0 Outback driving and tyre tips for your springtime Queensland adventure

Your black circles are as crucial as your driving skills on outback tracks

As we head rapidly toward spring, you are likely to be thinking about getting away for a few days. Instead of the beach, how about exploring the outback? Queensland is ideal for 4WD adventures and going bush, with something that suits all tastes and driving experience.

You could take the kids on a dinosaur adventure, cruise the deserts along the Matilda Highway, visit country and coast, or discover Queensland’s ancient inland sea beds.

In this article, we’ll introduce you to a great outback road trip for all drivers, and give you a few tyre tips that will help you negotiate all the terrain you’re likely to come across.

Brisbane to Birdsville – the complete 4WD adventure

One of the most popular outback road trips is the 4WD adventure drive from Brisbane to Birdsville. On this trip, you will cover 1,800 kilometres of the most beautiful and diverse Queensland countryside. You’ll be gently transported from city to outback, and have plenty of opportunities to get your teeth into some real 4WD experiences.

The kids will have fun Koala spotting. Gardening enthusiasts will marvel at the springtime blooms in Warwick. Along the route, there are large sheep, cotton, and cattle stations. There are river walks, art galleries, mud baths, date farms, and the winery at Eulo. Discover more about Australia’s history as you view the Aboriginal rock carvings at Cullyamurra Waterhole and visit the Australian Inland Mission Hostel. Spot rare birds, spend time fishing for yellowbelly, and watch the sunset on Big Red, the 40-metre sand dune on the edge of the Simpson Desert.

It is an amazing road trip, and for 4WD enthusiasts offers plenty of opportunities to go off-road and experience all types of tracks and surfaces.

Stay safe on a road trip by preparing well

Before setting out, make sure you prepare well for your road trip:

• Let people know where you’re going, and how long you intend to be away.
• Pack plenty of food and water. If you get stranded, you could be ‘on your own’ for a few days.
• Phone loved ones to let them know of your progress each day – if you do get stranded, this will give them a better idea of where you are.
• Check your spare tyre, and have all your tyres checked before you leave – it’s a good idea to pack a second spare tyre, too.
• Finally, immediately before you set off and each day during your trip, check the RACQ’s road conditions for your next leg and any planned side trips.

How to use your tyres to negotiate different terrains

You are likely to encounter several terrains on your 4WD adventure. Here are a few tips on driving style, and how your tyres can help you get through all outback conditions:

·      Mud

Bogholes, wheel rutting, and pits of mud that are as deep as your axle. It is some of the muddy terrains you’ll encounter in the outback. Try to keep your 4WD tyres on the higher ground. If you do slip, keep your foot on the accelerator and steer side to side: you’ll get a better grip on the ruts. Drive in a high range and with full throttle.

As you come through one mud patch, stop and check your wheel arches. Clean out any mud that has built up around the mud guards. It will help your tyre tread achieve maximum traction.

·      Water

Water crossings can be dangerous, especially if you go in without preparation. Get stuck in water, and you could be in all sorts of trouble. Here are the steps to ensure your vehicle doesn’t drown:

• Walk the crossing first
• Note where obstacles are
• Check that your air intake is high enough to avoid water intake
• Set off
• Drive in a low gear
• Don’t change gear midway through, and maintain a steady speed

Your tyres play a big part in a successful water crossing. Don’t reduce air pressure. You don’t know what’s under the water, so when you reach the other side, get out of your vehicle and check your tyres and sidewalls for cuts and slashes, and wedged stones and other debris that could damage or puncture your tyres.

·      Bulldust

Bulldust is common on bush roads. I’ve heard of vehicles disappearing into bulldust holes, so always take great care when you come across this surface.

Bulldust is a soft, powdery dust. You’ll notice the road ahead looks very different. Tyre tracks lose definition in the soft folds created by a few inches of bulldust. V-shaped ruts are noticeable. Novice outback drivers could be tempted to treat bulldust like sand and deflate tyres. Don’t do it!

