Category Archives for "Tyre Maintenance"

How to avoid getting a flat tyre in Brisbane

6 tips to avoid being stranded with a blowout

I don’t know a single Brisbane driver who enjoys paying tolls, insurance, vehicle registration duties, services, or paying for the fuel they put in their vehicle. But these are costs and events that can be planned for. Others cannot, and always seem to happen at the wrong time – either when you don’t have the cash to pay for it or you’re short of time. A flat tyre is one of these.

In this article, you’ll learn a few things you can do to help prevent getting a flat while driving in and around Brisbane.

1.    Drive on correctly inflated tyres

If you drive on underinflated tyres, you are more likely to suffer flat tyres in Brisbane. Correctly inflated tyres bear loads properly and ensure that the rigidity of the tyre sidewall helps to protect it from bumps and scrapes. Additionally, the tread of underinflated tyres is less pronounced. This means that debris on the road is more likely to puncture the tyre.

2.    Drive for your tyres

As you drive more miles and as your tyres age, they will suffer. If you drive fast and brake hard, take corners too fast, or drive on rough terrain, your tyres will suffer more. We rely on tyres to keep our vehicles on the road, help us brake, and improve our comfort while driving. It’s easy to become complacent with tyres, and believe that they will do their job no matter how we drive on them.

The reality is different. How and where you drive impacts your tyres. If you drive fast on poor roads and brake hard into corners, your tyres will take a lot of punishment. Should this happen, your tyres are more likely to be compromised. They will weaken, suffer small tears and grazes, and become more susceptible to puncture the next time you are out driving.

To avoid this, always consider the strain you are putting your tyres under. Plan your route to avoid poor roads, and drive a little slower to avoid the need to stamp on your brake pedal.

3.    Inspect your tyres regularly

A quick, five-minute check before you start a journey can save a whole heap of trouble while you’re on the road. You should check:

• Tyre pressure
• The condition of the tyre wall
• Tyre tread
• The condition of the spare

If you find a nail, stone, or piece of glass embedded in the tread, remove it before it has the chance to do permanent damage.

For more info, take two minutes to read our article, ‘Brisbane tyre – four safety checks you must do’.

4.    Rotate your tyres

Your tyres will not wear evenly, no matter how well balanced and aligned they are. The stresses and strains placed on the front offside tyre are different to those suffered by the nearside rear tyre. Weaker tyres are more likely to suffer a puncture. By rotating your tyres regularly, the wear and tear will happen more evenly, and the tyre treads will last longer. This will reduce the possibility of getting a puncture and reduce tyre costs.

5.    Change your tyres before you must change them

When you inspect your tyres, take notice of those that are starting to wear. Tyres with cracks or with tread that has worn down to the wear indicator, or with bald patches, and those that have had a temporary repair, are more likely to suffer a blowout. Avoid this by changing tyres sensibly – before they must be changed by law.

Remember, too (and especially here in Brisbane) that the sun weakens your tyres. It is recommended that you change your tyres every five to six years – irrespective of damage or wear and tear – for this reason. If you’re not sure how old your tyres are, read our article ‘How do you know how old your tyres are and if they need changing?’.

6.    Buy premium tyres when possible

As with most things in this world, when you buy tyres you get what you pay for. Premium tyres from the top tyre manufacturers are better built, more stable, and more able to withstand higher mileage. Always buy the best, most trustworthy tyre your budget allows.

In summary

Whatever actions you take, there is no guarantee that you will avoid a flat tyre. However, the six tips above should help your tyres last longer and resist puncture. Be more proactive with your tyre maintenance. Drive with your tyres in mind, buy the best tyres you can, check them before each journey, and rotate them regularly.

Before buying tyres in Brisbane, contact Darra Tyres. We’ll make sure that the tyres you buy are suitable for your vehicle and your budget.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

Why tyre inflation matters on the roads around Brisbane

Precautions to reduce tyre damage, cost and safety issues

When it comes to driving in and around Brisbane, no matter what vehicle you’ve got it’s a good idea to make sure that your tyres are correctly inflated. A weekly check should be enough for most Brisbane motorists to maintain the correct tyre pressure and avoid the dangers of underinflation or overinflation.

