Tag Archives for " tyres in Brisbane "

How-to-avoid-getting-a-flat-tyre-in-Brisbane

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

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

Look-after-your-tyres-in-Brisbane-and-slash-your-fleet-cost

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

how-are-tyres-made-to-keep-you-safe-on-the-roads-in-Brisbane

How are tyres made to keep you safe on the roads in Brisbane?

Just how do manufacturers make millions of safe tyres?

Tyres are perhaps the most essential piece of equipment on your vehicle. They are paramount to your safety and driving experience. They provide the grip needed for traction on the road and must perform in all road and weather conditions. Most are pneumatic (they contain air under pressure) and there are hundreds of millions manufactured every year. So, how do tyre manufacturers produce the black circles that you depend upon?

Tyre jargon explained

Before I explain how tyres are made, I should uncomplicate some of the tyre jargon we use.

Ply

The plies enable the tyre to be flexible and help to provide the strength needed to operate under extreme road conditions. They are usually made by weaving fibre cords together and then coating them with rubber. They are like the bones of your body – they provide the skeleton that the tyre is built around.

Belts

Belts are formed around the tyre as strength reinforcers. Where plies provide flexibility, belts provide rigidity. They are made of steel wires, and then, again, coated with rubber. Manufacturers have spent a lot of money, time, and effort in the development of belts that resist punctures and now provide the backbone for tyres that can last 80,000 km and more.

Tread

Generally considered to be the ‘business’ part of the tyre, the tread is softer than the rest of the tyre and provides grip and cushion. Different tread patterns provide different levels of grip.

Grooves and sipes

When you look at the surface of a tyre that comes into contact with the road, you’ll notice deep grooves between the tread blocks. These act to expel water. Look a little closer, and you’ll see small grooves cut into the tread blocs. These are called sipes, and provide extra grip.

Beads

Manufactured from extra strong steel and coated with rubber, beads form an airtight seal between the tyre and wheel rim.

Sidewall

The sidewall runs from the bead to the tread. It’s made of extra thick rubber to provide strength and stability. You’ll find all the information about the tyre is embossed on this part of the tyre.

Shoulder

Where the sidewall and tread meet, you’ll find the shoulder of the tyre. This is the part of the tyre that provides extra strength when cornering.

How are tyres manufactured?

There are five steps in the tyre manufacturing process:

1.     Blending

Raw materials are blended to form the rubber that will be used to make the tyre. There could be as many as 30 types of rubber used to form the rubber compound. Other ingredients used include:

  • Carbon black
  • Sulphur
  • Oil
  • Various chemicals

2.     Milling

The rubber compound is allowed to cool before being cut into strips. These strips are used to form the basic structure of the tyre.

3.     Building

The tyre is built working from the inside. This is completed in machines, which form the belts, beads and plies. An ‘extruder’ is used to form treads and sidewalls, which are then rolled and cut into strips. Once all these parts have been assembled, you’ve got something that looks like a tyre.

4.     Curing

The tyre is now vulcanised, compressing it into its final shape. It is also here that the tread is finalised, and the sidewall markings are embossed on the tyre.

5.     Controlling quality

The manufactured tyres are tested, with specialist X-ray machines used to inspect for bubbles and voids in the rubber. A test wheel is used to inflate and spin the tyre to determine balance and ‘straightness’.

Once the tyre has been fitted to your vehicle, the responsibility for inspection is all yours. If a tyre is compromised by a cut, bulge, or wrong pressure, so is your safety. See our article “How do Australia’s drivers know they need new tyres?” for tips on checking tyres and the signs that a tyre is past its useful life.

If you have any doubt that your tyre is no longer fit for purpose, please, please bring it into our tyre shop in West Brisbane. A few minutes could save your life.

Keeping you safe on the roads,

Kevin Wood

8-reasons-your-tyres-are-noisy-on-Queensland-roads

8 reasons your tyres are noisy on Queensland’s roads

If the sound that your tyres make on the roads in Queensland makes you grate your teeth or gives you a mini migraine, it probably isn’t the quality of the roads that are the problem. There are several reasons your tyres could make a terrible noise. Contact with the road is only one of them.

