Tyres will wear out eventually – that’s a fact. But is there anything you can do to prolong the life of your car tyres?
Aside from being an important part of regular vehicle maintenance, it’s important to pay attention to your vehicle’s tyres for safety reasons, too. After all, they are what keep your vehicle moving and are the only point of contact between your vehicle and the road.
Here are our top tips that can help reduce tyre wear:
Regular checks on your tyre pressures will ensure that your vehicle’s tyres wear evenly as well as improve your fuel economy. Details of the required tyre pressures will be in your vehicle’s handbook, but can often be found on a sticker on the driver’s door or inside the fuel cap. Make sure you adjust the pressures if you are loading the car more than usual too (which will also be indicated in the tyre pressure information).
Front wheels that are incorrectly aligned can cause the tyres to scrub on the road surface and cause uneven wear across the tyre. It is advisable to get the alignment checked every time you have the front tyres changed. It’s also recommended to check wheel alignment after you have had any kind of suspension or steering work carried out or even after you have hit a large pothole.
Good control of the clutch is paramount to reducing tyre wear. Wheelspin will cause the tyres to literally grate the rubber off onto the road surface. It is also futile if you are looking to move off quickly as wheelspin will mean it will take longer to get up to speed than it would do with good clutch control.
Good road anticipation goes a long way in reducing your tyre wear. Leaving braking to the last minute increases the chances of the wheels locking up and this, similar to wheelspin, will cause the tyre to grate against the road. Even if your vehicle is equipped with an anti-lock braking system (ABS) it will still momentarily scrub the tyre against the road.
Every tyre will have a Treadwear rating on the sidewall. This is often overlooked by people when buying tyres but it’s important to know that it could save you money long term. This rating will be between 60 and 620 – the higher the number, the longer it will last against the benchmark of 100. For example, a tyre with a rating of 400 will last 4 times longer than a tyre with a 100 rating. Cheaper tyres will generally have a lower rating so they will wear out quicker than a more expensive tyre with a higher rating.
And lastly, remember to check your tyre tread depth. It needs to be 1.6mm, which you can check using a 20p coin whose edge should be below the tread line. Driving a car with a defective tyre could land you with a £100 fine and three penalty points – per tyre!
To place a booking for a tyre fitting head to our website and a vetted mechanic can carry out a repair at your choice of time and date.
For most of us, car tyres are an expense we could do without. They usually require replacing at the most inconvenient time and therefore we either look for the cheapest deal or go with whatever the garage has offered you.
However, tyres can make a difference in how your car handles as well as your car’s fuel consumption so it’s worth considering the different options available. Here’s how to find the best tyre for your car and budget.
Tyre Ratings
Tyre ratings, as presented in the tyre label above, can help you make an informed choice to suit your needs. There are three components to the label:
Fuel Efficiency
The first diagram refers to how much rolling resistance the tyre has when the wheels are turning. The best rating is an A grade and G, the worst. If you do not cover great distances, this shouldn’t greatly concern you, but if you do a lot of miles, then the difference in the efficiency of over 7% between A and G can mean a lot!
Wet Grip
This is THE important one! Wet weather conditions can adversely affect stopping distances of a car. The wet grip score on the tyre label is an indicator of how well a tyre performs when braking in the wet. An A graded tyre can mean a stopping distance of almost 20 meters shorter than a G rated one. That is at least two cars in distance.
What it also means though is that your car is more likely to lock up the brakes under heavy braking sooner with a G rated tyre as opposed to an A-rated tyre. If your car doesn’t have an anti-lock braking system (ABS) this will mean a loss of control.
Noise
The third indicator is the amount of noise a tyre makes at 50mph and is expressed in decibels (dB). The higher the figure, the louder the noise. For most car owners this is of little concern, just turn the radio up! The other bit of information that is hidden in that picture though is the black filled arcs coming out from the tyre. One filled arc means the tyre complies with the legal limits of the future, whilst three filled black arcs means is just above the currently permitted maximum and future lower limits.
