Category Archives for "Fleet Tyres"

Truck Tyres – Fleet tyre services that reduce fuel costs

Business as usual for the ATA

As fleet tyre services specialists, we fully support the work of all that aim to increase safety on the roads, and as an authority working toward safety on the roads, the Australian Trucking Association has been busy of late:

  • It has lobbied hard for a strengthening of the Chain of Responsibility (COR) rules
  • It is supporting the National Roadworthy Baseline Survey
  • It has applied for its TruckSafe accreditation program to be recognised under the industry code of practice guidelines
  • It is developing a new Technical Advisory Procedure (TAP) to that covers tyres and tyre operations

That’s a whole lot of work!

Customers of truckers are now also responsible for safety

Here at Darra, and as fleet tyre services, we think it’s right that the COR finally recognises the pressure that customers put on trucking firms, and fully sympathise with companies that feel forced to operate for fear of losing business. The new COR rules force customers to accept at least partial responsibility for the safety of the vehicles onto which they load their goods. And if the ATA’s TruckSafe program is recognised it will strengthen the industry even further.

Seeking to make accidents related to truck tyres a thing of the past

According to National Truck Insurance (NTI), nearly four out of every 100 major truck accidents in Australia are caused by faulty truck tyres. As far as we’re concerned, that’s four accidents per hundred too many. But then our fleet tyre services operatives are passionate about truck tyres and road safety.

The ATA’s TAP is going to make a big difference to road safety and should come out next year. We’ll keep you informed as soon as we hear what the new guidelines say. For now, what we do know is that the ATA CEO, Christopher Melham, has said that the TAP will provide guidance on:

  • inflation pressure
  • correct load issues
  • tread depths
  • fuel burn caused by tyre wear

How to cut your fuel bills

The drop in the oil price over the last few months has offered some hard-earned relief to truckers, but do you know how tyre tread affects fuel consumption? In the UK, Michelin found that eco-friendly tyres reduced fuel costs for the average motorist by $120 per year. For heavily laden trucks, the savings are even more astounding. A fleet of just a few vehicles could save thousands of dollars each year by making sure they have the right tyres with the right tread.

In a study published by Goodyear, it was found that:

  • Most reduction in fuel costs is obtained by the tyre tread, compound, design, and depth
  • Tyre tread contributes over half or rolling resistance
  • Properly inflated tyres contribute to fuel efficiency

Not only will the ATA’s TAP improve road safety standards, but it will reduce fuel costs, too. That a win/win for the industry and your business.

Why not give our fleet tyre services a call on 3333 5510 to discuss how much our eco-friendly tyres will save your company on its fuel bills? We’re sure your customers will appreciate your cost conscious and safety approach – especially when they come under the new Chain of Responsibility rules.

When it comes to reducing your costs, you’ll find our fleet tyre service is second to none.

Yours in family and fleet safety,

The team at Darra Tyres

Why Earthmoving Tyres are a Matter of Life and Death!

When it comes to Earthmoving tyres, rims, and wheel assemblies are critical items on vehicles. If they’re fitted incorrectly, or the tyre or part used is sub-standard, the results could be fatal. Good earthmoving tyre maintenance really is a matter of life or death.

The difference between earthmoving tyres and car tyres is bigger than size.

Working with tyres of all types is our job, and we take pride in our work. When it comes to earthmoving tyres we take extra special care. Apart from the size of them (most dwarf our Managing Director, Kevin Wood, even though he’s 6ft), the assembly is a multiple component job. A car tyre is a single item mounted on a rim. Earthmover tyres’ assemblies consist of:
• The tyre
• The rim
• Flange rings
• Bead and seat band
• O-ring
• Lockring
Different rim manufacturers have different fitting designs, too. These include studs, cleats, wedges, and wheel nuts. When a tyre is fitted, the fitter has to be aware of all of this and then make certain that the correct fitments and other components are used. It’s a high-risk operation, which can lead to fatalities.

According to a report that captured accident numbers from bodies such as the Queensland Government Department of Mines and Energy, Department of Industry and Resources Western Australia, and the National Occupational Health and Safety Commission, among others, a third of earthmoving tyres and rim maintenance accidents reported resulted in death. On top of this number, half of all the reported accidents were judged to have been potentially fatal.
As a profession, earthmoving tyres maintenance is a pretty dangerous one!

Main causes of accidents when working with earthmoving tyres

There are a number of root causes of maintenance accidents when working with earthmoving tyres. These include absent or deficient rim and rim components. If these aren’t correct for the tyre and rim used, then the outcome in the field could be disastrous, too. That’s why all our tyre specialists are specifically trained on earthmover tyre maintenance – not only does this training protect us when we’re working on the tyre, more importantly it protects the customer after the tyre has been fitted.

You also won’t see us heating rims to loosen corroded wheel fastenings – a practice that, along with rim integrity, is the number one contributor to fatalities during tyre maintenance work.

Our safety equals your safety
Our tyre maintenance team is continually updating its training to stay ahead of industry requirements. We know that when it comes to safety, what we do when we work on earthmover tyres and rims directly impacts the safety of our customers and their workforce. And that’s an area in which we’ll never cut any corners.

5 tips to keep your earthmover operatives safe

Many of our customers ask our advice on tyre and rim maintenance. Here are five tips to make sure that you and your employees are earthmover tyre safe at all times:
1. Use a regular testing and maintenance program, and check rims and rim components for integrity
2. Always make sure that tyres and rims are matched
3. Only use tyre specialists that are trained and accredited
4. Undertake a preventative maintenance program to eliminate hot brakes and overheating wheel motors
5. Make sure your employees are trained in tyre use and emergencies
If you’ve got any questions or queries, or want to know more about tyre safety, don’t hesitate to call our team on 3333 5510 and ask for an Industrial Tyres expert.. We’re here to help, and keeping your family and fleet safely on the road is our mission.

Yours in family and fleet safety,

Kevin and the team

A Tyre Centre that deals with all tyres, even the new Army Tyres

A Versatile Tyre Centre we even do Australia Army G-Wagon…

Kevin Wood our Managing Director is ex-army (Artillery Transport) and also is the current RSL Darra Branch Chairman. In fact, Rodney our workshop Manager and Brett who runs our Marketing are also ex-military, so we’ve always had a close affiliation with our servicemen and women for many years. Therefore, it’s no surprise when the brand new, yet to be delivered, Australia Army G-Wagon with its unique configuration popped in to our tyre centre for a some fresh tyres.

If you are a current or ex-serviceman or women, pop in and we will be sure to look after you. We have some of the best SOPs (that’s Standard Operating Procedures for the non-military) for choosing and changing your tyres and getting the best performance out of them.

Chat with the team today on 07 3333 5510.

Regards,
Kevin and the team at Darra Tyres.

Toyo Tyres and More! Darra Tyres joins TruckPower Tyre Alliance

Hey guys,

We are pleased to announce that we are now members of the Truck Power Tyre Alliance which gives our clients around Australia access to tyres wherever they are. Through the alliance they can expect the same level of service as if they were at our Darra Workshop.

The main brands that will be promoted through the alliance are Boto Tyres, Leao Tyres, and Toyo Tyres but all brands will also be accessed through the alliance.

TRUCKPOWER brings 3 strong and recognisable brands (TOYO, BOTO and LEAO) together under one banner. TRUCKPOWER will enable truck, transport and bus operators to have full confidence in a motivated national tyre dealer support network, with a wide choice of quality branded products that are serviced by expert commercial tyre retailers.

The TRUCKPOWER commitment is to provide you with reliable and competitively priced truck tyres, whenever and wherever you need them. Our brands all provide great cost per km results and give you the widest choice to suit your application.

Our brands are leaders in each market tier:

Toyo Tyres

This is an ideal solution for our Truck Fleet, all you need to do is call Darra on 07 3333 5510 and we can organise a local distributor to supply and fit the tyres and the price and billing will still be done through Darra.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin and the team at Darra Tyres.

Ensuring Quality Tyres, Inspecting truck tyres for abnormal wear.

Hey guys,

Kevin inspects truck tyres for abnormal wear. The truck in the video is actually a new truck that has come in after 500kms for its first settling in check up. These tyres are straight from the manufacturer and already are showing signs of abnormal wear. Luckily its been caught soon enough that not much damage is done. Even high quality tyres should be inspected routinely to ensure they are now wearing abnormally due to an incorrect fitting.

Darra Tyres recommends that you check your tyre pressure weekly, especially if your using the vehicle for commercial purposes. Passenger vehicles should be checked weekly but realistically monthly is acceptable, however the concern is that most people never check until its too late.

If you have any questions feel free to call the team on 07 3333 5510.

Yours in tyres,

Kevin Wood

Tyres Gold Coast – Queensland Ambulance returns from the Floods

Hey guys,

The team from the Queensland Ambulance Tactical Support Unit have been up helping flood victim out west and on their return of course the first place they go is Darra Tyres to make sure their tyres are in tip-top condition. Ready for whatever the next emergency might throw at them.

tyres gold coast tactical support unit

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road, if your looking for new tyres or have any questions contact us on (07) 3333 5510 or here.