In this article, you’ll learn the reasons why your tyres are so noisy. As you’ll realise, eliminating that irritating noise is mostly in your control.

  1. You’ve bought a tyre with large grooves. This means there is more air pushing through the tread, and this leads to a noisier tyre.
  2. You have recently rotated your tyres (helping to reduce uneven wear and increasing the life of the tyres). The noise will subside shortly.
  3. Your tyres are underinflated, making them screech and squeal as you turn corners or take bends. Inflate your tyres to the correct air pressure.
  4. You are driving your car at high speed, forcing the air through the tread at a faster rate. This increases the noise the flow of air makes. Either slow down or change your tyres for a set made for faster driving speeds.
  5. Accelerating fast from a standstill can cause screeching. It also wears the rubber faster. Keep the noise down by pulling away at a steady pace, and your tyres will last longer. Those boy racer driving tactics are expensive.
  6. Screeching is also caused by late and hard braking. Driving too fast or too close to the car in front is dangerous. Keep your distance, stay focused, and brake easier by reacting to the brake lights of the vehicle in front of you.
  7. Driving with a heavy load, pushing your tyres flatter to the road. Never drive with an excessive load, and always maintain the correct tyre pressure for the load you are hauling.
  8. If your wheel hums and the humming gets louder the faster you drive, it could be that your wheel bearings are not working properly. Worn wheel bearings could affect steering and safety. Get them checked immediately.

Wear and tear on tyres will affect the way your car handles over time. The change in noise that your tyres make may be the first indication that your tyres need attention, or it could be a symptom of poor driving technique.

When listening for a change in tyre noise, remember that driving on tyres that are made for heavy loads will be noisier. For a quieter drive, asymmetric treads are best. Tyres with directional treads are usually louder.

If you notice a change in the noise your tyres make on the roads around Brisbane, call Darra Tyres. Our experienced technicians will help you pinpoint the reason your tyres are making excessive noise, and help you choose the best tyre for your vehicle, the roads you drive on, and your driving style. They will also give you some handy tips on how to make your tyres last longer.

To get (probably) the best tyre service in Brisbane from friendly and expert technicians, contact Darra Tyres.

Keeping you safe on the roads,

Kevin Wood

7 New Year’s resolutions for every driver in Queensland

How to drive with less stress, more safely, and at less cost

We’re into a new year, and I guess that you may have made plenty of New Year’s resolutions. Probably a few to do with health – losing weight and cutting out those lifestyle vices, such as smoking, perhaps. You may have resolved to get your finances in order, and maybe to get yourself a new, better-paid job.

There are probably very few people who make resolutions to be a better driver and take better care of their vehicle. Here are seven driver resolutions for 2018 that will make driving in Queensland that little bit less stressful.

1.    Keep your car clean inside and out

When you keep your car’s exterior clean, it helps to protect it from all manner of damage. Bird mess, for example, is corrosive. Dead bugs on your windscreen make it more difficult to see all when driving. Muddy headlamps make night driving hazardous. Keeping your car clean helps keep you and other road users safe, and helps to maintain your vehicle’s value.

Take a few minutes every week to tidy the inside of your vehicle, too. Clear out rubbish, and vacuum crumbs from the carpet and seats. Leave a mess in your vehicle too long, and it will stain and start to smell. And that’s not good when you want to sell.

2.    Attend to minor damage quickly

Get those small unfortunate damages attended to quickly, before they become expensive. Most you can deal with yourself, like chipped windscreens and minor scratches to your bodywork.

3.    Check your fluids

Just like a human body, your vehicle can’t function properly without fluids. Get into a routine and check coolant, windscreen washer, and brake and clutch fluid levels. These fluids are vital to your vehicle running smoothly and keeping you safe on the roads in Queensland.