In this article, you’ll learn about the potential consequences of driving on incorrectly inflated tyres, and how to ensure poorly inflated tyres don’t cause damage to your pocket and your health.

Why should tyres be correctly inflated?

Tyre manufacturers spend hundreds of millions each year on research and development, to produce a product that is designed to increase the safety and comfort of drivers and their passengers. Rubber compounds, shape, tread patterns and construction have evolved to provide protection against potholes, rocks, ridged roads, and even curbing.

You wouldn’t expect optimum performance from a poorly maintained tyre, would you? All the money and effort that tyre manufacturers put into R&D produce tyres that are designed to run at their best at a certain inflated pressure.

If you underinflate or overinflate your tyres, you risk damaging them on Brisbane’s roads. That’s going to hurt your pocket. Even more importantly, poorly inflated tyres mess with handling and braking, making driving more dangerous. There are enough accidents in and around Brisbane as it is, without your poorly inflated tyres causing another.

The dangers of driving on underinflated tyres

Underinflated tyres lose some rigidity. This means a lack of support as you corner. They don’t respond as well, affecting safety. Because of their weakened state, they are more prone to puncture and blowouts. Finally, underinflated tyres put your wheels and engine under more stress. In the long run, more expense is promised, with tyre wear especially pronounced on both shoulders.

The dangers of driving on overinflated tyres

With too much air pumped into it, an overinflated tyre’s shape is distorted. There is less of the tyre on the road, meaning you lose traction and braking distances increase. You’ll also find that the centre of your tyre wears faster because this is the part in touch with the road.

An overinflated tyre is less forgiving than a correctly inflated tyre. It’s stiffer, and therefore less reactive to bumps and potholes and more prone to damage. You’ll suffer from a less comfortable ride, and the tyre noise is likely to be louder, too.

Pay attention to the quality of your drive

When you’re driving, if you feel that your drive experience is suddenly altered, it could be that one of your tyres has been damaged. Even correctly inflated tyres are not invincible. Pay attention to this. Stop the car and inspect your tyres. If you notice a cut, graze or bulge, don’t take any chances. Call an emergency tyre service, or, if you are near to Darra Tyres, bring the car immediately to us for a professional tyre inspection.

Check your tyres at least weekly

It only takes a couple of minutes to check your tyres are inflated correctly:

1. Follow the recommended inflation pressures as shown on the tyre placard inside the door jamb.
2. Inflate them to the correct pressure.
3. Recheck your tyre pressures after a few minutes, to ensure they are not losing air.
4. Maintain even tyre pressures on all four tyres.

A few minutes could save your life

Checking your tyre pressure takes only a few minutes, but it could be the few minutes that save your life. Certainly, running your tyres at the correct pressure will reduce fuel consumption and help your tyres last longer. Cost and safety – two excellent reasons to ensure you follow a good tyre maintenance routine.

If you are in any doubt about your tyres, don’t hesitate to contact Darra Tyres. We’ll make sure that your tyres are fit for the purpose intended.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

Get your forklift tyres ready for the changing Queensland weather

Tips for forklift tyre safety and cost saving

As we head toward spring and summer in Queensland, Brisbane businesses will be preparing for warmer weather. This includes ensuring your forklift tyres are fit for a new season as your business grows.

In this article, you’ll find three tips to get your forklift tyres spring and summer ready here in Brisbane.

1.    Check for tyre damage

Damaged forklift tyres reduce handling and braking ability on forklifts. This makes it more difficult for operators to work effectively, and it increases the danger that forklifts pose to pedestrians in your warehouse or distribution centre. This is before any cost of damaged goods is considered.

Forklift tyres are among the most abused. They come into constant contact with kerbs and other structures. If not inflated properly, underinflation increases damage through wear and tear. Worn forklift tyres are dangerous and most susceptible to blowouts.

