0 Poor Quality Tyres, don’t settle for Second Hand Safety

People can be quite deceptive when it comes to selling a second hand car, not only will they say “I’m the only owner it runs really well” and “Don’t worry about the rattling, my mates a mechanic he said it was fine” they will often go to extreme lengths to get roadworthy’s and safety certificates for a car that may not actually be roadworthy. Poor quality tyres can be the most dangerous part of a second hand car.

There has been a crackdown in Queensland in the past year or so on increasing the penalties for mechanics found to be giving roadworthy’s for a carton of beer or a sly $100. But the actual seller of the car can contribute to the car getting a ‘roadworthy’ and then changing parts back to make it the same old car.

Check the tyres!

Make sure the tyres are of legal tread depth. It has been known that people will buy a cheap re-tread tyre or even new tyres to put on the car to pass the roadworthy and then simply replace the old tyres and keep the new ones for their own vehicle.

Apart from this being illegal unless you know your tyres you may not actually notice until you have handed over your hard earned cash and driven away in your “roadworthy” car. If you are unsure of how to check this or don’t know what the legal tread depth is then click here to find our article on 4 checks for tyre safety.

Don’t feel pressured to buy something that’s not safe!

Feel free to have the cars tyres checked by the tyre experts here at Darra Tyres. Our team of industry professionals will be more than happy to check over the vehicles tyres and explain to you how much life they have left and if in fact they are legal or not.

So don’t settle for second best on safety…

So whether you are selling or buying call the team at Darra Tyres on (07) 3333 5510 or enquire online to book the vehicle in for a check. We’ll make sure your either selling a vehicle with safe tyres on it, or your new purchase is in fact legal and the tyres will keep you on the road.

Cheers,

Annette Wood

0 Holiday season’s approaching… Visit your tyre centre and Drive Safe

As we are well and truly past the halfway mark of this year we are beginning to slowly decline into summer and the holiday season. Unfortunately for some this time of year can be a shocking reminder of just how dangerous the roads can be. Last year in Australia 65 people died over the 09/10 holiday period, which was a 10% increase on the previous years toll. Make sure you visit your tyre centre to ensure your tyres are ready for all the holiday trips.

Drive smarter, not faster.

There are so many things you can do on those long drives to decrease the chance of having an accident. You have the car packed, you have your two weeks of holidays completely planned out from start to finish, who wants to waste time driving right? No ones does. But no one wants to die driving either.

Are we there yet…

Say yes to this question more often with frequent stops for the kids. Don’t try and drive a big distance in one hit. It’s dangerous for you and your family and of course other road users. Plan your trip so you see things on the way to your destination. Multiple stops are a good time to stop get out, stretch, check the car over for oil, water, tyre pressure, condition of tyres so you’re not one of those unlucky 65 that don’t make it to their holiday.

To learn how to check the condition, pressure of your tyres and the correct inflation levels before and during your big holiday drive come down to Darra Tyres and one of our experts will give you a run down of what to do and what not to do on those long drives. Give the team a call on (07) 3333 5510 or enquire online and Kevin Wood or one of the team will contact you within one business day.

Your tyre experts in keeping your family and fleet safely on the road.

Kevin Wood at Darra Tyres

0 Price Vs Value… Which offers the best tyres for your vehicle?

Tyre Price and Value: The two key components most people assess first when they are looking for the best tyres for their vehicle.

We all want tyres that aren’t going to break the bank, but are going to be good quality tyres that will protect ourselves, our family or our drivers. Am I right? So what you need to know is how to determine what tyres are going to be best tyres for you, your budget, vehicle, application etc.

You get what you pay for…

Okay, granted we hear the guy in the used car dealership saying this one all the time, as do the majority of salespeople. But with tyres this has never been more truthful. You are paying for the level of quality you receive. In a car you may be paying for a brand or a better paint job or added features. But with tyres, if they are not good quality then they are not good quality.

So why are some more expensive than others you’re probably wondering?

It comes down to what you use your vehicle for, how often you drive, what kind of vehicle you drive and the amount of time spent driving. So yes if you are just using the car to take the kids to school or back and from work then a more affordable tyre could be the option for you. But, if you’re constantly on the road, taking trips on weekends then we beg you to please buy the correct tyres, not so we can sell you a more expensive tyre but so we know you will be in good hands on the road.