4.    Double-check your oil

Oil is vital to your vehicle. Without it, the engine will seize. While you don’t need to change the oil every few thousand kilometres anymore, make sure that you check oil levels and top up regularly. When you take your vehicle for a service, make sure that the oil is changed.

5.    Value your tyres

There are many reasons why you should check your tyres regularly. Poor tyres affect you and your vehicle. They make it harder to drive and give a rougher ride. You will use more fuel, and you’ll lose grip as you drive corners.

The only way to make sure your tyres are doing the job they’ve been designed to do – provide a safe, comfortable, and fuel-efficient drive – is to check them at regular intervals. Check for:

  • Tyre pressure
  • Cracks and bulges
  • Bald patches and wear and tear

Check out our post about the four tyre safety checks you must do, and do them every fortnight. It only takes a couple of minutes to make sure your tyres are fit for road use. You’ll avoid unnecessary wear and tear, and your vigilance could prevent an accident, as well as save you money.

6.    Drive more skillfully

When did you take your driving test? It’s always worth brushing up on your driving skills. You could invest in an advanced driving course, or take a few online tests to brush up on your road knowledge.

More skilful drivers tend to find their driving costs decrease, too. You’ll drive more safely, and sticking to the speed limits will reduce your fuel consumption. You’ll miss those potholes that do so much damage to your tyres and your car.

7.    Listen to your vehicle

Your vehicle speaks to you, if only you listen. Turn the radio volume down, and listen out for the clues your engine is giving you about its needs. And it’s not just the engine. Do you know what that tyre noise is telling you?

Listening to your tyres is a constant check:

  • Squealing tyres could indicate that you need to put some more air in them
  • Squeaking tyres indicate uneven wear, usually on the front tyres
  • A squeak and rattle says that you have a loose hubcap
  • Screeching shows you are cornering too fast
  • Rumbling and vibration could mean that a wheel bearing is worn – you must get your car checked
  • Grinding is usually caused by worn brakes – it’s time to be scared!

Look after your vehicle, and it will look after you

Every year, we resolve to look after ourselves better. Don’t neglect your vehicle this year. Stick to the seven resolutions above, and you’ll also be looking after your health and your pocket. If you notice any signs of damage, wear and tear, or if your vehicle doesn’t ‘sound or feel right’, get it checked. It could save your life.

Here’s to happy driving in Brisbane in 2018.

For all your tyre needs here in Brisbane, contact Darra Tyres today.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

Which repair is best for my agricultural tyre?

How to tell a poor repair, and which tyre specialist to use

If your agricultural tyre is damaged, you’ll have two types of repair that you could make: temporary and permanent. In this article, you’ll learn how to spot that your tyre repair has been bodged.

When might you need a temporary agricultural tyre repair?

Temporary repairs should only be made to get your vehicle or machinery back to the yard. Patches should not be used for more than 24 hours, and may not be possible if the damage is too large. For this type of damage, you should have the tyre repaired permanently.

You might be tempted to make a temporary repair, especially if time is tight (when isn’t it?), but a professional repair will prolong the life of your tyre and save money and time in the long run.

Do you need a permanent agricultural tyre repair?

Permanent repairs are more expensive than temporary fixes. This cost saving, though, is as temporary as the temporary. A temporary repair could be a false economy.

When considering which type of repair is best for your agricultural tyre, you should consider what work it will be doing. The heavier the load and tougher the ground, the harder your tyre will need to work. A temporary fix could fail fast.

It’s very tempting to make a temporary fix on tyres that are used on handling equipment. A temporary repair is quick and cheap, and the equipment is only used in a confined area and only now and again. But what if the tyre fails? Suddenly you have an expensive repair, and, most importantly, you’re putting the operator at risk.

What type of permanent repair is best?

When a tyre is repaired permanently, the repair can be made by hot or cold vulcanising. You should know the difference before deciding which you need.