Put a regular tyre check on your forklift operators’ checklist, to discover the cuts, grazes and bumps that reduce the effectiveness of a forklift’s tyres and could put them and others at risk of injury through an avoidable accident.

2.    Check your forklift tyres’ tread depth

The tread on your forklift tyres is essential to the traction your forklift gets when being driven. The correct tread depth will ensure that water is dispersed effectively and forklifts don’t aquaplane – a risk when the roads are hot and dry and then wetted by a sudden rainfall (or water used in your yard).

Tread aids handling. It increases grip and reduces braking distances.

Take the time to inspect all your forklift tyres and ensure that they have the correct tread. If not, have them replaced now.

3.    Never operate forklifts on incorrectly inflated tyres

Ensure that your forklift operators check their forklift tyre inflation pressures at least once per day. This is best done at the start of a shift when the tyre is cold.

Poorly inflated forklift tyres increase the risks of reduced stability, decreased traction, and faster tyre wear. Tyres with lower-than-required pressures will heat up faster. They will fail earlier, and this will increase your forklift tyre costs.

By following these three forklift tyre tips, your forklift tyres should last longer and improve health and safety in the workplace. Your employees will thank you, as will your bottom line.

One final tip: never remove an inflated tyre from a forklift, and ensure that only trained and authorised forklift tyre fitters remove and install tyres and wheels on your forklifts.

For more information about our forklift tyres and services for businesses, call Darra Tyres, and learn why Brisbane businesses put their faith in us.

Keeping your family and fleet safe,

Kevin Wood

Spring and summer tyre maintenance tips for Queensland drivers

Stay tyre safe and save money for a season of driving

Spring is here! Great news, but it also means that Queensland’s drivers need to be extra vigilant about their tyres. As we head into summer, the risk of an accident because of faulty tyres and wheels increases. Higher temperatures play havoc with tyres if you don’t maintain them properly. Incorrectly inflated tyres and poorly aligned and balanced wheels are leading factors in road traffic accidents in Queensland.

In this article, you’ll learn about the good tyre check and maintenance habits you should start practising now, so that by the time the wet season arrives, keeping your tyres properly maintained is second nature.

The top seven tyre maintenance safety tips

These seven tyre maintenance habits will help to keep you safe on the roads. They should ensure your drive is more comfortable, reduce your fuel consumption, and help your tyres last longer, too. Sticking to this routine will help the environment, your pocket, and your back!

1.    Check for wear and tear weekly

At least once each week – and preferably before any trip – check your tyres for visible signs of damage. If you notice cracks, cuts, or uneven wear, take your vehicle to a tyre professional to have your tyres and wheels comprehensively assessed. See our article “How do Australia’s drivers know they need new tyres?” for advice on minimum legal treads and the type of wear and tear that is a cause for concern.

2.    Keep your tyres properly inflated

At least once per month, check the inflated tyre pressure of your tyres. Poorly inflated tyres will wear faster. But this is the least of your problems. You will also find that underinflation or overinflation will increase breaking distances, cause handling problems, and increase fuel consumption.

Make sure you check the tyres when they are ‘cold’ – when your vehicle hasn’t been driven for at least two hours and for less than three kilometres. You’ll find the recommended inflation pressure on the tyre placard in the door jamb, or in your owner’s manual.

(Top tip: check your spare tyre each time you check your other tyres.)

3.    Heed the warnings of poorly balanced and misaligned wheels

If you are experiencing vibration on the steering wheel, or your vehicle is ‘pulling’ left or right, it could be that your wheels are poorly balanced or have become misaligned. The cause could be something simple like driving over a pothole or nudging the kerb when parking.

The result of poorly balanced or misaligned wheels is poor handling and decreased safety, as well as uneven and premature tyre wear. It is essential that you take your vehicle to be checked professionally if you notice the symptoms of poor balancing and alignment – neither is self-correcting.