If you would like to know more on what tyres would be best suited to your vehicle then please don’t hesitate to call us on (07) 3333 5510 or come down and introduce yourself to the team at our Darra location and talk to tyre experts with over 100 years combined experience. Can’t get to the phone? Enquire online now and one of the team will be in contact with you very shortly.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin and Darra Team

0 Truck Tyres – Have your say about trucking in QLD…

Work as a truck driver or in the truck driving and truck tyres industry?

If that’s you then mark this Saturday the 27th of August in your diary. The Roma Bowls Club is set to host the NatRoad, incorporating Australian Road Train Association, (NatRoad-ARTA), the Queensland Trucking Association (QTA) and the Livestock Transporters Association of Queensland Inc (LTAQ), 2011 Queensland Regional Trucking Forum.

This forum has been setup to give you and others in the trucking industry the opportunity to have your say on the future of trucking in Australia in regards to trucking regulations. On hand will be NatRoad-ARTA Director, John Morris, QTA CEO Peter Garske and LTAQ President Gary Willoughby. This gives you the chance to bring up any issues you think may be relevant with the local authorities. QLD Department of Transport and Main Roads, QLD Police, AgForce and NBN Co Ltd will be at the event to answer questions and present information at the forum.

Cheers,

Annette Wood

0 Choosing the Best Tyres for your Vehicle … Don’t Mix and Drive

As a general rule your car should only be equipped with the best tyres recommended by the manufacturer. Don’t worry it’s not a scheme to sell you expensive tyres! The manufacturers recommend certain tyre sizes and load ratings to match the vehicle.

Why shouldn’t I use different tyres on my vehicle?

To maintain your cars best possible handling, stability and performance you should avoid mixing tread patters and definitely not different size tyres on the one vehicle.

If you have run-flat tyres on your vehicle it is very important to only replace these tyres with new ones that support your cars run-flat technology.

Also, if you have a certain type of tyre fitted for a wet season or another different weather condition then you should ensure your car is fitted with the appropriate tyres for the current conditions.

But if my tyres are all the same won’t they all need replacing at once?

Ideally they would all need replacing at once, unfortunately due to maintenance or lack thereof, driving conditions and vehicle design all contribute to uneven wear on your vehicles tyres. Generally your tyres won’t all need replacing at once. Remember, replacing all four tyres at once saves four individual trips to the workshop!

If you tyres all need replacing at once it’s a measure that vehicle design, driving conditions and maintenances practices have worked in unison to equalise wear and performance.

It also allows drivers to see if they are getting their money’s worth out of the recommended manufacturer tyres. And can then make a decision to change the tyres to suit their needs and driving conditions or budget.

Do I need to buy four new tyres if they don’t all wear out at the same time?

Unfortunately this is the decision that drivers everywhere face everyday. To decide whether to replace just the tyres that require to be replaced or replace all four tyres. For the best traction and to maintain handling and stability of your vehicle it is usually best to replace all four. Not the best sign for your wallet, but here at Darra Tyres we have a solution to suit all budgets so you can get back on the road quickly and safely.

Because your tyres are arguably the most important aspect of the car as they are the only point of contact with the road it is best to try and always have the same brand, size, model and amount of tread depth on all four tyres.

To have your tyres checked by one of our industry experts come down to Darra Tyres, give us a call on 3333 5510 or contact us online here,

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin and Darra Team

0 Tyre Centre Tips – hitting the curb will cost your tyres and vehicle

We are often in a hurry, whether we are running late for work, dropping the kids at school, struggling to make that appointment or running more errands than capable in one day. This often means that we are a lot more susceptible to hitting the gutter when parking, running up the traffic island or hitting the pothole a little bit too fast. Unaware at the time with our minds worrying about the shopping in the boot, making the meeting or picking up the kids, these bumps, knocks and ditches for our tyres are expensive and damaging. A top tyre centre tip is to take the time to avoid any sudden unnecessary bumps and jolts to the wheels; you might think ‘one bump doesn’t matter’ but when you get the bill from your tyre centre for a set of new tyres you’ll wish you’d taken a bit more care.

How will it affect my tyres and vehicle?

Knocking your wheel alignment out can have substantial effects on driving performance and tread wear on your tyres. By knocking your wheel alignment but just 1/8th. of an inch you can cause irreparable damage to your suspension, tyres and wheels. By having your alignment out by that much is the equivalent of dragging your tyres sideways for 84 metres every 1.5km you travel.

