of flying down the roadway with the wind blowing through your hair has a certain appeal to some.

The cutting edge technology of these cars also fascinates us. The sports car is the epitome of aerodynamic styling and compact powerful engines. The sports car, because of its high performance and high-tech specifications, has achieved cult status.
Sports cars are designed and constructed in such a way that they will react instantly to any command given by the driver. The allure of a sports car is all about giving the driver the feeling of ultimate control. We need to feel that the exercise and control of power enables us to reach and even exceed our limits. It successfully combines power, strength, and beauty in one entity.

You can feel really free when driving a sports car. As technology improves so does the performance of each generation of sports car. The sports car will always give us the feeling of power and of letting our wild side show through.Feelings of nostalgia can often be the cause of such emotions. Classic sports cars especially can bring back fond memories of our youth. In them are the prized memories of the past. A classic sports car only gets better with age and generally more valuable too.

It doesn’t matter whether you have a classic muscle car or new sports car – they are both definitely attention grabbers. The air of macho potency associated with a sports car will certainly draw people’s attention to you. You will attract admiration and envy if you are seen in a beautiful and powerful sports car. If you are thinking of buying a new sports car, you should seriously think about purchasing a product called finance shortfall gap insurance to protect you in the event of an insurance write-off.

The idea of a sports car instantly brings to mind speed and performance. The Toyota MR2 is an example of a sports car with an outstanding power to weight ratio: it is compact yet has a powerful sedan engine. Being so small and neat has made this car as well as the Mazda MX5, for example, a huge hit with lady drivers.

Supercars is the only fit description for the bigger sports cars such as the Ferrari Enzo, the Lamborghini Reventon Roadster and the Audi R8. The bigger they get the more weight the builders need to lose, and that’s when things get really interesting. The weight of high performance production sports cars is usually kept down by using light materials for construction. Cars like these invariably have body panels made from glass fibre or carbon fibre. By dispensing with ‘luxury’ extras like air conditioning, electric windows, and thick pile carpets, a car’s weight can be significantly reduced. Of greatest significance in weight reduction is the use of wheels made out of the latest hi-tech alloy composites.

Some cars, like the Ferrari 40 and the Lamborghini Gallardo, have such a high power to weight ratio coupled with cutting edge technology that they can reach extremely high speeds. The engine does not have to work so hard to propel a lighter car. This enhances performance and makes the car easier to control.

A sports car is something that seems to appeal to almost everyone. When we see a fancy sports car in the street we usually stop to admire it. Fun and allure are the essence of a sports car. If you can afford to buy and run a sports car – many people’s dream – why shouldn’t you?

 


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Road Rage Is Dangerous

June 4th, 2010 | Author: admin

There do seem to be a lot of drivers out there on the roads that really do have no regard for the roads and the other people on them simply because they care more about getting to a destination as fast they can and they put a lot of people at risk.

 

Road Rage is something that has been around for a very long time indeed but it all kicked off in the 90s when it became popular for people to pull over when there was a disagreement to have a fight in the middle of a road. I know that there was an instance where my father actually beeped at someone at a roundabout and they both pulled over. Of course my father was only going to talk to this guy but he came and approached his car with a plank of wood!! Of course my father was not going to risk his life so he drove off but you can see where the problems come from.

 

Many drivers will drive as fast as they can, cutting people off and tailgating them to try and get them to speed up so they can get past but this form of aggressive driving is actually very dangerous indeed and can cause more harm than good. You may get to where you need to be a lot faster than normal but you would find yourself in a bit of a pile up if you do not watch it. A lot of people out there really are convinced that there is nothing wrong with a little bit of road rage when in fact it is illegal and you should never take part in it.

 

Sure things like gap insurance and bad credit car finance are going to help when it comes to the damages to your Renault Kangoo.


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Used Car Dealers – Tricks And Deceptions

April 8th, 2010 | Author: Adriana Noton

Even though many people can afford a new car, they choose to buy a used vehicle for a variety of reasons. Some people buy used vehicles of about a year or two old; they are still in like new condition but the major portion of the depreciation has already occurred. When it’s time to buy that car, they tend to shop at used car dealers.

This type of dealership has really managed to gain a tough reputation over the years. Even movies and television shows make fun of used car salespeople and portray them as stupid, lazy, or downright criminals. They also have reputations for trying to sell vehicles that should be sent to be crushed long ago. Consumers are always filing complaints about how they were allegedly done wrong at one of their local dealers.