Vulcanisation is the tyre equivalent of welding. Using sulphur, the tyre and patch are bonded together, making a permanent seal.

Hot vulcanising is faster than cold, and best for larger damage. However, it requires specialist equipment, and your tyre will need to be sent away for repair.

For smaller repairs in the centre of the tread, cold vulcanising may be best. The repair will take a day to make, with the tyre and patch bonded at 18 degrees Celsius. Usually, this process can be made at a tyre shop, though it may be necessary to send the tyre away for repair, depending on the extent of the damage.

If you decide on the wrong type of repair, even if it is done perfectly the result could be as bad as the right repair done poorly. Always take advice from a tyre specialist before making your decision.

How can you tell a bodged tyre repair from a good one?

There are several giveaway signs that a temporary repair has been bodged. These include:

  • Rough edges to the repair
  • The patch is pulling away
  • Bulges are visible
  • Multiple repair patches

If you spot any of these conditions, you should stop using the tyre immediately and take it to a tyre specialist for a full examination. Multiple repair patches are a sign that the wrong type of repair has been made, and made badly.

Poor permanent repairs are harder to detect because most of the work is internal. A spectrometer is needed to inspect the tyre. It is like an X-ray for tyres and examines behind what might look like a perfect patch on the outside.

How can I tell which repairer to afford?

If a tyre repairer is offering a bargain basement price on a tyre repair, the chances are that you’ll get a bargain basement repair. Agricultural tyres and repairs are the same as most commodities – you get what you pay for. If your agricultural tyre is damaged, have it checked by a reputable tyre specialist.

Contact Darra Tyres today and get your damaged agricultural tyre checked by the professionals. We’ve been serving South and West Brisbane for more than 40 years, supplying all major brands and at all price points.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

Why you should check your tyres regularly, and how I know you don’t

An underinflated tyre could cost more than a few dollars

When a customer comes into our tyre shop in Brisbane, I can tell almost immediately if they haven’t checked their tyre pressures for a long while – or if they only check them now and again. I’m not a mind reader. I don’t have a second sight. And I’m not a magician. But I do know my tyres.

In this article, you’ll learn how often you should check your tyres, and why.

How do I know you neglect tyre pressure checks?

You can tell a lot from tyres. I can see if you drive fast into corners and if you brake harder than you should. One of the easiest things to tell is if you leave it too long between tyre pressure checks. The sign is worn shoulders on the inside and outside: it means your tyres have deflated, and this is usually because you haven’t checked the tyre pressure in a while, or you leave it too long between doing so.

Why do tyres deflate?

Most drivers think that if they have the valve cap screwed tight, their tyre pressure will remain the same. I expect you know that heat affects tyre pressure – in hot weather your tyre pressure increases. But did you know that all tyres deflate over time?

It’s a slow process, but your tyre is constantly losing air. Usually at the rate of around 3PSI every month. It happens because all tyre rubber has small holes in it. Miniscule holes, through which air molecules can (and do) escape. If you inflate your tyres to a high pressure, the air will escape faster because the molecules are forced out. It’s a natural process, and cannot be avoided. The only treatment is to regularly check your tyre pressures, and make sure you re-inflate to the right pressure.

How do incorrectly inflated tyres affect you?

Driving on incorrectly inflated tyres will affect your pocket, and can affect your safety; and that of your passengers and other road users.

Incorrectly inflated tyres will cause increased and uneven wear. It will affect handling, and increase braking distances. You’ll find it harder to negotiate bends and corners, and that distance between you and the vehicle ahead might not be enough anymore.

Underinflated tyres could fail prematurely. The tyre must work harder, and the rubber flexes more – and breaks down faster. Abnormal conditions become problematic. Debris and gravel become lodged in the rubber more easily, and your control is impeded.

Increased wear also increases fuel consumption. That’s a direct hit on your pocket. And the longer you run your tyres under or overinflated, the greater the wear and tear on them – and the less time they’ll last. Poorly inflated tyres could need changing tens of thousands of kilometres earlier than correctly inflated tyres. You could be buying three sets over a period that two sets should cover. That’s hundreds of dollars in unnecessary costs.

