car-winter

Preparing your car for the winter

Prepare Your Car for the Winter – Tips for Safe Driving

Without the right preparation, the winter weather can damage your car. This guide will assist you in preparing your vehicle for the winter’s harsh elements. In turn, giving you the confidence to drive during the colder months.

Bald_Tyre-Durham

What is a Bald Tyre ?

The Bald Tyre

A bald tyre is when the tread has either worn down to below the legal minimum or worn away completely. A tyre’s ‘tread’ refers to the grooves along the outer surface that help you maintain grip on the road.

Although 1.6mm is the legal minimum tread depth, it’s advisable to replace your tyres a lot sooner. Reduced tyre tread can lead to the following:
* Reduced traction
* Increased stopping distances
* Greater risk of aquaplaning
* More prone to punctures
* Penalty points and fines

Therefore, it’s essential to check the condition of your tyres regularly.

Under-inflated-tyres

Under Inflated Tyres

How under inflated tyres can affect a vehicle

Under inflated tyres can become very dangerous to yourself and other road users if not identified early. By identifying tyre deflation early, it ensures you can begin carrying out the correct procedures for your tyres to be road ready in a safe way.

Electric_vehicles_Tyres

Electric Vehicle Tyres

Electric Vehicle Tyres – The Facts

Electric vehicles (EVs) are continuing to gain popularity. However, the electric vehicle tyres also play a crucial role in ensuring optimal performance, efficiency, and safety.

The distinct characteristics which electric (EV) vehicles have also influence the tyre requirements. For example, the weight of EVs is a lot more due to hte heavy battery packs. Weight distribution can impact the tyres wear and also its performance. Manufacturers generally design the EV tyres to accommodate for the extra load to ensure a efficient and smooth driving experience.

Winter Tyres Durham

Checking your tyres for the winter

The importance of checking your tyres for the winter

Did you know that 1 in 5 drivers have never checked their tyres for the winter? Older tyres which are worn can be dangerous in any weather but its a lot more important to keep an eye on your tread when it comes to the darker nights and wetter weather conditions.

illegal tyres

Illegal Tyres

Illegal Tyres, What To Watch Out For

Tyres play such an important factor in a vehicle’s function and ensuring they are in top condition keeps you driving in a safe environment. There are many factors that can have a detrimental effect on a tyres performance, and to make sure you are able to spot them all easily, it is important that frequent checks are carried out. It can be easy to carry out tyre checks if you know what you’re looking for, so here is a beginners guide.

spare-tyre

Driving with a spare tyre

Driving on a spare tyre

A huge majority of cars are bought with 5 wheels, 4 on the car and one hiding in the boot for emergency situations. Over the years, there has been a shift to cars sold with just the 4 installed as car manufacturers look to create more free space within the vehicle. Although it is advised to always travel with a spare tyre, it is not law, meaning that it’s always worth checking where the best place to store a spare in your vehicle is. Having to use the spare tyre in an emergency situation is something that a lot of us can dread, however there are some tips to help you if you ever find yourself driving on a temporary spare tyre.

Icy Conditions

Driving in icy conditions

Driving your vehicle in icy conditions

For some of us, driving in the snow and ice is a skill that we’ve had to learn first hand on the road. If you were lucky enough to experience icy conditions during your lessons, it may be less scary when you experience it as a passed driver. But for the majority that faced it with no experience, there are definitely some we wish we knew. One of the best advice that can be given is to simply try and avoid driving in icy conditions, but as we know this is not always possible, here is some advice when it is necessary.