Beneath the bulldust, you’ll find a rock-hard base. It could split the sidewall of a partially deflated tyre. Drive on fully inflated tyres, and keep a constant speed of between 60 km/h and 80 km/h. If the vehicle veers to the side, correct by steering into it and gently increasing pressure on the throttle. Ignore the dust around you – once you’re through, this dust will be behind you.

·      Rocks

There’s skill in tackling rocks, but it can be learned quickly:

• Keep the vehicle’s tyres on high ground
• Drive in first or second gear, low range
• Avoid ‘opening’ the throttle – too much throttle creates tyre slip
• Keep tyres inflated at normal for road driving, except if you get stuck – then partially deflate to give better grip, and re-inflate as soon as you’re out of trouble

·      Desert

If you have driven on the beach before, you are most of the way to know how to drive in the desert. However, most deserts in Australia are a combination of sand ridges and rock. It means you shouldn’t deflate tyres as you might on the beach.

Maintain momentum, don’t fight with the steering wheel, and let your 4WD vehicle ‘find its course’. Take care on crests, and if the vehicle feels as if it’s going to slide down a slope, steer into the slide and accelerate to increase tyre traction.

Check your tyres and vehicle before your spring road trip

Make sure that your vehicle is as well prepared as you when travelling into the outback and taking any road trip. Come into our West Brisbane tyre shop, and we’ll make sure your tyres are in tip top condition – including your spares. Contact Darra Tyres today, and let us help you have the 4WD adventure of a lifetime.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

0 A great way to dispose old tyres in Brisbane!

Brisbane Tyres turned to chic bags and accessories

Worry no more about your old run down tyres. Inner tube tyres can now be recycled and turned into fashionable accessories for your everyday use!

Sarah Textor owner of Clive Street was so sweet to write us a note saying;

““As the owner of sustainable bag and accessories label that uses textiles such as inner tube tyres, advertising billboard skins and seatbelt webbing. The most important element to creating my range is the local business community that keeps the used textiles for me to collect and use. After searching for a tyre business that could keep the inner tube tyres from their workshop I came across Darra Tyres. From the very beginning, Kevin and Annette have been so supportive of my sustainable business. Keeping the inner tubes and storing them for me until I can get the items from their shop and collect them. Kevin is always interested in my projects and designs and is really committed to supporting me in any way. I am very grateful for Darra Tyres for taking an interest in other small business who believe in sustainability and recycling“

Cheers,

Kevin Wood

0 Four fun facts about tyres Brisbane drivers probably don’t know

Thinner and lighter tyres are here… but tyres with no air?

I’ve been thinking about how tyres are changing shape. Okay, not shape exactly, but they are developing. They might look very much like they did 50 years ago, but on the surface and inside, tyres are evolving at one heck of a pace. In years to come, you may even buy tyres without air in them.

Here are four big changes that I’ve noticed.

After years of getting fat, tyres are on a diet

For years, I watched tyres get fatter and wider. The bigger footprint gives better grip and handling. It also increases rolling resistance and increases fuel consumption. In recent years, though, this trend has reversed. Manufacturers have put their tyres on a diet. They’re getting thinner. It makes them more aerodynamic and reduces rolling resistance, leading to lower fuel consumption.

But doesn’t this mean poorer handling capability? Well, it would, except that tyre manufacturers have been innovative with the design. They’ve created tread formations that stick to the road. Today’s thin tyres are as good – perhaps even better – on corners than their fatter predecessors. And they provide better traction for shorter braking distances. Tyre innovation has produced a win/win for drivers.

Tyre manufacturers are fighting a shocking trend

Drivers that come into our tyre shop here in West Brisbane have long been complaining about static electricity. Shocks when they close their car doors, for example. These used to be commonplace years ago. To combat them, you might remember an earthing strip hanging from the back of many vehicles. This problem was largely eliminated as manufacturers added carbon black to tyre compounds.

However, in recent years manufacturers have been producing tyres with less carbon black in the rubber. Consequently, static electricity has increased, and people are suffering more shocks from their cars.

Manufacturers have been stuck between a rock and a hard place. Less carbon fibre is better for the environment but leads to regular electric shocks. They’ve come up with an innovative solution. Many modern, thinner tyres are now produced with a strip of conductive material along their centre. It provides an electrical contact between the tyre and the tarmac and reduces electric shocks.