How often should you check your tyre pressures?

At the very least, you should check your tyre pressures once a month. Preferably, check them every two weeks. Re-inflate to the recommended pressure.

Other times you should check your tyre pressures are:

Don’t forget to check your spare tyre every time you check your other tyres. The last thing you need to happen is to find your spare tyre is unusable miles from home and assistance.

How do you know what pressure to inflate to?

First, you should usually ignore all the writing on the tyre sidewall when inflating your tyres. The correct tyre pressure to inflate to is dependent upon your vehicle and its load. You’ll find the tyre pressure recommendations either on the tyre placard on the door jamb or in your vehicle’s driver’s manual.

The exception to this rule (there’s always an exception, isn’t there?) is if you replace the original tyres with different tyres. In this case, refer to the tyre manufacturer’s recommendations – and if you’re in any doubt, call in at our tyre shop in Brisbane and ask me. See if I can tell how long it’s been since you last checked your tyre pressures while you’re here. Just for fun, of course!

What if your tyre keeps losing pressure fast?

If you find that your tyre pressure is reducing rapidly, or has lost more than 4PSI to 5PSI in a month, you could have a problem with another part of the tyre. Most commonly this will be the valve stem. Don’t leave this tyre condition to chance. It’s dangerous, and you could find your tyre suddenly deflates while you’re driving – often on the motorway. If this is the case, contact Brisbane Tyres today and get your tyre checked before it’s too late.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

5 essential tips for storing tyres in Brisbane

How to make your spare tyres last longer and stay safer

The season is changing. The weather here in Queensland has started to turn warmer, and for many drivers that mean switching to a different set of tyres. If you’re planning a springtime Queensland adventure, you might change your normal tyres for a set that is more tuned to off-road driving. Or, perhaps you simply have a spare set of tyres tucked away. Whatever the reason, how you store your spare tyres will impact their usefulness.

If you don’t store tyres correctly here in Brisbane, you could find they rot away, even if they haven’t reached their expiry date. UV radiation from the sun, ozone damage, and oxygen all take their toll. An unused tyre could be as useless as a tyre with 100,000 kilometres on it. The following five tyre storage tips will help keep your stored tyres in top condition for longer.

1.    Clean and bag your tyres

Before putting your tyres into storage, you should clean them. Use a tyre brush to rid the tyre of dirt and brake dust. If you store on wheels, make sure to clean them, too. Dry them completely, and don’t use tyre dressing.

2.    Use airtight bags to store your tyres

Once the tyres are clean and dry, place each in an airtight plastic bag. Make sure there is no water or condensation in the bags. Large vacuum storage bags will help you to suck out as much air as possible. Once you’ve done this, use tape to make sure the bag remains airtight.

3.    Store in a cool, dry place

Keep your tyres out of sunlight, in a cool and dry location. If possible, store in a basement or climate controlled room – sheds and garages tend to suffer from temperatures that vary from hot to cold. They can also be damp and humid – not the best conditions to store tyres in. Wherever you store your tyres, keep them away from fridges and freezers, and air conditioning units.

4.    Stack tyres vertically

It’s best to stack your tyres vertically. It reduces tyre distortion. Keep them off the ground, and if possible put them on a dedicated shelf.

5.    Use them or lose them

Tyre rubber contains a protective wax. It slows down the process of oxidation, as the protective wax ‘blooms’ through the rubber compound to the surface of the tyre as it is being used. When the tyre is in storage, the wax on the surface of the tyre is eventually exhausted by oxidation – which is why you need to remove as much air from the tyre bags as possible.

When a tyre isn’t being used, the protective wax doesn’t work its way to the surface. It is another reason for unused tyres degrading just as fast as the tyres on your vehicle. The answer is to make sure you don’t store tyres for too long without using them. If you do so, you could find that when you do put them on your vehicle, they aren’t fit for purpose.

Tyres are like people!

Tyres aren’t so different from people. They age. But if you store your tyres properly, you can slow down this ageing process. However, even if your tyres look perfect, they may not be so. Before you switch the tyres on your vehicle with a stored set, always get a professional to examine them. Degraded rubber has a habit of looking as good as new, and you won’t know they’re dangerous until you suffer a blowout at speed. And no one wants that to happen to you.

For all your tyre needs here in Brisbane, contact Darra Tyres today.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevin Wood

What can you do with your old tyres in Brisbane?

Innovative ways to recycle tyres in Brisbane and save the environment

When a tyre is no longer roadworthy, disposing of it can be a problem. There are very few eco-friendly ways of getting rid of old tyres, and yet there are several ways in which old tyres can be used in an eco-friendly way. Only 16% of the 48 million tyres discarded in Australia every year are recycled. The rest is used in a landfill or stored in dangerous and often illegal tyre dumps (like the tyre dump discovered in North Queensland). Eventually, they pollute our soil, rivers, and water supply, or catch fire and pollute the air we breathe.

In this article, you’ll learn how we can all be greener when it comes to old tyres in Brisbane.

tyres recycled

Tyres are a valuable resource – we shouldn’t waste them

Though it isn’t fit for use as a tyre any longer, an old tyre is still a valuable resource. Each discarded tyre contains around:

  • 5kg of steel
  • 5kg of textiles
  • 7kg of rubber

It means that here in Australia alone, every year we are throwing away around:

  • 60 million kg of steel
  • 20 million kg of textiles
  • 280 million kg of rubber

Stockpiles of old tyres are a health hazard, creating breeding grounds for rats and mosquitoes. Landfill sites get clogged up with old tyres – imagine as many as 40 million tyres buried underground every year here in Australia.

It is a colossal waste of what could still be a useful resource.

recycled tyres

How can old tyres be recycled?

The 40 million or so old tyres we waste every year could be put to some really good, environmentally-friendly uses. For example, old tyres can be turned into:

Rubber roads. If this sounds outlandish, in the United States they have been using rubber roads since the 1960s. There are now around 20,000 miles of such roads in America. They are quieter to drive on, which is another benefit when you consider that the World Health Organisation reckons that one in every 50 heart attacks in Europe is caused by exposure to loud traffic.

Energy. Old tyres can be used by power stations. Tyres are first shredded and then burned to help create electricity. They can also be burned in cement-making kilns, reducing the amount of carbon fuel needed.

Can you use your old tyres for other things?

Yes, you can! How about creating a centrepiece of tyre planters in your garden? Or perhaps setting them up as a mini assault course for the kids – swings, step-throughs, crawl-throughs, and so on? Here are a few other ingenious uses for old tyres that I’ve heard of:

  • Dog bed
  • Tyre lamps
  • Planters
  • Tyre tables
  • Tyre speakers or subwoofers
  • Half-tyre hammocks (for the kids)
  • Garden steps
  • Sandboxes
  • Umbrella stand

We’ve teamed up with Sarah Textor of Clive Street to discard of old tyres more intelligently. She creates the most amazing fashion accessories from inner tube tyres, and we’re happy and proud to help  Sarah and Brisbane’s environment simultaneously.

Tyres Recycled

What else can you do to reduce wastage from old tyres?

There are a few other things you can do to help reduce tyre waste, and every little helps. For example:

  • Buy good quality tyres that last longer.
  • Take care of your tyres to prolong their useful life – employ a regular tyre maintenance program.
  • Consider buying retreads to support the recycling of tyres.

If we all added just 10% to tyre life, we’d annually cut more than 4 million old tyres from Australia’s old tyre mountain.

For tips on how to recycle your old tyres and the best tyre service in West Brisbane, contact Darra Tyres today. You never know, you might also find that fashionable handbag you’ve been searching for.

Keeping your family and fleet safely on the road,

Kevih Wood

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