Keep Your Tyres in Great Condition with these Golden Rules

  Keeping your car’s tyres in good condition is one of the essential ways of guaranteeing the drivers safety. In the UK, the majority of road accidents happen because of the poor state of the car tyres.

Fortunately, there are some simple habits that you can follow to keep the tyres of your car in optimum condition and ensure that you stay safe during your daily commute. It can prevent you from getting involved in a serious incident while you drive your vehicle.

How to maintain a good tyre condition throughout the year

• Check air pressure regularly- It is one of the most critical parameters to maintain the excellent condition of the tyres. Irrespective of the season, keep a strict eye on air pressure of your tyre. Road conditions (bad or good) also play a crucial role in changing tyre’s air pressure. Unnecessary vibration, frequent disturbance may result due to over or under air pressure.
• Rotate tyre’s position- Rotate the positions of your car's tyres at an interval of 5,000 miles as they wear differently according to their location. It is especially important when you use summer tyres in Totton or in any other part in the UK.
• Know the rolling direction- Before installation, check the tread direction of the tyres. Don’t mount tyres against their rolling direction. It will hamper its performance in all conditions.
• Drive smoothly- frequent braking and side-slips hamper the longevity of the tyres. So, drive smooth so that your car's tyres do not get strained unnecessarily.

Maintaining this particular tip is vital and hard at the same time. It will take years to know your specific flaws while driving, but keeping some of those can dramatically enhance the overall lifetime of the tyres.

Special tips for using winter tyres in Totton

• Winter tyres typically have aggressive tread patterns that are more susceptible to excessive wear. It can be caused by suspension misalignment. If they are too worn out, you can visit a reputed service garage, like Totton Tyre & Exhausts to install a new set. You can also avail other types of car services from their garage.
• The camber setting is vital for winter tyres, too much positive camber will wear outside edges.
• Proper toe setting will compensate for the slight suspension movement.
• For every 10°C change in weather, a tyre’s inflation pressure will change by one psi. Remember to keep track of your cars tyre pressure and re-inflate it when necessary.
• Keep the valve caps on so that the moisture doesn’t freeze the valve.

Special tips for summer tyres

• Don’t use different types of tyres in the same axle as it may compromise the effective road grip and put yourself in harm's way.
• Get a wheel alignment done after every six months.
• Inspect your car's tyres at least once a week to ensure they are not damaged.
• Carry a spare or puncture repair kit in your car at all times.
• Make sure your tyres are clean. It should be free from gasoline or any other corrosive substance that might damage the rubber casing.

Following these simple tips will ensure the tyres of your car stay in optimum condition in different seasons and offer the best performance for as long as possible. It will also ensure your vehicle remains in good condition for longer.

Improve Gas Mileage in Cold Weather with these Tips

Any keen driver would notice that the fuel economy of their cars goes down by a significant margin during the colder months of the year. A recent study has revealed that a typical gasoline-powered car consumes about 12% more fuel at 0°C that it does at 25°C. If you take frequent short trips of less than 5 miles, the fuel economy can drop by up to 22%. Hybrid cars fare even worse. They deliver 31-34% lower fuel economy under the same circumstances.

Given the ever-rising prices of gas, it is paramount to understand the reasons behind this lower fuel economy and if there’s anything one can do to remedy it.

Why do cars consume more fuel in winters?

There are many adverse effects that the lower temperature has on the gas mileage of a car.

• The engine oil becomes colder and as a result, thicker. It leads to increased friction between the engine components.
• The engine takes more time to heat up and reach its most fuel-efficient temperature. It is also the reason that fuel efficiency is even lower during shorter trips. The engine just doesn’t get enough time to reach optimal temperature.
• The use of electrical appliances such as heater and defrosters increases fuel consumption.
• Tyre pressure decreases with temperature. Also, the road grip of tyres decreases on snow-covered streets. Both of these factors lead to higher fuel consumption.
• Battery output reduces in winters, which means that the alternator has to work harder to charge it.