So what should you choose? Quite simply it’s a balance. A fuel-efficient tyre may be rated as an A because it has lower rolling resistance, however, this will impact the wet grip which will mean it scores lower on this indicator. The same for excellent wet grip vs fuel efficiency.
Our advice is to get the best-rated tyres for your budget. For the average motorist, keeping the wet rating as a B or under and the efficiency rating under a C means you won’t go too far wrong in your choice.
To better understand how to choose a car tyre, we had a chat with our expert Head Mechanic in Residence, Nigel Bennett, to take us through how he chooses a tyre for his car.
Could you tell us more about how you choose car tyres?
This is the tyre choice for my car on the ClickMechanic website. I change the rating into numbers. So for Efficiency, A gets a score of 7, G gets a 1. For Wet Grip, which is the most important, A gets a 21, B get an 18, C gets 10 etc.
Here is the list in price order.
| Tyre | Cost | Efficiency | Wet Grip | Score | VFM |
| Joyroad ‘Sport RX6’ | £93.00 | 3 | 18 | 54 | 1.72 |
| RoadX ‘Rxmotion U11’ | £102.47 | 2 | 15 | 30 | 3.42 |
| Bridgestone ‘Potenza S007’ | £167.29 | 2 | 15 | 30 | 5.58 |
| Pirelli ‘Cinturato P7’ | £173.05 | 5 | 18 | 90 | 1.92 |
| Uniroyal ‘RainSport 5’ | £176.76 | 5 | 21 | 105 | 1.68 |
| Avon ‘ZV7’ | £176.76 | 3 | 21 | 63 | 2.81 |
| Bridgestone ‘Potenza RE050A | £177.55 | 3 | 18 | 54 | 3.29 |
| Firestone ‘RoadHawk’ | £181.50 | 5 | 21 | 105 | 1.73 |
| Yokohama ‘Advan Sport V105’ | £188.61 | 3 | 21 | 63 | 2.99 |
| Bridgestone ‘Turanza T005’ | £188.92 | 6 | 21 | 126 | 1.50 |
| Goodyear ‘Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5’ | £189.32 | 5 | 15 | 75 | 2.52 |
| BFGoodrich ‘g-Grip’ | £190.97 | 5 | 18 | 90 | 2.12 |
| Pirelli ‘P Zero Nero GT’ | £191.45 | 5 | 18 | 90 | 2.13 |
| Dunlop ‘SP SportMaxx RT2’ | £191.84 | 5 | 21 | 105 | 1.83 |
| Bridgestone ‘Potenza S001’ | £192.00 | 2 | 18 | 36 | 5.33 |
| Michelin ‘Pilot Sport 3’ | £192.47 | 3 | 21 | 63 | 3.06 |
| Goodyear ‘Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5’ | £197.45 | 6 | 18 | 108 | 1.83 |
| Goodyear ‘Eagle F1 SuperSport’ | £198.87 | 3 | 21 | 63 | 3.16 |
| Continental ‘Sport Contact 5’ | £205.00 | 5 | 18 | 90 | 2.28 |
| Continental ‘Sport Contact 6’ | £205.00 | 2 | 18 | 36 | 5.69 |
| Bridgestone ‘Weather Control A005’ | £232.00 | 5 | 21 | 105 | 2.21 |
| Bridgestone ‘Potenza RE050A’ | £244.45 | 2 | 18 | 36 | 6.79 |
And here is the same list in score order
| Tyre | Cost | Efficiency | Wet Grip | Score | VFM |
| Bridgestone ‘Turanza T005’ | £188.92 | 6 | 21 | 126 | 1.50 |
| Goodyear ‘Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5’ | £197.45 | 6 | 18 | 108 | 1.83 |
| Uniroyal ‘RainSport 5’ | £176.76 | 5 | 21 | 105 | 1.68 |
| Firestone ‘RoadHawk’ | £181.50 | 5 | 21 | 105 | 1.73 |
| Dunlop ‘SP SportMaxx RT2’ | £191.84 | 5 | 21 | 105 | 1.83 |