4.    Deal with a slow puncture promptly

It may be tempting to put off dealing with a slow puncture, but it’s not clever. A slow puncture will only get worse if you leave it unattended, and reinflation is only a temporary fix. If you notice one of your tyres is losing its inflation, take your vehicle to your nearest tyre shop. The technicians will be able to locate the problem and advise whether it can be repaired or if you need a new tyre. It could save you money, and will certainly save you aggravation later.

5.    Rotate your tyres

Rotate your tyres every 5,000 kilometres or so. By doing so, you’ll optimise tread wear, helping your tyres last longer. The wear that your tyres do suffer will also be more even, and this will help provide a smoother driving experience.

6.    Never overload your vehicle

If you overload your vehicle, you will increase the wear on your tyres and use more fuel. Handling will be affected adversely, and your braking distance will increase. If you have a heavy load to transport, have a professional with a suitable vehicle to do it for you.

7.    Watch your suspension

If your ride is a little harsher than usual, it could be that your suspension is wearing. If you think the rougher ride is hard on you, spare a thought for your tyres because they will be taking a real beating.

Start spring and summer with good tyres

It’s likely that you’ll be doing more driving during spring and summer than you did during the winter months. Days out with the family, perhaps a road trip to see more of Australia. Don’t put your family’s safety at risk by neglecting your tyres. Make the above seven tyre tips part of your driver routine.

Finally, before the spring really gets underway, if you live in Brisbane, call into Darra Tyres. We’ll check your tyres and make certain that they are fit for the season ahead.

Keeping your family and fleet safe,

Kevin Wood

How do you know how old your tyres are and if they need changing?

Is it time for new tyres?

I’ve had a question sent into us, asking “How do you know how old your tyres are?”

The questioner isn’t sure about the age of his tyres and is concerned in case they should be changed. There’s no real wear and tear on them – no bubbling, chipping, or other sidewall damages – nor are there any other signs that the tyres need changing, as we explain in our article “How do Australia’s drivers know they need new tyres?” However, the questioner knows that manufacturers recommend changing tyres every five years, regardless of wear – but he bought the car second-hand a couple of years ago, and isn’t sure how old the tyres are.

In this article, you’ll learn how to tell the age of your tyres. This one piece of knowledge could help save your life, and it could help you drive a better bargain when buying a second-hand vehicle – if the tyres need changing because of their age, you could negotiate a fair few dollars’ discounts.

Why should you buy new tyres every five years?

The older a tyre is, the less safe it is. This is irrespective of use or wear and tear. This rule also applies to your spare tyre. As tyres age, they become age-damaged – even in storage! Often, the damage caused by ageing will show as small cracks in the rubber, which is oxidised by the UV rays in the sun.

Tyres contain anti-ageing waxes which slow down the effect of ageing, but these are only released when the tyre is in motion. Thus, tyres stored poorly – and your spare – may age faster than the tyres on your wheels.

Ageing tyres are more likely to puncture or suffer a blow-out at speed. Older vehicles that have a low mileage are more likely to have prematurely aged tyres. If you are not sure about the condition of your tyres, please do get them checked by a professional. Just because they have plenty of tread left, they may not be safe for driving.

Manufacturers mostly recommend that you renew your tyres every five or six years if you haven’t done so sooner. This isn’t an exact science. Your tyre specialist will be able to tell you if they are good for another few months or more.

How do you tell the age of a tyre?

If you buy a used vehicle, the chances are that it won’t come with a set of new tyres. It’s also unlikely that the seller will know or remember when the existing tyres were purchased – and even then, it is the year of manufacture that’s important.

Fortunately, all tyres are marked with the month and year of manufacture. If you look around the sidewall, you’ll come across a four-digit number in an oval border. This tells you the week and year of manufacture. For example, if the number is 1116:

• The first two digits are the week (e.g. 11 means the 11^th week)
• The second two digits are the year (e.g. 16 mean 2016)
• Therefore, this tyre was manufactured in the 11^th week of 2016

Some tyres only have a three-digit number. These were made before 2000. They should be changed immediately.

If you are buying a used vehicle, always check the date of manufacture of the tyres. The older they are, the more likely they are to need replacing, and this is a bargaining chip in price negotiation.