Prevention is the best medicine…

Obviously to avoid damaging your tyres and wheels is the first step to avoiding damage to your vehicles wheel alignment and suspension. In saying that we don’t always see the pothole coming up in the road, or in that tricky reverse park in the city we may accidentally push up against the gutter. There is only so much we can do to minimise the damage on our own behalf. Regular checks by Darra Tyres experts when you are purchasing new tyres or replacing a tyre is the best bet to help prevent damage to your vehicle and potentially your safety.

To have your vehicle inspected by experts who have been in the industry for years come down to Darra Tyre Service and receive the customer experience that you deserve. Give us a call now on 3333 5510 or you can enquire online and one of our sales team will be in contact with you very shortly.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin and Darra Team

0 Industrial Tyres – Don’t neglect your tractor tyres check!

Do you have agricultural machinery or tractors but don’t really have the time to use them on your land?

Neglecting tractor tyres, agricultural machinery tyres or any industrial tyres for that matter for an extended period of time can be deadly.

Tyres will start to perish after they have been sitting unused for quite some time. The dangers are only seen when it’s too late. Too many people think that because the vehicle or machinery is not being used then “the tyres must be fine, a bit of air and they will be good as new!”, this is not the case. Not matter how little use the tyres have received age will deteriorate tyres to an unsafe level for use.

But they looked fine…

A simple look over the tread of the tyre is not a comprehensive check. Dry rotting and cracks to the tyre sidewall can occur and this is what can cause a tyre to burst. A tyre burst can be extremely deadly no matter how big the vehicle or machine. Especially on a large tractor or plough a burst tyre can cause the vehicle to roll, veer off course and cause accidents.

Is there a timeline on how long my tyres will last?

There is no expiry date like a litre of milk would have. As a guide tyres will start to lose the natural oils about 5 years after production. All tyres are produced with a serial Tyre Identification Number (TIN). It’s generally written in a 4 digit style. E.g 3494 is the 34th week of 1994, or 2806 is the 28th week of 2006.

What to do if you’re really not sure whether or not you tyres are safe…

It’s simple, give the team at Darra Tyres a call on 3333 5510 and our mobile service team will come out to our commercial customers or you can bring the tyre down to us at Darra for a proper inspection of the tyres condition and air pressure. If you’re not sure then it’s probably not safe. Always ask an expert. And what better experts than the team at Darra Tyres who have over 100 years combined experience in the tyre and automotive industry. Give us a call or enquire online to speak with one of our experts today!

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin and Darra Team

0 Tyre Centre Tips For Driving Safely in Wet Weather

The most important thing when driving safely in wet weather is the condition of your tyres. The muggy Queensland heat combined with rain can make the roads extremely slippery and dangerous. We have very unpredictable weather in Queensland so you need to make sure your tyres are well looked after so they can look after you when it’s wet! Prepare yourself for the the next wet day with these tyre centre tips.

How often should I check or change my tyres?

You really need to be checking the inflation and physical appearance of your tyres at least every two weeks. If you are unsure how to properly check you tyres for legal tread depth and proper inflation click here to see our article that outlines how.

Tyre Centre Tips – Driving in the wet and how to do it safely…

• Allow extra time. Never rush to your destination, especially in the wet!
• The minimum safe driving distance in good conditions is 3 seconds, so give yourself some extra room when it’s wet in case of the need for emergency braking.
• Brake earlier and with less force. Slamming on the brakes in the wet can make you lose control of the vehicle, it also gives the driver behind you plenty of time to react to your decrease in speed.
• Give yourself some light, even in light rain it can be hard to see in front of you. Let other cars know where you are.
• Keep the rear and front windscreen clear using the air con or de mist option.
• If the rain gets really bad just pull over and wait it out. It’s not worth getting somewhere unless you get there alive.

If you feel like your tyres may not be equipped well enough for the next batch of wet weather then come down to our shop and we will let you know the condition of your tyres, if they’re legal or if they need replacing. If they’re fine then it was only 5 minutes in and out and you can drive away with peace of mind.

Come down at see us at our Darra shop, give us a call on3375 3566 to get expert advice and tyres to keep you and your family or fleet safe.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin and Darra Team

0 Best Tyres – Are space saver tyres convenient or crazy?

A few things you should know before hitting the road with your space saver spare

When buying a new car just be wary that it may be fitted with a space saver tyre. These tyres are generally fitted in smaller new vehicles to, as the name suggests, save space. While this is all good and well to fit an extra picnic basket or bag of shopping in the boot, are these really the best tyres to carry as a spare?