| Bridgestone ‘Weather Control A005’ | £232.00 | 5 | 21 | 105 | 2.21 |
| Pirelli ‘Cinturato P7’ | £173.05 | 5 | 18 | 90 | 1.92 |
| BFGoodrich ‘g-Grip’ | £190.97 | 5 | 18 | 90 | 2.12 |
| Pirelli ‘P Zero Nero GT’ | £191.45 | 5 | 18 | 90 | 2.13 |
| Continental ‘Sport Contact 5’ | £205.00 | 5 | 18 | 90 | 2.28 |
| Goodyear ‘Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5’ | £189.32 | 5 | 15 | 75 | 2.52 |
| Avon ‘ZV7’ | £176.76 | 3 | 21 | 63 | 2.81 |
| Yokohama ‘Advan Sport V105’ | £188.61 | 3 | 21 | 63 | 2.99 |
| Michelin ‘Pilot Sport 3’ | £192.47 | 3 | 21 | 63 | 3.06 |
| Goodyear ‘Eagle F1 SuperSport’ | £198.87 | 3 | 21 | 63 | 3.16 |
| Joyroad ‘Sport RX6’ | £93.00 | 3 | 18 | 54 | 1.72 |
| Bridgestone ‘Potenza RE050A | £177.55 | 3 | 18 | 54 | 3.29 |
| Bridgestone ‘Potenza S001’ | £192.00 | 2 | 18 | 36 | 5.33 |
| Continental ‘Sport Contact 6’ | £205.00 | 2 | 18 | 36 | 5.69 |
| Bridgestone ‘Potenza RE050A’ | £244.45 | 2 | 18 | 36 | 6.79 |
| RoadX ‘Rxmotion U11’ | £102.47 | 2 | 15 | 30 | 3.42 |
| Bridgestone ‘Potenza S007’ | £167.29 | 2 | 15 | 30 | 5.58 |
With so many choices, how do you make a decision?
Uniroyal Rain Sport’s! I’m not too fussed about the efficiency and they are the cheapest in that band – a saving of £48 over the top-rated Bridgestone. The other thing is that Bridgestone is a very soft compound. They are excellent, but only for 7,500 miles if that! If I didn’t drive my cars “enthusiastically” and just pottled about, then I would consider the Joyroad.
Like plants, potholes grow with the rain. During the winter, rainwater puddles on the surface, but gets into the cracks between the tarmac. Underneath the tarmac, it freezes pushing the tarmac out as it expands into ice. This combined with the constant pressure of vehicles driving overtop causes potholes to quickly form.
The most recent RAC pothole index shows that drivers are 1.7 times more likely to break down with pothole-related damage than they were in 2006 when the RAC began tracking.
These holes in the road aren’t just a simple bump, they are a serious issue for car owners. They can grow metres wide, or have drivers swerve to avoid them. Potholes increase the likelihood of a crash, and can cause expensive damage to your vehicle.
You might hit a pothole dead on, or just clip it with the side of a wheel. Two things will typically affect the extent of the damage caused:
We’ll take a closer look at the damages potholes can do to your car.
Tyres are designed for contact with the road, not to be bounced around or scraped against a hole. This means potholes can cause some serious damage like sidewall bulges, tread separation, or even punctures. Tyres dip into potholes, and under the car’s weight, compresses into shape. The hard tarmac can then cut into the rubber, damaging the wall or snapping structural belts within the tyre. Inflating your tyres to the recommended levels can help resist against pothole damage.