Tyres are getting lighter as well as thinner

Tyre manufacturers are making tyres lighter as well as thinner. Less weight equals lower rolling resistance. Manufacturers have been using a combination of strategies to achieve less weighty tyres. These include using tougher treads to increase longevity and lighter steel in the tyre cords.

In the future, air pressure won’t be a consideration

Airless tyres could be with us sooner than we think. Some commercial trucks and industrial vehicles already use them. Many forklift tyres are non-pneumatic. Manufacturers are developing tyres with a honeycomb interior structure. These increase structural stability and increase the weight that can be carried. They are highly resistant to damage, and even reduce the effects of collisions with kerbs to a vehicle’s suspension.

When you come into our tyre shop in Brisbane, you might not be able to buy airless tyres just yet and the last thing you’ll get is a load of hot air. Contact Darra Tyres today, and you’ll discover that we’re different.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

0 Agricultural tyres – how do you choose the best for Queensland farms?

Know your tyres to cut costs and maximise productivity

Agricultural tyres are work horses – like your tractor. They are also big investments – like your tractor. Unlike your tractor, tyres have remained pretty much the same for a hundred years and more. While the shape of tractors has changed markedly, agricultural wheels are still the same basic shape and colour. Yet, just like in the cab and under the bonnet of your tractor, tyre manufacturers have packed an increasingly big punch into agricultural tyres.

To get the best performance from your tractor, you should understand the tyres it sits on.

Agricultural tyres and technology

The agricultural tyre looks very similar to how it did a century ago, and when compared to the tyres you may have had on your tractor in the 1980s, there is even less difference. But underneath that black exterior, there is a whole lot of new technology going on.

Manufacturers have massively upgraded rubber compounds. It has helped to increase load capacity. Agricultural tyres can now roll at lower tyres pressures, giving them better traction in the field.

Cross-ply or radial – which is best?

Cross-ply tyres have criss-cross cords, while radials have steel cords and belts across the casing. It’s now widely accepted that radials offer the best performance. They:

• Reduce wheel slip
• Reduce soil compaction
• Produce less rutting and soil erosion

Radials offer greater horsepower-to-ground capability, less wheel slip and reduced soil compaction, which in turn leads to less soil degradation via rutting and erosion.

A soft footprint for reduced rutting

Because of the way they are constructed, radials have a softer sidewall. It enables the tyre to run at a lower air pressure, which produces a ‘soft footprint’. The harder the tyre footprint, the deeper the rutting in the field. It is bad for crop growing, and bad for the tyre and the engine.

Your tractor engine must work harder to power the tyres through deep ruts. It uses more fuel and decreases engine life, too.

Radial agricultural tyres should give you a better soil, and cut your running costs.

The agricultural tyre trade-off

There is a trade-off to make when choosing between radial and cross-ply tyres for agricultural use. We wouldn’t recommend you ballast radial tyres with water. However, it’s a common practice to ballast cross-ply tyres with water. They are cheaper and more durable. If you work a rough terrain, where puncturing is a problem, cross-ply may be your better option. And for small-scale farmers, cross-ply tyres are usually more economical.

When radials outperform

For large-scale farmers, especially where production levels are important, radial tyres should be the tyre of choice. Though they cost more, their extended tread life makes the costs more than stack up in your favour. In fact, radial treads are likely to last up to three times longer than cross-ply treads.

You should bank on a good quality radial lasting around 5,000 hours in Queensland.

Time, money and productivity – the tyre tread advantage

By selecting the best tyre for your application, you’ll save time and money. Your tyre life will be extended, and your engine won’t be worked quite as hard. For most agricultural applications, a herringbone tread is best. The softer footprint will help your soil produce more crops. Larger tyres tend to give a better traction, too.

However, if traction is not an issue, then a diamond pattern tread may be best.

When buying agricultural tyres, speak with one of our technicians. We’ll consider:

• The ground they will be used on, and how tread width will impact your production.
• Power usage, and suggest a tyre to maximise horsepower.
• Which tyres will enable you to carry heavier loads without the need for higher tyre pressures?