How much of all this is true? Some. No matter how shady some of these people might be, the majority of the onus falls on the customer to understand exactly what he’s buying and what he’s being charged. Unless you have a dealer who is purposely committing fraud, your entire deal should be plainly outlined in the paperwork given to you sign.

If you had promises made to you, make sure they are in writing. Forget the gentleman’s handshake or “don’t worry about a thing, I’ll take care of you” speeches. Don’t sign anything unless everything you had agreed to is indeed in writing. If not, you were instrumental in causing your own problem.

One issue that keeps coming up when it comes to consumer complaints is the type of financing available for used cars. This can’t always be blamed on just used car dealerships. Used cars have always had higher interest rates associated with the loans no matter how good your credit is. Why? Used cars are the ones that are defaulted on more frequently. This goes back decades when used cars were really old clunkers, and if people financed them, they would usually just die and people would stop paying for them. Even though the car industry has changed, the finance industry hasn’t kept up with the times.

Another problem consumers have is that it’s hard to get specific information about the cars on many lots. Some dealerships sell any car they can. They can’t be expected to know everything about every car on the lot. And, these cars usually don’t get turned in with the original owners manual so if you find a car you’re interested in, it’s up to you to learn all about it.

In these cases, do research before even making a down payment. If you have a laptop with a wireless data plan, bring it with you! Let the salesman know you are going to check out the car, the pricing, financing alternatives, and a CarFax history report.

Then, take it for a long test drive. If possible, have an auto mechanic look at the odometer and rule out tampering. This isn’t limited to old cars; many new cars that were leases are still prime candidates. Some cars are turned in just because of their high mileage. Make sure you aren’t buying one.

Whether you are purchasing new or used cars Edmonton, our reliable automotive dealership offers friendly customer service and up-to-date resources. Our team of dealers has all the information you need for purchasing cars, vans, used trucks Edmonton, and other vehicles.


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If You Buy A Used Car Does It Mean You Will Have More Gearbox Problems?

March 17th, 2010 | Author: admin

Buying a car is always an exciting experience, and whether it’s new or used, there are many different great value buys on the market today. Despite this, used cars come with a higher risk of gearbox problems. Used cars aren’t always known for their reliability, and if you have bought a car that’s over 5 years old, you have to consider the fact there might be gearbox problems with it.

People that choose new cars stand a better chance of not having any problems with it. After all, something that is so new definitely shouldn’t have anything wrong with it. There are, however, still some people that avoid new cars because they prefer to buy something that’s nearly new instead, with just a few hundred miles on the clock. Realistically, a new car could have problems as nothing is set in stone, but there is definitely only a small chance of this. Naturally, used cars will have a higher mileage and that means the car has been put through the mill a bit more so there’s a greater risk.

It’s like anything really; the more use something gets then the higher the risk of something going wrong with it. If your car is quite old then you can pretty much guarantee it has been used quite a bit and therefore gearbox problems could be a fact of life. If you notice the gearbox sticking or an unusual sound when driving, this could mean that there are gearbox problems. Don’t leave the suspected gearbox problem. The longer you leave the problem, the worse it might be.

Bear in mind that gearbox problems can be very expensive to repair and so it is best to check the car over thoroughly before you buy it. Check that there are no funny sounds you can hear coming from the gearbox area. It’s always best to speak to the car dealership about your concerns.

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Don’t Take A Chance With Car Gearbox Repairs

March 17th, 2010 | Author: admin

When it comes to a car gearbox, many people think they can handle it going wrong. I mean, surely a gearbox can’t be too hard to repair? Unfortunately, it is. The gearbox is an intricate piece of kit and shouldn’t be attended to by those who aren’t trained mechanics. If you need any car gearbox repairs, there should only be one place that you’re headed to, and that’s the nearest garage.

DIY fans can sometimes feel a little beaten by the fact they can’t repair their own car, but there are plenty of other things they can try instead. Take a look at the dodgy door handle and set to work on that. Even if you can’t correct the indoor problem, you stand a much better chance than succeeding with car gearbox repairs. Even the most knowledgeable of people won’t be able to sort a gearbox out unless they have been properly trained, so bear this in mind. Thankfully, the mechanics are the ones to talk to about any gearbox problems, which takes the pressure off you having to do it. Since the gearbox is not an easy piece of kit to get to grips with, the mechanics should be able to solve the problem much quicker than any other individual can. For the sake of a bit of money, it is so much more worthwhile to get a mechanic to sort the problem out, and then you know it has been fixed to a high standard.