Large potholes can cause scratches on your rims or even damage to the wheels. The harsh drop of some deep potholes impacts your wheels in a way they aren’t designed to handle. Cars aren’t regularly ‘dropped’ so have little resistance against wheel damage in these situations. Potholes can chip, crack, or bend a wheel. Chips and cracks are usually difficult to notice, as the tyre may cover up any damage. Bent wheels will not roll smoothly, and can impact on the performance of the tyres too. Significant chips, cracks or bends need to be replaced immediately, as it compromises the safety of the vehicle.
The suspension is designed to support the vehicle’s weight, absorb rough road driving, and ensure the tyre stays in contact with the road. A ‘drop’ into a pothole can cause suspension problems such as damaged shock absorbers, and broken ball joints. A damaged shock absorber or broken ball joints will cause a vibrating noise, wandering steering. A qualified mechanic will need to inspect the suspension system before individual parts are completely replaced.
Exhausts run along the length of the vehicle, and mufflers especially hang quite low. A deep pothole can potentially cause the exhaust system to scrape along the ground. Even some speed bumps can damage the exhaust system. The tarmac can cause scratches, dents, or even rip holes into the exhaust pipes, muffler, or catalytic converter. In extreme cases, you may lose power but over time you will usually experience a fall in fuel mileage as exhaust leaks cause the engine to use more fuel. You will want to check for damage, after particularly harsh scrapes. This may mean you have to get a mechanic round to hoist up the car and have a look underneath the car.
Deep potholes can obviously scratch paint, especially around wheel rims and bumpers. They will also kick up dirt and tarmac, which means more cleaning.
Alignment issues can be quite noticeable when turning, as your steering wheel is off-center, the car pulls back in one direction, or the handling feels loose. Misalignment also causes tyres to wear down faster since one side is overused.
Don’t ignore a loud scrape or knock from a pothole! You can even claim back on potholes, and get the hole filled. Come to ClickMechanic to get a full quote and receipt for the job, which you can easily use as evidence for a pothole letter to the council.
Happy Driving
Photo by Marc-Olivier Jodoin on Unsplash
Locking wheel nuts are an important part of the security of your vehicle. They are obviously there to prevent the theft of your alloy wheels, which are expensive enough in their own right, but also the tyres too, which on larger vehicles and SUV’s can be as much again as the cost of the wheel.
The most convincing reason to get extra security for your wheels and alloys is theft prevention. A number of thefts occur simply for the tyres as the market for cheaper “part worn” tyres has increased dramatically due to the consumer demand for bigger cross over vehicles that have bigger wheels and ultimately, more expensive tyres. Therefore it is important that you have a locking or security wheel nut/bolt on your vehicle.
Firstly, it is very important to ensure that the locking wheel nut removal tool is with the car when buying it second hand. You also need to ensure it is supplied on new cars too – ask your salesman where it is and in both cases ensure that it fits ALL the wheel nuts as it should!
This sounds obvious, but is often overlooked – know where your locking wheel nut tool is and that it can be accessed easily when required. There is nothing worse than an inconvenient puncture, but that is made even worse if you can’t find the locking wheel nut tool!
It is also a very good idea to make sure it’s easily available to the technicians when taking your car for any repair or service. Not only does its unknown whereabouts hold up the mechanics but also means they have to go searching around your car, from glovebox to boot in order to find it.
All is not lost! Well, it is, but it isn’t the end of the world! The important thing is to act now and not leave it “until you need it” as that time may be the most inconvenient one.
Some locking wheel nuts can be removed easily using specially made removal tools and most garages and mechanics have them. However, these only work on certain types and if that is the case then there will be considerable work required to get them off. In some cases, there may also be damage caused to the wheel, no matter how careful they are in getting them off.
So, if you have lost your wheel nut tool, you need to get a new one as soon as possible. If the wheel nuts are the standard ones from the manufacturer, the first place to try is a dealership. If that yields no luck, then get in contact with us and we will source a mechanic to get them removed for you and supply a replacement set with a new key.
Wheels, alloys, and tyres are not the only car part thieves have an eagle eye on. If you want to know more about how to prevent theft of car parts, read our article on how to prevent catalytic converter theft.
Happy driving!
Photo by Yucel Moran on Unsplash
Winter tyres can seem like a bit of a mystery. Often it’s unclear what they actually do and if they are any different from summer tyres. Tyres are tyres, right? Truth is that winter tyres are a highly specialised piece of kit. They will help keep your car stable in winter weather. They are, in fact, significantly different than summer tyres.
Summer tyres are fitted as standard to most cars and are the perfect companion to your car for the summer months. And up to a certain point, they work fine in other seasons as well. Their performance, however, rapidly declines as temperatures drop. Summer tyres are made in such a way that they are soft and grip well in normal and warm temperatures. But once temperatures approach 7C and below the summer tyres will start to lose traction with the road surface. Your car will start to feel unstable and it may not be very comfortable to drive. At that point, it is probably worth getting some winter tyres for your car.
Winter tyres are made out of a different type of rubber which makes them softer. It ensures they remain supple in cold weather. It helps to make them ‘grippier’ in winter conditions. On top of that, the tyre tread design is deeper and has more sipes (small slits) which help it process water and snow better.
This all contributes to the fact that winter tyres are proven to stop a car better in cold weather than summer tyres. Tyre manufacturer Continental found that winter tyres can help to stop a car traveling at 31mph eight metres before the same car on summer tyres. That might not seem like much, but it can be the difference between crashing into the back of another car or stopping just in time.
Deciding whether winter tyres are worth it is a much-debated topic. Many say it’s a waste of money having them in the UK as it’s never cold enough for them to have any effect. Others find that they are worth it and say that they feel safer driving with winter tyres in winter.
One of the main misconceptions about winter tyres is that they are only useful if it snows. Seeing that there is little snow in the UK it’s easy to dismiss them on that basis. The fact is, though, that they can be useful way before frosty conditions come round. The general rule is that if it’s under 7C degrees, they grip the road better than summer tyres. They will improve handling and braking no matter whether it snows or rains.
Winter tyres have clear advantages in some weather conditions. Their design can really help to cope with bad and cold weather. And can help stop your car much sooner if you brake on snow or ice.
That said, it is less clear if you actually need them. Remember, in large parts of the UK it is barely cold enough in winter for winter tyres to have much effect. On top of that snow in most parts of the country is a rare sight. After all, the UK is not quite Austria. It might just be that weather conditions in your area might be so mild that there is not much point getting them.
Consumer advice organisation Which? has suggested that it will depend on where you are whether they would be useful. It would mean that it makes sense to get some if you are in a colder part of the UK. There where bad winter weather conditions are far more likely. If you mostly drive in a city environment where it’s less cold, the tyres may have less use.
Winter tyres are not compulsory in the winter months in the UK, so it is always a personal choice. Unlike in most other European countries where they are mandatory. If you do decide to have them fitted, then the time most people get them is around October. That way you’re in time for the first bits of cold weather and are all prepared for when it starts freezing.
That leaves you with your summer tyres, though, which have to be stored somewhere. If you have a garage or shed this is no problem. If you haven’t got the space the decision to get some may be a lot more complicated. Many tyre fitters nowadays offer summer tyre storage for a small price.
For any tyre to work well, it needs to be in good condition and inflated to the right level. A winter tyre that is worn and underinflated may work no better in winter than a brand-new summer tyre. On the other hand, a summer tyre that has almost worn beyond the legal limit will be no good even if it is summer. That’s why it’s very important to ensure at any time of the year that the tyre tread depth is well within the legal limit. On top of that, make sure your tyres are inflated to the right level. This will help the tyres perform better, your car will be a safer place to be in and will waste less fuel in the process.
We have analysed the latest figures from the Department for Transport and can reveal that faulty brakes are the number one vehicle defect to contribute to 2016’s road accidents. However, looking just at cars, flawed tyres are in fact the most common defect to cause an incident.
With a total of 446 incidents, faulty tyres are the primary vehicle defect and contributing factor to car accidents in 2016. This is followed by defective brakes with 365 incidents, imperfect steering or suspension with 180 accidents and overloaded vehicles with 54 incidents. Defective lights or indicators (46 accidents) and mirrors (8 incidents) are less common and feature at the bottom of the table.
Looking at all recorded vehicles in road accidents, damaged brakes are more likely to cause an incident. This is because other vehicles such as motorbikes, buses and particularly bicycles, have recorded more issues with brakes than tyres. However, interestingly all vehicles in the UK are much more likely to have an incident involving defective tyres on the motorway, rather than as a result of imperfect brakes (85 incidents versus 17). This is because under inflated tyres will overheat quickly, particularly at high speeds, and can consequently ‘blow out’ and cause an accident. Whereas on A Roads, faulty brakes assume the top spot once again, as drivers brake more regularly.
Focusing on location, the South East has the highest number of accidents caused by vehicle defects, with 297 incidents. In contrast, the North East appears to take better care of their vehicles as only 46 vehicle defect related road accidents are recorded. Looking at our capital, defective brakes (85 incidents) are much more likely to cause an issue than faulty tyres (34 incidents); the constant braking and lower speeds when driving in London perhaps being the greatest influence to this. The only two regions in which defective tyres are significantly more likely to cause an incident than faulty brakes are Scotland and the East Midlands.
Andrew Jervis, Co-Founder of ClickMechanic, said: “Tyres and brakes control the movement of the car and so can easily cause a collision if they’re not in proper working condition. Being the top two occurring vehicle defects in 2016 emphasises that some UK drivers are not servicing their car regularly, or conducting simple checks, such as measuring the air pressure in the tyres. All drivers should follow their manufacturer’s recommended schedule and ensure that any anomalies are assessed by a professional as soon as possible. Doing so severely reduces the likelihood of these defects and keeps both yourself and other drivers safe on the road.”
Tyre pressure is vital to keeping your car rolling. Deflated tyres don’t grip the road meaning they can handle very badly. This may cause the vehicle to swerve unexpectedly and even cause the tyres to pop. This is incredibly dangerous on a motorway, where the high speeds can leave your car vulnerable to a crash.
Keeping your tyres inflated will also keep your wallet inflated. Deflated tyres require your wheels to revolve more, meaning your engine has to work harder. More fuel gets burnt so your money goes up in smoke.
A deflated tyre will wear down faster than one at the correct pressure. This means the tyre would need replacing a lot sooner than normal, costing you more money.
Make sure to check the tyre pressure, for safety and for the cost.
Tyres that are underinflated will impact on the performance of your vehicle. They provide less grip on the road, leading to unpredictable movements of the entire vehicle. Underinflated tyres are in danger of popping, as heat builds up. The heat wears down the rubber quickly until the pressure causes the air to push through the rubber and blow out.
Both of these issues make driving with a flat or even a slightly deflated tyre dangerous, especially on high-speed motorways. You can find your ideal tyre pressure in your owner’s manual or online.
Tyres that are underinflated will have an impact on how much you spend on fuel. The tyres require more energy to move which means the engine works harder and consumes more fuel.
The tyre will also wear down faster, along with many other parts of your engine which are being overworked. Their premature errors usually need repairing, with a tyre blowout needing a wheel replacement. Both of these issues hurt your wallet, and can cost hundreds when air at a fuel station only costs 50p.
As we’ve tried to illustrate, keeping your tyre pressure at the right level is very important to stay safe on the roads. But it can be tricky to figure out what tyre pressure is correct and when. Manufacturers will always state the correct minimum and maximum levels for specific conditions in the service guide for your car. It’s important to periodically check the pressures and make sure they are at the right level.
To find the pressure required for your car, check your handbook. Remember to check your tyre pressures when the tyres are cold, otherwise, you will end up with under-inflated tyres. If you’re not sure how to do it, make sure to get help from an expert.