Our aim is to help you produce the most crop with the least effort, prolonging tyre and tractor life. The result is that we match the best tyre for the specific use you have planned for it.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

0 What are the benefits of regrooving your commercial tyres?

Could regrooving cut your fleet costs?

Commercial tyres are expensive pieces of equipment, and so you’ll want to make them last for as long as possible. You’ll also want to make sure they perform well – increasing safety and driving comfort, and decreasing fuel consumption. There are several ways in which you can make commercial tyres last longer. These include good tyre rotation, proper inflation, and proper loading. You could also buy the best tyres for retreading or buy tyres that can be regrooved.

In this article, we look at regrooving commercial tyres, the fastest and easiest way to make your tyres last longer and reduce fleet costs.

What’s the difference between a retread and a regroove?

When you retread a tyre, you add new rubber onto an existing tyre when the tread has worn down. When a tyre is Regrooved, a tread pattern is re-cut into the existing tyre rubber when the tread depth has worn down to around 3mm to 4mm.

What are the benefits of regrooving?

A tyre that has been regrooved will benefit from improved grip immediately. It will increase vehicle performance, and reduce braking distance. The tyre life will also be extended, possibly by many months. Better performance equals better fuel consumption and lowers fuel costs. Longer life equals lower tyre costs.

The positive effect on fuel consumption can be dramatic. It is estimated that fuel consumption constitutes around 35% of all fleet costs. Michelin has calculated that regrooving will save around 6% to 10% of a fleet’s fuel bill. Some tyre experts estimate that a regrooved tyre is between 20% and 30% more fuel efficient than a new tyre.

How do you get the best out of regrooving?

To maximise the benefits of regrooving commercial tyres, specialist tools are needed to ensure that:

• The tread pattern is followed accurately. It is key to providing the traction expected.
• The tread pattern depth is cut consistently. It maximises the use of rubber on the tyre.

Can all tyres be regrooved?

It’s always best to refer to a tyre dealer to make certain a tyre can be regrooved because not all can be. On tyres that can be regrooved, under the original tread, the tyre rubber is at its most effective and efficient. Mileage is at a maximum while rolling resistance is at a minimum.

A tyre that can be regrooved will have extra rubber underneath the tread. Not all tyres have this, and even those that claim they can be regrooved should be checked before regrooving takes place.

Should you consider regrooving your fleet’s tyres?

There are plenty of reasons why fleet managers should consider a tyre maintenance program that includes regrooving. These include the following advantages:

• Regrooving your tyres could increase their mileage.
• Tyres that last longer need to be replaced less often, and so purchase costs fall.
• The lower rolling resistance translates to better fuel consumption, and lower fuel costs.
• Drivers benefit from a safer and more comfortable drive.
• A further benefit is that maximising fuel consumption and minimising tyre disposal adds to your fleet’s green credentials.

Tyre regrooving is cost-effective and environmentally friendly. It makes good business sense. Why not book a tyre inspection for your fleet today? We’ll be happy to audit your fleet’s tyres and provide quotes for professional regrooving which will help you realise all the benefits we’ve discussed in this article.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

0 Listen – do you know what that tyre noise is telling you?

Your hearing is the first tyre check you should make

Do you hear that noise? The one your tyres are making on Brisbane’s roads? That’s not just rubber on tarmac, that’s real communication. The squeals, squeaks, screeches and rumbles all tell you about the state of your tyres and more.

It is thought that three-quarters of effective communication is through listening to what the other person is telling you. With tyres in Brisbane, the noise they make tells you most of what you need to know about their condition. Listen to what they are telling you, for they are key to your safety. Those black circles are your single point of contact between you and the road. They are integral to the handling, comfort, and braking distance of your vehicle, in whatever weather and road condition Brisbane throws at you.

And you thought listening to your spouse was important…

Tyres always make a noise, don’t they?

Some noise from your tyres is inevitable. When rubber rolls against any surface there will be noise from the friction between the different materials. Air, water and debris move rapidly between the tyre tread, causing even more noise. Tyre manufacturers spend millions on creating tread patterns that cut down noise. Some have almost achieved perfection. But until vehicles float rather than roll, tyre noise will never be eliminated.