What’s the difference between space saver tyres and regular spare?

A space saver tyre is designed as the name suggests to save some space in the boot of your car, where a regular spare is much larger. The temporary spare will be a lot smaller in diameter and will usually be sporting a nice yellow rim.

So what’s the performance difference between a regular spare and temporary spare?

According to the RACQ a temporary or space saver tyre will significantly alter the emergency braking, steering and cornering of the vehicle. Due to their different size and abilities they can only be used for a certain distance and speed. Usually a temporary spare can only be used up to a maximum of 80 km/h for up to 2 hours. These tyres are not designed to be used for extended periods of time and should only be used to get the vehicle to the nearest workshop or tyre dealer.

A temporary spare tyre can be expensive to replace if used until it’s unroadworthy which is usually around 450km.

Does the car have ABS braking?

For those cars that have ABS braking fitted, attaching the temporary spare tyre will disable the ABS braking, this is because the smaller size of the tyre may cause the ABS to kick in unnecessarily, hence it’s disconnected. The driver must make sure the ABS braking is reconnected when a replacement tyre has been fitted.

Will the use of a temporary spare affect my insurance?

As long as the temporary spare is used within the vehicle manufacturers guidelines then it shouldn’t exclude your claim the insurer will determine whether the temporary tyre was used within specifications (Speed, distance, etc.)

If you require any more information or need a replacement tyre, spare or temporary spare don’t hesitate to give our team at Darra Tyres a call on 3375 3566. We have the industry experts and experience to get your vehicle safely back on the road. Don’t compromise on safety and give us a call now or you can enquire online and one of our sales team will be in touch very shortly.

Cheer,

Kevin Wood

0 Tyre Centre Tips – What to do in an instant when you tyre bursts

Driving along the side of most major motorways, freeways and highways you will see parts of shredded tyres on the side of the road. The same thought goes through everyone’s head, “imagine if that happened to me?” and “How does that even happen?”. These tyre centre tips give you the advice from the tyre experts at Darra Tyres on how to handle a tyre bursting.

What causes a tyre burst?

Every time you reverse park and nudge the gutter, hit the corner of a round-a-bout or park up on or against the gutter you could potentially be contributing to a tyre burst. It might not happen that day, week or month but you are increasing the risk of a tyre burst. So next time you see that shredded tyre on the side of the road take it as a reminder to get your tyres checked.

Would you know what to do?

Truth is, 90% of people when asked would slam on the brakes and that would be their first deadly mistake.

When travelling over 70km/h a tyre burst can be potentially fatal. The car will start to sway all over the road as you instantly lose control. Sounds scary doesn’t it?

Tyre centre tips to make a tyre burst a mere inconvenience not a fatal accident…

Get you’re foot off that brake!

First of all, don’t panic! Sudden braking at high speed when the car is already swerving all over the road can make things dramatically worse. Slamming on the brakes will cause the car to catch, spin and potentially roll. ONLY use the brake, and only use it gently if you need to stop the car from careering with another car or object.

Hold that wheel!

A firm grip on the wheel is needed to keep the car heading in one direction, certainly don’t try to counteract the swerving of the car with dramatic steering, this will have an adverse effect and make things worse. Hands firmly on the wheel and keep that car going straight.

Don’t be afraid to use the accelerator…

You’re probably thinking, “WHAT!! is he crazy?” but the truth is gently using the accelerator to maintain momentum can stop the car from swerving all over the road. You can use the accelerator but remember, gently!

Signal to safety…

Remember you’re probably not going to be the only car on the road, so don’t forget the basics. Signal with your hazards or indicators as to where you are going to pull over, let the other drives know that something is wrong so they can move safely away from you and give you room to breathe.

Ok, you’re safely off the road and out of harms way…

Make sure the coast is clear before getting out of your vehicle on the side of the road to fit a spare or assess the damage. If your tyre has burst at high speed there is going to be some damage to the wheel. If you don’t feel confident fitting the spare to a potentially damaged wheel then call a professional to remove the car for you or fit a new wheel. Don’t ever drive long distances on the spare, remember the last time you checked the spare? Didn’t think so! Drive straight to your nearest tyre outlet and have the damage assessed and a safe tyre and wheel fitted.

If you’re nearby give us a call!

We will be able to provide you with the best replacement tyre and wheel for your car and your safety. For more information, a quote or to speak to one of our tyre professionals call us now or enquire online and we will be in contact with you very shortly.