Kevin and the team at Darra.

Tips_for_four_wheel_driving_in_4_different_environments

4 of the Best Tyres, 4 Different Environments, 4 Wheel Drive

So you own a four-wheel drive (4WD) fitted with the best tyres, but you just aren’t quite too sure how to use to its full potential? Don’t worry, there are many others out there in the same boat, well for this matter 4WD.

Here and some quick and helpful tips that can help you get the most out of your 4WD tyres in the most demanding conditions.

Driving on the beach:

There is nothing better than getting out in the great outdoors and especially taking your 4WD on the beach. However, there are a few things that you must know in regards to tyre safety.

Some beaches will have rock hard surfaces that act like a beach highway and driving on them will be as simple as driving on the road. But chances are the sand will be soft and windblown and you can find yourself trapped in seconds. The trick to driving on soft sand is to slightly deflate your tyres. Deflating the tyres gives the vehicles a wider footprint and therefore better flotation from the tyres.

Every vehicle will require a different amount of deflation depending on the size of the vehicle and the surface it’s going to be driving on. For most 4WD tyres around 15-20psi is a good indication.

Always remember to have a shovel and a couple of pieces of wood handy or tracks to get yourself out of the sand if required!

Driving through water:

It’s not as simple as getting a run-up and go! Stop the vehicle just before the water and get out to assess the conditions. You should try and walk the passage you intend on driving through if possible, to check for any obscure obstacles, depth of water and other things to look out for.

Select a low range gear and accelerate the whole way through the water. Don’t try and change gears midway through the crossing as water can get into the clutch plate.

There is no need to deflate the tyres for crossing water. But after the crossing is complete make sure to check the condition of the tyre and make sure there has been no damage to the sidewall of the tyre from any possible obstructions under the water.

Driving in the outback:

You may think that driving through the red dirt in the outback will require a similar method to that of driving on the beach? Think again.

‘Bulldust’ as it’s known in the outback should never be treated as sand and deflating your tyres pressure could have disastrous effects on your vehicle.

Below the thin red dirt lies a solid rock base that will pound the chassis on impact and could split the sidewall of a tyre that has been partially deflated. You’re best bet is to maintain speed and correct any vehicle movement by counter steering and acceleration.

Driving in the snow:

Not something Queenslanders has to deal with very often but we all love to go on a family skiing trip so it pays to know how to drive your 4WD in the snow should the need arrive.

Tyre pressures should be 25psi or higher when using chains. Tyre manufacturers recommend that cars with radial tyres shouldn’t travel faster than 40km/h when fitted with chains. After driving the initial 2-300 metres to get out and check the tension of the chains.

Remember to leave extra room between cars in the snow as longer braking distances are required.

It’s also very important to notify someone of where you are heading and how long you plan to be gone for in any conditions.

To find out more about 4WD tyres or to get the best tyres for your vehicle come down and see me or the team at our Darra workshop at 5 Station Avenue Darra. You can call us on (07) 3333 5510 or enquire online to get the best service and over 100 years of combined experience we are the independent retailer you can trust!

Cheers,

Kevin Wood

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

Tyre Shops Brisbane – Why you can trust a family owned business like Darra Tyres…

You don’t just get tyres from the team at Darra Tyres, you get a commitment…

What you and your business need is reliability, safety and cost effective solutions. You also need a tyre partner you can trust. The big tyre retailers are all about margins, sales targets and maximising their profit. While those things are key aspects to a business so are the relationships with its customers.

Being a family owned and operated business enables us to understand how important your business needs are. We believe in building key relationships with all our customers and we are committed to seeing you get the best products for your vehicles, drivers’ safety and your budget.

We’re here for the long haul…

You don’t just get tyres from your purchase from us at Darra Tyres, you get a commitment to your safety and business. We have all the tools to keep you on the road safer and longer. For all our passenger sales we provide you with a comprehensive 5,000 and 10,000 kilometre inspection of your tyres including a tyre rotation if necessary and wheel alignment at 10,000km.

And for our commercial customers we offer a 24hour roadside service to the greater Brisbane area. Repairs, punctures and replacements all done on the side of the road, so you are never left stranded!

Never worry about your fleet again…

With Darra Tyres fleet management system you will never have to worry about the safety of your vehicles tyres again. We will come to you to perform routine pressure checks and tyre inspections. All part of our commitment to keeping you safe and saving you money.

We have all your tyre needs…

From the sedan to the semi and the tractor to the trailer we have the right tyres for you. No matter what the vehicle or the budget we have got you covered. So give the team a call now or enquire online and one of tyre experts will contact you shortly.

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