Much of the noise you hear your tyres make will be natural rubber against the road. Each tyre brand and product sound slightly different to another on the road. Learning to translate the noises your tyres make takes experience, though the language is the same. It’s a little like learning to understand what a Scot is saying when you are only used to speaking with fellow Aussies.

The language of tyres

There are several common sounds that your tyres make. They may squeal, squeak, or rumble. It is the language that tyres use to communicate to you. Let’s translate these sounds for you:

·      Squealing tyres

Your tyres may squeal, especially when you are turning tight corners. Often, you’ll hear this in car parks. If it appears that this squealing is from your front tyres, they are probably underinflated. You should check the tyre pressure, even if they don’t look underinflated.

·      Squeaking tyres

If you have a tyre that squeaks, you need to take notice straight away. It’s more dangerous than a squeal. A squeak could be a sign that your tread is worn unevenly, and usually on the front tyres. You might also experience some pulling to either the right or the left. Get to the tyre shop immediately and have your tyres, wheel balance and wheel alignment checked.

·      Squeaking with a rattle

If a squeaking tyre is accompanied by a rattle, it’s likely that the hubcap has come loose.

·      Grinding sounds

If you are suffering a grinding sound from your wheels, it’s time to be scared. The most likely cause is that your brakes are failing; worn drums or pads. Don’t take any risks with this noise. Wherever you are, get your vehicle checked immediately. Failing brakes are never good news – for you, your passengers, or other road users.

·      Rumbling and vibration

Some road surfaces (especially ribbed) cause your tyres to rumble and vibrate. However, a more important reason to be worried is that rumbling and vibration from your tyres could indicate that a wheel bearing is worn – especially if the noise gets louder as your speed increases. The wheel bearing keeps your wheel attached to the car. I don’t need to tell you how serious rumbling and vibration from your tyre is. It’s screaming to get your car checked.

·      Screeching

Screeching tyres is normal if you are cornering at high speed, or if you brake quickly to stop fast. It is caused by friction between rubber and road. However, if your tyres are screeching during normal driving, the likelihood is that your tread depth is illegal. Bring your vehicle into our tyre shop, and we’ll check your tread and locate the problem.

If in doubt, shout!

When you’ve been driving a while on a set of tyres, sometimes you instinctively know something isn’t quite right. There may be a noise that you can’t pinpoint or put into a particular ‘sound’ category, but you just have a feeling that it doesn’t sound right. It could be that you’ve hit a pothole or scraped against a kerb. Your wheel may have become misaligned, or your tread has worn, or your tyres are underinflated.

Don’t ignore the noise from your tyres. If you aren’t sure what it means, err on the side of caution. Get your tyres and car checked. Be safe, not sorry. Don’t take any chances – contact us today and book an appointment for a tyre check.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

0 Warning for drivers in West Brisbane: driver fatigue and poor tyres kill

Tips to stay safe on the roads during school holidays

It’s that time of year again – school holidays. It means many of you could be packing up and heading out on a road trip from West Brisbane into the outback or interstate. Driver fatigue is a factor in as many as one in three road accidents. Poor tyres are a factor in almost as many road accidents. We want you and your family to stay safe, no matter whether you are on a shopping trip in West Brisbane or a family holiday to Perth.

In this article, you’ll read my tips to prevent driver fatigue and ensure your tyres will do the job they are designed for.

How do you know you’re getting tired behind the wheel?

Driver fatigue makes you a worse driver. Your reaction times are slower, and you’ll find it harder to concentrate on the road ahead. It leads to poor judgement. In the worst case, you could suffer a fatal accident.

There are some tell-tale signs that you are suffering from driver fatigue. These include:

• Heavy eyes and yawning
• Daydreaming behind the wheel
• Variable driving speeds
• Cramping in your legs and arms
• Impatience behind the wheel

You may also find that your braking becomes more lethargic, your steering less pronounced, and you change gears with a crunch. As tiredness increases, you’re likely to drift across lanes.

When are you most at risk of driver fatigue?

Many fatigue-related road accidents occur at night. However, contrary to popular myth, driver fatigue can happen at any time and isn’t confined to long-distance journeys.