Help your tyres last longer

Though they are a valuable investment in your safety and driving experience, whatever your vehicle, tyres are not a cheap purchase. The longer you can help them last, the more value you will get from every dollar you spend on new tyres. These five quick tips will help your tyres last longer:

1. Keep them out of direct sunlight.
2. If they are on stationary vehicles, move the vehicle backwards and forward every week to help prevent flat spots.
3. Avoid parking on or driving through grease, oil, petrol or diesel. Always clean them if this happens.
4. Don’t brake hard, especially into and through corners.
5. Keep them inflated to the correct pressure, and avoid ‘kerbing’.

In summary

Aged tyres are more at risk of failure, and it is recommended that you change them every five to six years. You’ll find the year of manufacture of your tyre embossed as a four-digit number on the tyre’s sidewall. If your tyre is approaching five years old, take it to your nearest tyre specialist to have it checked. A five-minute check could save your life.

If you live in Brisbane, don’t hesitate to call into Darra Tyres. We’re here to answer your questions and keep you safe.

Keeping your family and fleet safe,

Kevin Wood

Death by truck tyre – why Brisbane firms should use tyre specialists

Keep your workers safe and your firm financially fit

If there is one thing that Brisbane businesses must do, it is to keep their workers safe. It’s not only the law, it’s good business practice. Ensuring you use tyre specialists to fix and fit tyres to your trucks is a good move. It could save you tens of thousands in fines and injury compensation claims, and your people will thank you for keeping them safe.

Wheels and tyres – an explosive combination in the wrong hands

They may appear to be inert, inanimate objects, but in the wrong hands, tyres and wheel rims can morph into highly explosive devices. Between 2012 and 2017, there were 17 cases of tyre and rim explosions reported to Workplace Health and Safety Queensland. Eight of these led to hospitalisation. One caused a death.

It’s clear that such accidents can cause a loss of productivity. They can reduce morale in the workplace and workers’ confidence in management. They can drastically alter lives, working relationships, and family bonds. They can ruin reputations and cost a small fortune in compensation and fines.

How much could poor tyre maintenance cost you in Queensland?

Between 2012 and 2017, there were five companies prosecuted for such tyre maintenance accidents. There were also 21 compensation claims paid to workers for tyre explosions. The law says that a company can be fined as much as $10 million for such an offence. Individuals can be jailed for up to 20 years. And the courts are getting tougher. Fines are increasing:

• In 2008, a worker was left with a fractured jaw and lacerations when a tyre exploded while being inflated. The company was fined $8,000.
• In 2007, a company was fined $50,000 when a worker was struck by an exploding wheel and tyre that he was working on. The worker was killed.
• In 2012, a tyre exploded and left a worker with a broken nose, thumb and arm. The worker also required surgery for lacerations. The company was fined $50,000.
• In 2014, two workers were injured while fitting and inflating a tyre on a truck. The rim was damaged, and this helped cause the tyre to explode. The company chose to avoid prosecution by entering into an enforceable undertaking with a minimum payment of more than $207,000.

The trajectory of fines and payments shows that it probably won’t be long before a company that is found negligent in its tyre maintenance procedures is fined a million dollars and more.

How do you prevent tyre maintenance accidents?

Because truck tyres are bigger than other tyres, the danger of them exploding is magnified. In October last year, a worker was killed when he was trying to weld a leak in it while it was still pressurised. The tyre exploded, killed him instantly, and burst through the roof before it landed 23 metres away. Here are some tips to make sure you avoid a similar accident:

• Never work on a wheel with a pressurised tyre mounted on it.
• Always remove a tyre from the rim if you are working on the rim.
• Among specific rules and regulations, you must ensure that:
  • A safe working system is in place
  • The wheel is properly inspected for damage and wear and tear before fitting tyres
  • Tyres are properly inspected for defects
  • You have identified potential tyre explosion trajectory zones, and these are kept clear while tyres and wheels are being worked on
  • The air hose is long enough to allow workers to remain outside of this exclusion zone
  • A remote dump valve is fitted to allow rapid deflation in an emergency
• Ensure the wheel is adequately secured before inflating. Use of a tyre cage will prevent the tyre from being ejected, should it explode.