In general, DIY with your car is best avoided. Doing it yourself doesn’t guarantee success and if something goes wrong then you don’t want to be driving a dangerous car. Cars aren’t toys and the last thing you want is for it to be dangerous to drive. There are enough hazards to avoid on the roads, without having to worry about your car being dangerous!

Car gearbox repairs can be short or long jobs, but no driver can estimate just how long it might take to fix, or indeed, how severe the problem is. Individuals that aren’t mechanics would certainly spend hours and hours trying to resolve the problem, but the mechanic can do it much quicker. When you do DIY it should be fun and not make you feel stressed and anxious when it doesn’t go right. Get in touch with the local mechanic and see what he can do for you.

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Try racing A Car

March 17th, 2010 | Author: admin

Okay sop racing a car isn’t legal when it is in the middle of a motorway that is without a doubt true and this will get you in trouble meaning you will have to get bad credit car loans. However this is of course a way that you can easily race without risk of losing your license, getting into trouble or any serious harm.

Get To A Race Track

Why not think about taking a day from work and getting to a racetrack. There are of course many tracks dotted around the place and some of them will let you race purely in goal of you trying to destroy your car, this is brilliant fun. Although this isn’t the safest of races you can take part in and it wont do your brand new car leasing car any good it is great for a vehicle you no longer really care about.

Of course you could drive in a normal race where purpose contact is not allowed. This is recommended for the people that do perhaps not want to get out gap insurance and do not want to see their car wrecked by the end of the day. The great thing about these races is that you do not need an expensive car or racing car to take part. There are many types of races that you can choose to take part in and you can even use the company car, if you dont get a scratch on it of course!

Racing is a really good idea if you like speeding around in your car, who doesn't like to do this, I mean really. Speeding is illegal but racing on a professional track isn’t so consider it. It is well worth the cost of the race as you are set to have a great day out so make sure you pay out for it.

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Car Tyres & Your Safety: All You need to Know

March 3rd, 2010 | Author: admin

The tyre is the only contact between the vehicle and the road. For this very fact alone it stands to reason that your car’s tyres should not only be safe, but also hard-wearing, made from high quality materials, be durable and still provide you and your family with a comfortable drive. Together with ancillary insurance products such as their car warranty, motorists should consider buying wheel and tyre insurance if they spend large amounts of time out on the roads.

To meet the above demands, tyres need to be manufactured to exacting standards: sometimes up to 200 separate raw materials are used in their manufacture. The difference between a cheap and expensive tyre is due to factors like the rubber compound being of a better quality, the amount of testing put into tread patterns and rubber stability and the fact that when making tyres at higher temperatures the tyres are of a better quality as a result.

The more testing done by a tyre manufacture the lower the road noise will be, the longer the tyre will perform at its peak rate and the safer your family will be. So it should not come as a surprise that there are many different types of tyres that are manufactured for our vehicles and that their treads actually do matter. Some of these are made for a specific purpose while others are purely used for high performance road driving, the race track, desert driving or more rugged terrain such as woodlands or farms.

Tyre Width and Tread
The tyre grip depends on its rubber compound and the grooves that are present in the tread pattern, as it is the tread that does all the work. The tread helps determine how well the tyre grips on a dry road. Each manufacturer designs its own tread pattern to achieve this.

The tread grooves will disperse water in the wet and thus the tyre will grip the tarmac and stay in contact with the road. If the tyre tread is not able to disperse enough water, then your vehicle will aquaplane. When you aquaplane, there is little or no contact between road and tyre and so you will lose control of the car as the tyre loses grip. The more efficiently the grooves expel the water, the better the tyre will be at maintaining grip in wet weather conditions. If tyre treads wear down, they have diminished ability to expel water and that is where it gets dangerous for you and other road users. Worn tyres are dangerous – do not drive on tyres with less than the legal tread limit.

There are many types of tread pattern, all of which are used for different performance issues including standing up to various driving forces such as cornering, steering and high speed braking, road noise reduction, low wear and traction with the surface you are driving on. Tyre treads are designed to cope with the road surface be it snow, farm tracks (large knobbly tyres for digging in), race tracks (soft tyres with minimal groves) or wet weather tyres (deep groves designed to expel water out and away from your car).