Another myth is that it is the act of driving that makes drivers tired. It’s true that if you drive for hours upon hours, you are going to get tired. But most driver fatigue is a problem caused by lack of sleep before a road trip. You may work long hours or inconsistent shifts. You may have problems sleeping. Perhaps a newborn baby has been keeping you awake most of the night. There are many reasons why you could be tired before you sit behind the wheel.

How to avoid driver fatigue

When your body is in desperate need of sleep, your brain will shut it down. You get advanced warning of this – all those signs of fatigue we discussed a couple of paragraphs earlier. You should listen to them, and take a break. To avoid driver fatigue:

• Only travel for a maximum of ten hours in a day
• During a road trip, take regular breaks every couple of hours
• Share the driving if possible
• Avoid driving when you would normally be asleep

If you’re planning a long trip, make sure you sleep well the night before – and don’t drink alcohol before you go to bed. Alcohol stays in your system for 24 hours and makes you fatigued.

Now you’re fit for the road, are your tyres?

Okay, you’re ready to drive and fit for your family’s road trip. But are your tyres? When was the last time you checked the tread and tyre pressure? Here are a few basic tips to make sure your tyres are as fit for the journey as you are:

• A couple of days before you are due to leave, inspect your tyres. Make sure they don’t have bald patches, scuffs, bulges and scrapes. Legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm. As soon as the tread reduces to below 3mm, tyre performance will be adversely affected. At 2mm, your braking distance is severely lengthened. If you are concerned about tread depth at all, bring your vehicle to our West Brisbane tyre shop. It isn’t worth the risk to do nothing.
• Before you leave, check tyre air pressures. Make sure they are at the recommended levels – you’ll find these on the tyre placard on the door jamb or in your vehicle owner’s manual.
• Make sure that each tyre valve is capped. It protects against dust and water.
• Don’t forget to make the same checks on your spare tyre.
• Don’t forget to check the tyres on a trailer or caravan if you are towing.

If you haven’t changed your tyres for five years or more, get them checked. Even if a tyre looks good, tyre rubber degrades because of the effects of weather. Particularly here in Brisbane, UV rays from the sun deplete tyre strength.

Be safe, not sorry. Don’t take any chances. Contact us today and book an appointment for a tyre check.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

0 Continental’s latest truck tyre pressure monitoring system is unveiled in Brisbane

Greater safety, lower costs and greener fleets promised

The Brisbane Truck Show is Australia’s premier truck event. This year’s show held over three days in mid-May at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. In its fiftieth year, as ever, the show had something for everyone. Corner for the kids, a hub for those seeking a new career in the truck industry, and the fantastic Plaza Terrace BBQ Bar. For those wanting a little up-market R&R, the Piano Bar beckoned.

One of the favourites of the show is the Heavy Vehicle Industry Innovation Centre. This year the exhibits didn’t disappoint. They never do. Continental took this opportunity to unveil its new truck tyre check products. And they look pretty good.

The new all-seeing eye for your truck tyres

The best truck tyre pressure monitoring systems help a fleet save on fuel costs and increase mileage. They help reduce costs further by increasing the ability to retread the tyres. Equally important, these systems increase safety by reducing the potential for tyre failure.

Easy-to-install tyre checking

Continental’s ContiPressureCheck is easy to install and mounted inside the tyre. You don’t have to have Continental tyres fitted to benefit from the system, either – it’s compatible with all tyre brands.

The sensor monitors the tyre continuously for both temperature and pressure. This data flow can be integrated with an existing telematics system and viewed on an external device.

Giving control to fleet managers

Another tyre check system, the YardReader Station, lets fleet managers monitor the tyre pressures of their fleet. It reads the data from the ContiPressureCheck each time the truck passes the station in the fleet yard. The fleet manager is more able to control the fleet’s tyres, ensuring they are inflated to the correct pressure for load and driving conditions. This system is due to be released here in Australia within the next few months, at the same time as the new ContiConnect.