The most important piece of advice we can give, and which is also a point of health and safety law in Queensland, is that workers must be trained and competent to work on wheels and tyres.

For a professional and personal tyre service that you can trust, that will ensure you comply with Health and Safety regulations, keep your workers safe, and help your bottom line numbers, contact Darra Tyres today.

Keeping your family and fleet safe,

Kevin Wood

Tips to make your 4WD tyres last longer in Queensland

Cut your 4WD tyre costs

Whether you drive your 4WD vehicle mostly on tarmac or mainly off-road, a major cost will be its tyres. So, you’ll want to make them last as long as possible. Here are our top tips to make your 4WD tyres last longer. Follow these, and whatever your driving style you will get thousands of extra kilometres from each tyre. That’s real money in your pocket.

4WD tyre tip #1: Fit the correct tyre

This is the most important tip of them all, and one that holds true for all vehicle types. Think about your style of driving, and where you do most of your driving. Mud terrain tyres will wear quickly if they are used constantly on the tarmac. Highway terrain tyres are likely to blow if you spend all your time travelling in the outback.

Speak to your tyre supplier, discuss where and how you drive and take their advice on the type of tyre to buy. You’ll benefit from a more comfortable drive, better fuel consumption, and lower tyre costs in the long run. Read our article “Which 4WD tyres are best in Brisbane?” for more info.

4WD tyre tip #2: Keep them at the right pressure

Make sure you check your tyre pressures regularly. Changing temperatures will mean you need to inflate or deflate, and if you’re carrying a heavy load you should pay extra attention. Driving with incorrectly inflated tyres affects your safety, fuel consumption, and tyre life.

Always run your tyres at the pressure as recommended by your vehicle manufacturer – you’ll find this on the tyre placard, which is usually on the driver’s door pillar.

4WD tyre tip #3: Rotate regularly

Tyres wear at different speeds, depending on where they are on the car. They also wear differently. Front left tyres to wear more on the inside shoulder than front right tyres, for example. To combat this, rotate your tyres regularly – side to side and front to rear. Every 5,000 to 10,000 kilometres is a good guide.

4WD tyre tip #4: Align those wheels!

4WD vehicles are notorious for having their wheels knocked out of alignment. This may be because of the rough terrain on which they are driven, or because they are bumped against kerbs. Bring your vehicle into our tyre shop in Darra and have your wheels aligned. You’ll get a better ride, your vehicle will stop pulling to one side, and your tyres will last longer.

4WD tyre tip #5: Be extra vigilant on road trips

When you’re on a road trip, and especially if you’re travelling off-road, treat your tyres with extra care. Check your tyres every morning. Make sure they haven’t been damaged, and that the tyre pressure is correct.

For a professional and personal tyre service that you can trust, contact Darra Tyres today.

Keeping your family and fleet safe,

Kevin Wood

Which 4WD tyres are best in Brisbane?

Measure your driving to get the measure of the tyres to choose

The tyres you need for your 4WD here in Brisbane depends on how you intend to drive your vehicle. Having the right 4WD tyres fitted is one of the most important decisions you will make. You may need an extra grip on dry or wet roads. If you intend to drive off-road, then you’ll need a different type of grip for sand, mud, and stone. Puncture resistance is likely to be important – you don’t want to be stuck in the Queensland bush with two tyres like pancakes.

In this article, you’ll learn about the three major 4WD tyre types. Choosing the right one will help give you a better driving experience, ensure your tyre costs are kept as low as possible, and, most importantly, could save your life.

Why are there different categories of 4WD tyres?

Tyre classification is not a simple exercise when it comes to 4WD vehicles. There is no single standard, and many manufacturers use their own rating system. This can make it difficult to select the right tyres, and even harder when comparing one brand against another. It’s especially confusing when buying tyres online.