The sidewalls combine with the air in the tyre to carry the weight of the vehicle. The outside of the sidewall should always be where you find the tyre size and specification details. Damaged sidewalls could cause a blow out with deadly consequences.

There are legalities in relation to the tyre specifications. This is because they are the main safety features of a tyre. The manufacturer is responsible for any relevant sidewall markings and an owner is responsible for the condition of tyre including the width and tread depths.

The legal minimum tread depth for car tyres is 1.6mm continuously around the band of the central tread of the tyre, circling at least 75 % of the tyre. The remaining grooves must have a depth of a least 1 mm again circling 75 % of the tyre. It is always advisable to change the tyre before it gets to this level, not only for safety reasons, but legal reasons too. If you do not, and you are caught driving on illegal tyres you could be fined up to £2,500 per tyre in Britain, and could receive three penalty points too.

Belted/Radial Tyres
Today the radial or belted tyre has almost completely replaced the cross-ply tyre. The materials of the radial tyres inner casing runs perpendicular to the direction of tyre travel. If viewed side on, the materials run radially, hence their name. The only problem associated with the composition of this type of tyre is that the materials cannot absorb the lateral force when cornering or accelerating. To correct this, the materials are supported by another structural material, for example steel belts.

The steel belts are rubber encircled ropes of steel wire. They give structural rigidity and maintain the tread flat in contact with the road. With bead-wires, the ultra-strong steel wires hold an extreme resistance to stretching, therefore holding the tyre to the rim, even during very high performance driving.

Run Flat Tyres
Manufacturer have now developed tyres and systems that allow a vehicle to continue moving despite there being a loss of pressure in the tyres. Currently there are two systems. The reinforced tyre sidewall brands on the market include Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Goodyear, and Pirelli. The other uses a rubber clip attached to the rim; brands using this system include Michelin. It is necessary that the run flat tyre operates in conjunction with any tyre pressure warning systems fitted in the car. Although new cars will automatically be provided with the appropriate tyre choice, if car buyers are replacing run flat tyres with aftermarket upgrades, due care must be taken to ensure that they are compatible with your car.

Little Known Fact: Rubber car tyres actually deteriorate with age, this is even the case when those tyres have simply sat on a warehouse shelf and not been used. This aging means that the tyre will be more prone to sudden and unexpected structural failure. This also applies to your spare, which may have sat in your boot for years, as well as any tyres which you may have stored in your garage or shed! Never risk causing an accident just to save a little money. It’s false economy to buy tyres in bulk if you end up replacing them prematurely due to deterioration. Ask the retailer how long their tyres have been sitting on the shelf.

Summer Tyres
These particular tyres provide excellent driving and braking performance, both on dry and wet roads, during temperatures above freezing in the spring, summer, autumn and winter. Summer tyres typically perform well in warm weather and are not suitable for cold driving conditions. The simple block shaped tread on the tyre ensures that the tyre’s contact with the road is as firm as possible, giving maximum grip at all times.

Winter Tyres/Cold Weather Condition Tyres
These tyres are for use when the weather turns cold or there is snow and ice on the roads. The tread has a blocked design with deep, wide blades or grooves. The design of these tyres ensures that the increased performance in traction and braking necessary on winter road surfaces is achieved. The tread rubber gives excellent friction and allows flexibility at low temperatures. Most of the current designs are centred towards the braking performance and driving control on icy roads. The designs and rubber technology at present have improved the performance of the winter tyre dramatically thanks to millions of dollars worth of performance testing and information gained from sports such as World Rally and Track Motor Sports.

All-Season Tyres
As their name suggests, these are designed for use all-year round, and are more complex than other tyres. This is because of the longer block-edge that is used for winter. More blades or grooves are apparent in these tyres to ensure improved braking and driving performance, produced by maximising the effect of its edge. All-season tyre tread designs provide superb all-around traction for various road conditions, whilst still providing even wear and low noise.

Snow tyres
Snow tyres are especially designed to perform better when driving in the snow. They have been designed to replace the standard tyre for the winter months to ensure driving on the snow and ice is safer. The tread is a lot deeper which increases traction, and the elasticity is maintained in the cold due to the type of rubber used. The deeper treads also work to displace higher volumes of snow, sleet and ice then an tyre would do with fewer and more shallow tread. The performance is much better on various road conditions, including sleet, mud, ice, and even road flooding.