Analytics made easy – ContiConnect

ContiConnect has been designed specifically for commercial fleets. It monitors and analyses tyre data that has been collected by the YardReader Station from the ContiPressureCheck sensors in each truck’s tyres. A report sent to the fleet manager. In the report, recommendations made for any corrections that may be needed. It allows the fleet manager to be more proactive in taking action such as tyre maintenance.

The entire system configured to connect the entire fleet’s tyres for monitoring. It means that whether a vehicle is on the road for several days at a time, or in and out of the yard on a daily basis, the data is always relevant and ‘in date’. Receiver units connected in the depot or in vehicles that are on the road, with an online portal providing full reporting of performance and efficiency.

Fleet-friendly benefits

Tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) continue to evolve. The Continental system is an integrated system that works with existing systems and on all tyre brands.

Across an entire fleet, the effect of measuring, monitoring and correcting tyre pressures can be staggering. Mileage should increase as fuel consumption decrease. It is better for the environment as well as your bottom line.

With better tyre maintenance routines prompted by the reports produced by the Continental system, you should find that breakdowns caused by tyres minimised. It will slash your downtime, and increase the on-time delivery rates. Your drivers will be safer, as will other road users.

If you’d like more information about tyre pressure monitoring systems and how they could benefit your fleet, contact us today. Our mission is simple:

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

0 Six tyre myths burst forever

Are your tyre beliefs compromising your safety on Brisbane’s roads?

Most people hold a lot of common misconceptions about their tyres. Perhaps our fathers have taught us what they’ve been mistakenly taught by their fathers. Maybe what seems to be common sense, isn’t. Whatever the reason, if you follow these incorrect ‘tyre rules’ you could be putting yourself, your passengers, and other road users at risk.  Here are the six most common tyre myths I hear from customers.

1.    “There is no need to rotate tyres”

Most people have heard about the need to rotate tyres. Some drivers I’ve spoken to in Brisbane even think that rotating tyres is dangerous. Few believe that tyre rotation could save your life and protect your quality tyres.

Tyres wear differently depending upon where they are positioned on the vehicle. Rotating them evens out this wear and tear, and makes for a smoother and safer driving experience. It also helps to prolong the life of your tyres.

2.    “Used tyres are either great or rubbish”

Everyone has an opinion on used tyres and retreads. The majority either believe they are a bargain and perfectly usable, or that they should be avoided like the plague. The truth is that some used tyres are a bargain, especially if they are nearly new.

If you are considering buying new tyres, make sure you inspect them closely for wear, cuts, grazes and scars. A spare set of used tyres could be an investment worth making. If you do suffer a flat, you’ll have a replacement immediately handy.

3.    “There’s no need to check tyres”

If you think there is no need to check your tyres, you are not alone. You might also be one of the most dangerous drivers on Brisbane’s roads. The more experienced drivers are usually the ones that carry out regular tyre checks because they know how important it is. A bulging sidewall could be the warning of a blowout soon to happen.

If there is one habit you should adopt, it’s the four-minute tyre check that everyone should make.

4.    “If you inflate the tyre above its maximum pressure, it will burst”

The maximum pressure denoted on the sidewall indicates the maximum pressure at which the maximum load can be carried safely. A quality tyre won’t burst if inflated above the maximum pressure. However, you will want to avoid hitting a pothole at speed if your tyre is inflated to a very high pressure.

5.    “Unused tyres will last forever”

No, they won’t. Tyre rubber degrades even if the tyres aren’t driven on. Sun primarily degrades tyres. Even if you don’t drive many kilometres, you should consider changing your tyres a minimum of every five years – and certainly, have them checked by a specialist to make sure they are still robust and safe to use.

6.    “When you replace tyres, always put the new ones on the front axle”

It certainly sounds like the correct thing to do, but when you replace tyres, it’s the rear ones you should replace. Move the existing good tyres to the front, and put the new tyres on the rear. The reason you do this is that it is your rear tyres that give most stability to the car. They help maintain balance when you brake in wet conditions. It helps prevent skidding and spinning.

If your rear tyres have less tread than your front tyres, contact us today. Any delay in doing so could put you at risk, especially in poor driving conditions.