Happy driving!
The hot summer heatwave is coming! Will your car stand up to the heat? Some common car problems caused by the sunny weather include overheating engines, dry rot in the tyres, peeling paint and a fading interior. Luckily, these are all preventable with a little car care.
A car engine is powered by a series of controlled explosions. This heat is actually useful for other component such as the catalytic converter but it needs to be regulated to avoid damage. There are many parts for coolant to flow and maintain a stable temperature. A failure in this cooling system will cause your engine to overheat and may lead to plenty of other issues.
WARNING: Make sure your engine is cool before working with it. If driving, pull over and wait for 30 mins for it to cool. As a precaution, always use heat protection when handling the engine to avoid burns to your hands.
1. Check your coolant level. Pop open the bonnet and look at the fluid level in the coolant reservoir. Confirm that it is between the Max and Min levels. If your vehicle doesn’t have a reservoir then you will have to open up the radiator and check the coolant level in there. The fluid should be up to the bottom of the filler neck where the cap goes on.
WARNING: Make sure the engine is cool before opening the radiator. It is a pressurised container that will vent hot steam. This can cause severe burns.
2. Top up your engine coolant. When the coolant is lower than MAX, or isn’t full in the radiator, then you should add some coolant. You should use the same coolant, as other kinds may act differently in the engine and cause blockages. A very temporary solution is to use water until you can get to a nearby garage.
3. Check for leaks. Take a flashlight to the underside of your engine to and inspect the area for damp or dripping. The coolant will usually be green, pink or orange so it should stand out under the light. The leak will usually be found near the radiator, the front area of the engine, and the firewall area. If you do find a leak then get a repair immediately. While you can keep topping the coolant up every few miles, this is a hassle and the leak can cause other problems such as contaminating fuel.
4. Keep an eye on the temperature of your engine. Vehicles will usually have a temperature gauge on the dashboard, it may even have a warning system to alert you. If your coolant temperature is approaching dangerous levels then pull over immediately to avoid any further damage to your vehicle. An overheated engine can be very expensive, especially when there is a less costly alternative.
Tires are made of rubber, which makes them durable, able to handle thousands of kilos and resist punctures. They survive for through mud and snow but the heat of the sun can quickly deteriorate any tire. The heat dries out the rubber which causes hairline cracks. It can turn small scratches into gauges down to the metal. Here are some ways to protect your tires:
Park in the shade. When possible you should choose a cool spot behind a wall or under a tree. Preventing direct sunlight to your tyres should keep them a lot cooler than it’s surroundings.
Cover the tyres. If your car is going to be parked for several days or there aren’t any tall trees in the area, then you can use tyre covers. Ones in lighter shades will absorb less heat although good luck keeping the whites white when working with tyres. A complete car cover amy also work here, although it can be infeasible with larger vehicles.
Move your car. Actually using them more will mean they are less likely to crack. This is especially true for vehicles, such as motorhomes, which may be parked for weeks at a time.
Use tyre dressing when detailing. Tyre dressing stops the rubber from drying out and cracking. It also gives them a shinier surface for you to show off. Invest in a good quality brand for this, as some may actually cause more damage.
Car paint bears the brunt of the sun’s rays and gets very hot sitting on metal, enough to fry an egg. The colour can be stripped out by the sun’s light and eventually a coat of paint may crack and peel. This is dangerous for the bonnet lid as it can cause rust to infect your car. Here are a few ways to protect your paint job:
Clean and wax your car. Not only will your car be sparkling, you should also be protected against more of the sun’s heat. During the summer, having a wax every 2 months should keep your car sparkling and protected. Use a high quality wax that also protects against UV damage.
Park in the shade. Again, you want to get out of the sun and the heat. Even if you’re only stopping for a few hours, you’ll be a lot more comfortable when you return and your car will be kept a lot healthier. Even if it’s a longer walk, think of it as a challenge, your own heptathlon of dragging the shopping back to the car.