4WD Tyres
4wd tyres are produced for high performance on 4×4 vehicles, they will often be made for driving off-road too. Today many vehicles are built with four wheel drive capability; 4WD (4 wheel drive) is no longer the sole domain of Land Rover Discovery and Toyota Land Cruiser. Modern saloon cars like the Mitsubishi Evo and Subaru’s WRX also have four wheel drive systems which can be engaged either permanently or – as in the case of the Subaru Forester 4WD for example – can be engaged and disengaged as dictated by driving conditions. Gone are the days where 4WDs were only used by the military and emergency services. In fact as a group Future45 Ltd has found a steady increase in sales of gap insurance to buyers of 4WD Sports Utility Vehicles over the past 36 months and expect this market segment to continue it’s growth.

Little Known Fact: Heat can cause tyre fatigue resulting in catastrophic failure. This can be caused either by the climate in which you live, or if you frequently overload you car thus increasing the friction which causes overheating. Since the tyres are prone to failure far sooner in these conditions more frequent tyre condition checks should be made under these circumstances. Many tyre manufacturers recommend that a vehicle’s tyres are changed every 5 to 7 years on average even if they still have plenty of legal tread on them.

Car Tyre’s sidewall markings
Markings are apparent on all tyres; if your tyre doesn’t have any, then it is not an acceptable tyre. There is a lot of information within these markings which will help you choose the correct tyre. For example:

If your tyre has 175/65 R14 T imprinted on it then:
• 175 is the tyre width in mm
• 65 is the tyre sidewall profile or the sidewall height as a percentage of its width
• R means radial (rather than a cross ply)
• 14 is the diameter of the wheel rim, in inches
• T is the speed rating which must match, or exceed the maximum speed of your car.

Speed ratings are as follows:
S 180 km/h or 112 mph
T 190 km/h or 118 mph
U 200 km/h or 125 mph
H 210 km/h or 130 mph
V 240 km/h or 149 mph
W(ZR) 270 km/h or 168 mph
Y(ZR) 300 km/h or 186 mph
ZR Above 240 km/h or 149 mph

Big Brand Tyres & Their Reputations

It used to be the case that there were only 3 or 4 brands that were available, but due to mergers and the increasing demands and needs of the consumer, more budget brands have entered the marketplace. The main ones are:

Michelin(France) -This is the world’s number one tyre manufacturer. They own Michelin, BF Goodrich, Kleber, Uniroyal and Riken.
Bridgestone(Japan) -One of the top 3 manufacturers. Back in 2003 Bridgestone (Japan) recently announced that they would be investing heavily in new research and development to produce tyres in the high performance sector, and also intended to raise their stakes in Europe’s share of global Bridgestone business. This initiative was a success and has put Bridgestone firmly in amongst the worlds top tyre manufacturers. Today they own Bridgestone, Firestone, Daytona and Europa.
Goodyear Dunlop(USA) -Goodyear Chemical provides both standard and high-performance polymers, antioxidants, latex and adhesive resin products to its customers on a global scale. The business has annual revenues of more than $750 million. Recently merged to form one of the largest tyre manufacturers in the world, they own Dunlop, Goodyear, Fulda, Falken and Kelly.
Yokohama (Japan) -In the top 10 list of manufacturers. Their 4WD tyres are world renowned, Their name embossed on the tyre sidewall painted white ensures instant brand recognition.
Pirelli(Italy) -In the top 5 of manufacturers. Pirelli are one of the worlds premier premium tyre brands. High performance car and motorcycle tyres are synonymous with the Pirelli brand name. They have recently developed the Ceat and Courier brands.
Cooper Tyre(USA) -They own Cooper, Avon and Mastercraft.
Continental (Germany) -They own Continental, Uniroyal, General Tyre, Gislaved and Semperit.
Toyo (Japan) – They are one of the newest budget firms.
Kumho (Korea) – They are a budget range with an emphasis on sporting tyres.
Vredestein (Netherlands) – They have an enormously wide range of tyres and are constantly working on innovative solutions, which they prove in practice by regularly introducing new tyres.

Tyre Terms You May Have Heard Before

Rolling Resistance
The rolling resistance of your tyres can affect your fuel economy. Tyres should always be pumped to the correct pressure to maximise performance an duel economy. Therefore some tyres are described as “fuel savers”, “eco” or “energy” tyres. These tyres may have low rolling resistance. A general rule is that the narrower a tyre the more fuel you will save and they often, though not always, are less likely to aqua plane on road surface water at higher speeds! Interesting and completely logical when you think about it!