That’s why we ask about your driving when you visit our tyre shop here at Darra Tyres. The tyres you need depends on where you do most of your driving, with three main groups of tyres:

1. Highway terrain
2. All-terrain
3. Mud terrain

Highway terrain 4WD Tyres

These are the tyres to buy if you drive only on tarmac roads. Most new 4WD vehicles are sold with this type of tyre fitted because most 4WD vehicle drivers don’t go off-road. They are also cheaper to manufacture.

They are lighter than other 4WD tyres, have a higher speed rating and lower load rating. They give a smooth, quiet ride.

All-terrain 4WD Tyres

If you also drive off-road occasionally, then you should move up to all-terrain tyres. These will usually have a lower speed rating and higher load rating than highway terrain tyres. However, they vary between manufacturers. Some produce all-terrain tyres with tread patterns very similar to highway terrain tyres, while others will have much more heavy-duty treads.

You should check on the number of plies used to make the tyre, and ensure that the tread is more open and deep. You will find that all-terrain tyres tend to give a noisier and less comfortable ride on tarmac.

Within this group of tyres, you’ll also find light truck (LT) tyres. These are better for off-road driving as they have a stronger carcass. Again, though, check the plies for strength. If you intend to drive off-road and on rocky ground, an 8 or 10 ply rating will give the best resistance to damage and puncture.

Mud terrain 4WD Tyres

These are the tyres you need if you do your driving off-road. They have deep, block-like treads which help move mud out of the tyres – perfect for outback driving. They have a high load rating and low-speed rating. However, while puncture resistance is high, fuel consumption will be increased, and these tyres don’t perform well on sand.

Is it time for a tyre change?

Your 4WD tyres should last a long time. When it comes to changing them, if you buy the wrong tyres you will reduce your drive comfort. They will ultimately cost more. Worst of all, you will compromise your safety. Don’t take the risk. Bring your 4WD vehicle to our West Brisbane tyre shop. Together we’ll choose the best tyre for where and how you drive, and to suit your budget.

For a professional and personal tyre service that you can trust, contact Darra Tyres today.

Keeping your family and fleet safe,

Kevin Wood

Non-marking tyres for forklifts – what you need to know

The pros and cons of white tyres in your business

Some businesses must use non-marking tyres on their forklifts, while others might choose to. For example, Australian law says that food processing companies must use them in their factories. They are also popular with pharmaceutical and IT companies, and indoors where marks on the floor need to be avoided (for example, indoor sports centres).

Non-marking forklift tyres are available as a cushion, pneumatic, or solid tyres. See our article ‘How to choose your forklift tyre in Brisbane in 2018’ for advice on how to choose which is best for your application.

In this article, you’ll learn about the advantages and disadvantages of non-marking tyres for forklifts.

How do non-marking and standard tyres differ?

The first thing that you notice about non-marking tyres is their colour. Usually, they are white (hence they are sometimes called ‘white’ tyres), but they can also be manufactured in other colours – most often grey. This is because they have the carbon black removed. Now, carbon black helps prolong the life of tyres, so its removal is one of the major disadvantages of non-marking tyres: they don’t last as long as standard tyres.

To try to combat this shortening of life, non-marking tyres are made with silica or chalk added. Antioxidants are used to protect against UV radiation.

Are non-marking tyres really non-marking?

Standard tyres can leave black marks if the forklift operator makes a fast start, stop, or turn. Non-marking tyres leave white chalk marks and not carbon black residue. This chalk is easily removed. The poor operation will leave a mark, but it’s kind of like the difference between pencil and ink: one can be easily erased, the other is pretty much indelible.