Cover your car. If you don’t have a garage or can’t use an underground parking facility then you should buy a car cover. A car cover will protect your car from the elements, and particularly the sun. This car cover should last you a long time, and prolong the finish of your car. You should be covering your car anytime that you’re gone for over 2 hours and, while this may be inconvenient, your car will show it’s appreciation.
Interior surfaces, especially vinyl, leather, and plastic, are vulnerable to heat and direct sunlight. You should be treating these surfaces with protective coats or covering them. The materials degrade in different ways but sunwashed surfaces will affect the resale value of many cars. Here are a few tips to help protect your interiors:
Tinted windows. Window tinting protects you from the sun and UV rays. While in the UK you can only fully tint the rear windows, you can still partially tint your front side windows and windscreens. You can apply your own window tint, or get a professional to do it.
Moisturise your leather. Leather dries out in the sun which can cause a lot of those wrinkles to crack. These cracks will eventually develop into into larger holes so it’s important to have a regular schedule for moisturising your car. Re-applying the conditioner should usually happen every month. That should be around a similar time as a quick car wash, so you can do them at the same time. Make sure to get a good leather conditioner which shows a clear difference to the worn out leather beforehand.
Clean the interior. Your big cleaning day once a month should include an interior clean, as well as the exterior. Some cleaners can be more soap based which will dry out surfaces, so you have to buy one that will both clean and condition your surfaces.
Use sun visors. Sun visors will reflect the sun’s rays and the heat back out. Using a sun visor is best when parking in sunlight. Unfold the sun visor in the car and face the metallic side to the outside. Make sure it reaches all the corners and use your sunshields to pin the sun visor in place. On a sunny day you can bake cookies on the dash, as your car climbs 20℃ above the outside temperature in half an hour.
You should be getting all your scheduled services squared off before the summer, as many issues crop up in the heat. Using these tips, you can make sure your car avoids any sun damage to the interior and exterior. If your car is experiencing problems, then get a diagnostic inspection to find out what’s wrong and fix any minor issues.
Deciding whether winter tyres are worth it is a much debated topic. Many say it’s a waste of money having them in the UK as it’s never cold enough for them to have any effect. Others find that they are worth it and say that they feel safer driving with winter tyres in winter.
One of the main misconceptions about winter tyres is that they are only useful if it snows. Seeing that there is little snow in the UK it’s easy to dismiss them on that basis. Fact is, though, that they can be useful way before frosty conditions come round. General rule is that if it’s under 7C degrees, they grip the road better than summer tyres. They will improve handling and braking no matter whether it snows or rains.
Winter tyres have clear advantages in some weather conditions. Their design can really help to cope with bad and cold weather. And can help stop your car much sooner if you brake on snow or ice.
That said, it is less clear if you actually need them. Remember, in large parts of the UK it is barely cold enough in winter for winter tyres to have much effect. On top of that snow in most parts of the country is a rare sight. After all, the UK is not quite Austria. It might just be that weather conditions in your area might be so mild that there is not much point getting them.
Consumer advice organisation Which? has suggested that it will depend on where you are whether they would be useful. It would mean that it makes sense to get some if you are in a colder part of the UK. There where bad winter weather conditions are far more likely. If you mostly drive in a city environment where it’s less cold, the tyres may have less use.
Winter tyres are not compulsory in the winter months in the UK, so it is always a personal choice. Unlike in most other European countries where they are mandatory. If you do decide to have them fitted, then the time most people get them is around October. That way you’re in time for the first bits of cold weather, and are all prepared for when it starts freezing.
That leaves you with your summer tyres, though, which have to be stored somewhere. If you have a garage or shed this is no problem. If you haven’t got the space the decision to get some may be a lot more complicated. Many tyre fitters nowadays offer summer tyre storage for a small price.