All these factors combine to reduce the fuel economy of your car during winters.

Tips to improve fuel economy in winters

There’s no way to completely negate the effects of cold weather on your car’s fuel economy. However, there are a few simple things that you can do to minimise it.

1. Avoid idling your car for several minutes. Many drivers idle their vehicles for a long time thinking that it’ll heat up the engine. However, the best practice is to start your car and gently drive off in about 30 seconds. The engine heats up much faster when the vehicle is being driven.
2. Do not park your car out in the open at night. Parking your vehicle inside a closed garage will keep the engine warmer.
3. Invest in a set of premium winter tyres in Totton. These tyres deliver better performance under wintry road conditions.
4. Consolidate your trips when possible.
5. Keep a regular tab on the tyre inflation pressure. It drops by 1 PSI for every 10° drop in temperature. Lower pressure increases the rolling resistance.
6. Use low-viscosity engine oil. Look for manufacturer’s recommendation in your owner’s manual.
7. The aerodynamic drag is more in winters than in summers as cold air is relatively denser. Make your car as aerodynamically efficient as possible. Do not drive with the windows rolled down. Remove the bike rack from your car’s roof.
8. Take your car for a general servicing at reliable garages like Totton Tyres and Exhausts at the beginning of the season. They have experienced technicians who will take appropriate measures to ensure that your car is as efficient as possible. You may also buy the best winter tyres in Totton from their vast inventory.

Ensure maximum fuel efficiency of your car with these simple tips. There’s no reason why you should spend exorbitantly more on fuel in winters.

Buying New Car Tyres? Check Out this Handy List Before the Purchase!

Studies show that tyre blowouts in highways are one of the primary reasons for which mobile car repair centres get frequent calls. Hence, it becomes essential to buy tyres that can provide you with a safe ride along with longevity and high-performance.

Numerous other advantages are there if you fit a new set of tyres to your favourite car like ride comfort and quality along with fuel economy.

When will you understand that it’s time for a change?

Before fixing new tyres, it’s essential to recognise the faults in them and comprehend whether the change is necessary or not.

Car manufacturers recommend replacing tyres within 5 to 6 years of usage. You can determine whether changing is necessary or not by seeing the tyre tread depth. Wear and tear of tyres due to rough driving habits often results in their replacement before time.

Also, if the car is lacking in stability when you apply the brakes, it’s a sure shot sign that the time has come to dislodge the older tyres and fix new ones.

Pro tip – On contrary to the first suggestion, if your car sits idle most of the time in your garage for 5 or 10 years, then it’s hardly necessary to replace them within that time frame.

Things to know before buying new tyres

1. Understand their features well

Most tyres now come with various unique features suitable for different cars. While some can run with punctures on them, others can increase your fuel economy or reduce the stopping distance effectively. Buy the one that matches your specific needs.

2. Longevity is an essential factor

While buying a new set of tyres from a shop or an auto garage, seek the information about their durability. That is, how long they will last or how much time its treads will take to wear off. If you visit professionals like Totton Tyres & Exhaust, they will recommend you the ones that best suit your car’s make and model. They also provide amenities like repairing and servicing cars’ exhaust, clutch or tyres Totton.

3. Check the wheel alignment

When you fix the new set of tyres, ensure to check their alignment before taking your car out of that garage. That’s because improper alignment will further lead to an uncomfortable driving experience. Hence, wheel alignment Totton is essential while purchasing tyres for your car.

4. Size, obviously!

Refer to the owner’s manual to know the specific type and size that goes best with your car model. Or else, it will affect the vehicle’s performance. However, if you don’t have the manual, you can always visit the manufacturer’s official website and check the specifications there.

5. Get knowledge of their speed rating

Do you know tyres are classified depending on how fast they are? Consult with the experts and understand their speed rating before buying. Purchase tyres they go with your car model to promote better on-road grip and better handling of your vehicle.

Now that you have all the knowledge about what to consider while buying a new pair of tyres don’t falter when dealers try to confuse with a range of choices. Buy the one that will be worth your money!