Key advantages of non-marking tyres

Non-marking tyres:

• Reduce the marks left on floors
• Reduce the need for labour-intensive floor cleaning
• Perform the same as standard tyres
• Provide good traction and low rolling resistance
• Offer good load carrying ability
• Are resistant to building up heat

Main disadvantages of non-marking tyres

Non-marking tyres:

• Are more expensive than standard forklift tyres – usually by around 25%
• Wear faster, lasting approximately 10% to 15% less time than standard tyres, depending on use and environment
• Chalkdust left must be cleaned
• Require a grounding strip underneath the forklift, especially in situations where the forklift is operated in close proximity to flammable or explosive materials

Retreading to adapt to non-marking environments

It is possible to retread standard tyres and adapt them for use in non-marking environments. White rubber is available for this, allowing forklifts to be used in sports centres, food manufacturing plants, shopping centres, etc.

I’ve written before about how to buy the best retreads for trucks. The four rules are the same if you are considering retreading standard tyres as non-marking tyres for your forklift:

1. Don’t buy on price alone
2. Make sure you see samples and testimonials before buying
3. Take a look at the testing equipment
4. Don’t go it alone – take someone with you

Follow these safety standards

When it’s time to replace your forklift tyres, always use a reputable tyre company to make the change. If you don’t have the knowledge, experience, or equipment to change forklift tyres, the consequences can be fatal.

To find out about our comprehensive tyre services and how they could help you cut costs on your forklift operations, contact Darra Tyres.

Keeping you safe on the road and in the workplace,

Kevin Wood

Look after your tyres in Brisbane, and slash your fleet costs

Five minutes could save your fleet a fortune on fuel

I’m going to offer all fleet managers in Brisbane a potential cost reduction of an average of 1% to 3%. All you need to do is read to the bottom of this article.

How much is 3% of your costs worth to your fleet?

I can’t tell you how much a 3% reduction of your costs would be worth to your fleet, but it’s likely to be a substantial sum. But what if I could also offer you lower maintenance expenses, less vehicle downtime, longer tyre life, and fewer roadside breakdowns?

I’m guessing you’re wondering how I can make such promises.

No, I’m not a magician. I’m simply coming at a common problem for fleets from a different angle. The secret is also the most common cause of complaints received by tyre retailers and manufacturers.

Deflate your costs by inflating your tyres

Most complaints received by tyre companies concern comfort of ride and wear of tyres. Tyre manufacturers spend hundreds of millions of dollars each year to improve their product. When they receive a complaint, you can be sure that they employ every means possible to understand why.

What tyre manufacturers consistently find is that there isn’t a fault in the tyre. Usually, the reason for uneven tread wear or poor comfort while driving is underinflation. When your tyres are properly inflated, you’ll find that:

• Your tyres suffer less wear
• Your tyres last longer
• Braking and ride comfort is improved
• Your vehicle is less likely to swerve if you need to brake hard
• Your fuel consumption falls

6 out of 10 tyres are underinflated on Australia’s roads

Toward the end of last year, TyreSafe Australia conducted a survey on tyre condition on passenger cars. The results were astounding. 6 out of 10 vehicles were being driven with underinflated tyres. Even worse, it was found that half the cars surveyed were unsafe as far as their tyres were concerned.

Are your drivers checking their tyres?

The question I’ve got for you is this: how often do your drivers check their tyres? Because if they aren’t checking for air pressure, they probably aren’t checking for signs of wear and tear.

If your drivers aren’t checking their tyres, they are putting their lives, and the lives of others, at risk. And, from a cost perspective, underinflated tyres increase your fuel consumption, cause damage to the vehicle, and result in higher costs.

It takes less than five minutes to check your tyres. Make sure your drivers check their tyres regularly. Before every trip would be fantastic. At least once a week should be the minimum standard.

Let Darra Tyres help you cut your fleet costs

The key takeaways are that improper tyre inflation is:

• A safety issue for all drivers and other road users
• A main underlying cause of complaints about tyres
• A major cause of increased costs for fleet managers

Like I said earlier in this article, I’m not a magician. But I can advise your fleet’s drivers on tyre check routines and correct tyre inflation pressures. And that could save you between 1% and 3% of your fleet costs. Isn’t it time you benefitted from the professional and personal tyre service that you can trust in Brisbane? For more info about our services for fleets, contact Darra Tyres today.

Keeping your family and fleet safe,

Kevin Wood