Tyre Pressures
Always check that your car has the correct tyre pressure. You will find the recommended pressure for your car either in the handbook, the glove box or the inside of the driver door panel. Check the tyre pressure every couple of weeks. Always check your tyre pressure when your tyres are cold, as the further you drive the hotter the air inside them will be: air expands as it warms up and you will therefore get a false reading.

It’s interesting to note how Formula One racing has employed this principle. Cold Formula One tyres are actually almost flat! They need to be brought up to temperature very quickly for optimal performance. Optimal performance is when the tyres are blisteringly hot and that makes them sticky as the rubber compound melts. This helps racing drivers by “sticking” the car to the track, especially when taking corners at high speeds. A Formula One car relies on the hot tyres as this expands the air in them, which in turn inflates the tyres. However in a road going car you must not drive with under or over inflated tyres as this will hinder the handling of the vehicle and their structural safety is also dependent on their inflation pressure. Uneven tyre pressure will increase both tyre wear and your fuel consumption.

Wheel Alignment
If you find that your tyres are evenly worn across the surfaces, this is a sign of good wheel alignment. If you find uneven wear on your tyres, it could mean that they are either over or under inflated. If your tyres are badly worn on one edge this could signal that the wheel alignment has been knocked off of track. It is then essential that you have your wheel checked by a reputable garage or wheel and tyre centre as soon as possible. They will check your wheel alignment, camber and toe settings for you to ensure a safer drive, lower fuel consumption and longer tyre life.

Wheel Balancing
Wheels are balanced using tiny leads weights placed on the outside of your rims after the tyre has been fitted to the wheel. Each wheel is done individually. If your wheels are unbalanced, not only will you feel a vibration in your steering wheel, but the vibrations become more violent as the balancing gets worse. These vibrations can cause mechanical damage to your car and the distraction to the driver is dangerous. Always seek professional help as soon as you feel that there is anything at all that may be wrong with your vehicle’s tyres. Not only your life, but those of your family and other motorists are also at stake. Again, it is essential that you have your checked by a reputable garage or wheel and tyre centre.

Spare Tyre
Always ensure that your spare wheel is in good condition. Check the spare tyre’s pressure and tread every few months, so avoiding any problems should you need to use it. Your spares tread should be within legal limits if you have elected to use a tyre which you previously had on your car. Best practice is to always have a brand new tyre for your spare. Spare tyres can be full-size or temporary space saver “mini spares”. These are designed to take up less room in your vehicle and to get you home in an emergency. They are not meant to be driven on for long periods of time and they are usually not suitable for speeds in excess of forty to fifty miles per hour. If in doubt consult the manufacturer.

Directional Tyres
Directional Tyres guarantee the best possible sound reduction and water dispersion. For these reasons the tyres must be fitted correctly. Directional tyres are fitted with the arrow point and the words “ROTATION” pointing towards the forward driving direction of the vehicle.

Asymmetrical Tyres
Tyres with an asymmetrical tread also exist. These have a more open tread on the inner section and less open tread on the outer section. The less open tread is intended for high traction on a dry road and road adherence in corners while the inner section has a more open tread that results in an improved dispersion of water.

Tyre Care Reminder

It is essential that you maintain the tyre pressure, for safety, economy and for the sake of the environment. So check that all your tyres are at the correct pressures, every couple of weeks. Don’t forget to check your spare.

When you do this, also check for any tyre damage at the same time. Any cuts, lumps and bumps, scrapes or kerbing damage could result in tyre failure, so if you are in any way unsure, get it checked immediately. Noticing uneven wear could mean that the wheel alignment is incorrect, or if you have braked suddenly, there may be a flat area. Have them checked following any incident in which you have had to use emergency braking manoeuvre.

Remember that not only is it illegal to have tyres below the legal limit of 1.6mm, but you may well also void your car insurance. There will also be a greater risk of skidding and aquaplaning. It’s important to inspect the tread regularly.

This article was supplied by the Gap Insurance division at Future45 Ltd group of companies for informational purposes only and should not be construed as advice. In the interests of your safety please consult your local tyre replacement centre if you are in any doubt about the condition of your car tyres.

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