You should enjoy your driving, and know you’re safe while doing so. Your tyres are key to your safety on the road. Check them regularly, inflate correctly, and rotate regularly. Buy the best-quality tyres you can afford. And don’t hesitate to contact us if you have any doubts about the condition of your tyres here in West Brisbane.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

0 How do Australia’s drivers know they need new tyres?

The easy way to check your tyre tread and stay safe on Brisbane’s roads

All Australian drivers understand that driving on illegal tyres puts them and other road users in danger. According to some studies, almost nine in ten Australians don’t know what the minimum tread depth is. In this article, we examine how to tell if your tread depth is too shallow, and that you need new tyres to stay safe and legal on Australia’s roads.

Legal minimums and tyre safety

The legal minimum tread depth in Australia is 1.5mm. It means that none of the treads across the entire tyre must be shallower than this. If it is, you are driving illegally. More importantly, you’re putting your life and the lives of your passengers and other road users in danger.

I’d argue that this minimum tread depth should be increased for safety reasons. Some manufacturers suggest that tyres should be changed when the depth reaches 3mm. I’d certainly argue for the minimum to be raised to 2mm. Why?

Tests have shown that below a depth of 2mm, the risk of having an accident increases dramatically. It is because traction and handling worsen. Braking distances are evidence of just how much more dangerous it is to drive on worn tyres. In the wet, and travelling at 80kph, on tyres with:

• 8mm tread depth, a car stops in 25.9 metres
• 3mm tread depth, a car stops in 31.7 metres
• 6mm tread depth, a car stops in 39.5 metres

On worn tyres, it’s going to take you a lot longer to stop. If you’re a driver, who loves to tailgate, think about this for a second. How old are your tyres? How new are the tyres on the car ahead? That extra stopping distance is the equivalent of three saloon cars. If you’re closer than this and the driver in front decides to stamp on his brakes, at 80kph you are likely to hit him. And that is your fault.

So, how long do tyres last on Australia’s roads?

Australia’s roads play a big part in determining how long a tyre will last. As does your driving style. If you’re a fast driver and brake hard, your tyres will wear out faster. If you drive on dirt tracks or poorly maintained roads, the rubber is more likely to be scraped and grazed. Vehicle design also impacts tyre wear, as does weather and climate. UV rays from the sun degenerate tyre rubber. And here in Brisbane, we have a lot of sun.

It’s impossible to say how long a tyre will last in Brisbane, or anywhere for that matter. There are so many factors involved. It is why you should conduct a regular tyre check. A few minutes each week could save your life.

How do you know your tyres must be changed?

When you are checking your tyres for tread wear, remember that the minimum legal requirement is 1.5mm. If there is less tread than this anywhere on the tyre, you must change it immediately.

It includes if you notice a bald patch, uneven wear, or wear on the inner or outer edges of the tyre. Any of these symptoms indicate that you may have a dangerous issue with the set-up of your vehicle. Most commonly this will be wheel balancing or wheel alignment. If this is the case, bring your vehicle to Darra Tyres, and we’ll run the necessary checks to make sure you are driving a safe vehicle and not a death trap.

Other signs of excessive wear or dangerous damage include:

• Wear down to the tread bar indicators. You should change tyres before this point.
• Sidewall damage, such as bubbling, chips and grazes. If you notice this type of damage, change your tyre immediately. Your risks of a blowout when travelling at speed are greatly increased when sidewall damage is present.

Good parallel parking technique will help to avoid tyre damage.

When did you last check your tread depth?

If you’re like most Australian drivers, it has probably been months since you last checked your tyres’ tread depth. Go and check them now:

• Check the tread bar indicators on the tyre.
• Use a tread depth indicator.
• Use a 10 cent coin. Place it in the tyre grooves. If the outer band of the coin is obscured, tread depth is above the legal minimum.

When should you change your tyres?

There are several reasons you may need to change your tyres. These include sidewall damage. Many manufacturers recommend changing tyres when they are five years old, irrespective of use and wear.

Although the legal minimum tread is 1.5mm, you should consider changing them if the depth is worn to 3mm. If you are not sure whether your tyres are safe, or need any tyre advice, contact us today. Our mission is simple:

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood