Tick, click, scrape, screech, hum, rattle, clunk- it sounds like a bad song title, but if you hear any of these noises in your car- listen up! 

Any unusual noise coming from your car is usually a warning sign that something isn’t right. One of these noises in your car could mean any one of a hundred things. Dangerously worn brake pads, a blockage in your exhaust system,  a worn out drive belt, low oil or power steering fluid, unaligned tyres- and anything in between.

Get it checked out early, there is a big difference between some preventative maintenance and a costly repair bill. 

What to do

Pay close attention to what happens before and when your car starts making the sound.  Is it only when you start driving, or when the car warms up? Does the noise come front the front or back- which side? Try to give your mechanic as much information as possible to work with. Service intervals are generally longer now then they used to be so it’s important not to ignore potential problems.

Have you ever taken a child to the doctor only for them to make a miraculous recovery in the waiting room? Frustratingly, cars sometimes do the same thing, so be able to describe the noise accurately. 

Most importantly, don’t let the noises continue without having an expert take a look at your vehicle. In reality, we’re all driving around in 2 tonne torpedoes, so we have a responsibility to keep on top of the maintenance!

If you think the noise might be tyre related, chances are TyreAware can help. Call in for a free tyre safety check, or book here to have quality new tyres fitted at our shop in Ballinderreen. 

The post What is that weird noise? appeared first on Tyreaware.

Wheels rarely give too many problems, but they should still be checked for excessive corrosion. TyreAware also recommends periodic checking for tightness of the nuts, bolts, and hardware.

Be Trailer Tyre Aware

Tyre failure can be a headache for boat owners. Incorrect tyre pressure is a common cause of tyre failure, especially with smaller 9.0- and 10.0-inch tyres. Some of these smaller diameter tyres are designed to be inflated to up to 60psi — around double the pressure you would normally run in a car’s tyres. 

Older tyres are also prone to failure. Signs of age include splitting and cracking of the outer rubber surface, as well as flat spots (caused by the trailer sitting idle and under-inflated for long periods), and excessive tread wear.

Wheel grin and bear it

To check for faulty or worn wheel bearings, jack up one side of the trailer, grasp a wheel in two hands, and twist it from side to side. Any movement or free-play could indicate the bearings need replacing. The wheel should spin very quietly. 

Hot wheels?

You may be looking forward to getting on the water as soon as you reach the shore. However, you should give your bearings some time to cool off before you dip the wheels and trailer into the water. If you dip the wheels into the water almost immediately, the bearings will contract suddenly and lead to the absorption of salt water and dirt.  

Most importantly

Thoroughly rinse your trailer wheels with fresh water after use to avoid corrosion. YouTube has some handy videos on the subject, find them here. 

Feel free to bring your boat trailer wheels to TyreAware in Ballinderreen for a free tyre health check. Trailer wheels, lawnmowers, go-carts and more…we’ve fixed them all.

To arrange fitting of quality new tyres, call us on 087 3522920, or book online here. 

The post Looking after your boat trailer wheels appeared first on Tyreaware.

With the cost of living rising at an unnerving rate, we’re all looking for ways to cut back. Here’s our take on how your tyres and driving habits might be a good place to start.

Tyres account for up to 20-30% of your car’s fuel consumption (S.E.A.I.) so choosing the right ones can significantly reduce your spend at the pumps. 

All new tyres sold in Ireland come with an EU tyre label to help you make an informed choice. Tyres are rated in three categories, Fuel Efficiency, Wet Grip and Noise. Fuel efficiency is rated on a scale from A to F, with an A-rating being the best result. These tyres require less energy to roll, and therefore burn less fuel. We’re always happy to go over the options with you and find something to suit your needs (and your budget).

Tyre pressure and fuel economy

Tyres naturally lose air at a rate of up to 2PSI every month, so it’s essential to check them regularly. The lower the air pressure inside the tyre, the larger its ‘footprint’ or contact area with the road. With that, the friction between the rubber and the road- known as the rolling resistance- rises. As rolling resistance increases, more power is needed to keep the vehicle moving. More force is needed to overcome this friction at slower speeds or if you are driving in conditions that mean you stop and start at regular frequencies.

Low tyre pressure also impacts your vehicle’s handling and increases the risk of tyre blowouts. Estimates vary and various factors affect your miles per gallon, but underinflated tyres could be increasing your fuel consumption from anywhere between 3% and 10%. Of course this extra fuel being used has a big impact on our environment too. Just under 20 lbs of carbon dioxide is released into the air for every gallon of fuel burned. 

Your driving habits and fuel economy 

Your car isn’t the only factor in improving fuel economy; you have a big part to play as well. Adopting bad driving habits, such as speeding and excessive acceleration at high revs, will almost certainly affect your fuel consumption. If your vehicle comes with cruise control, using it will help to maintain a constant speed and make the best use of your fuel. Sudden braking will also have a detrimental effect on your MPG, make sure you leave adequate space between yourself and the vehicle in front so you’re not hitting the brake pedal too often. 

Many newer cars automatically turn off when stationary in neutral. If yours doesn’t, turn off your engine when you’ve stopped for a minute or so to save fuel.

Weight is another major factor in how much petrol your car uses. The heavier the vehicle, the more fuel will be needed to keep it moving. This is especially true when driving in stop-start traffic, something that can be quite common when driving in busy city areas or on motorways.

It’s easy to get into the habit of using your car as a storage space, with golf clubs or the stroller sitting in the boot of your car. However, on average, an extra 50kg of weight in the car will increase fuel consumption by 1-2%. Therefore, it’s best to only carry the essential things you need. So, it might be time to start decluttering your car, and leave those extra items at home if you don’t intend on using them.

Wheel alignment 

Correct wheel alignment has several benefits, the most important being safety. Having an alignment check annually helps your tyres to wear evenly and last longer, adding up to 12,000 miles to the life of your tyre. Even the smallest weight imbalance can lead to uneven tyre wear (not to mention a nasty vibration through the steering wheel), tyre balancing is essential as it ensures the tyre spins evenly around the axle.

Having even tyre wear around the circumference of the tyre reduces rolling resistance with the road, ensuring your car is only burning the fuel it absolutely needs to. 

Call in to TyreAware in Ballinderreen for a free tyre safety check.

You can book in for wheel alignment by calling 087 3522920 or using our handy online booking system.

Have you seen the rest of our online blog section? We have loads of top tips and informative articles. Check it out here: https://tyreaware.ie/blog/

The post Fuel economy and your tyres appeared first on Tyreaware.

Usually, you can drive for a maximum of 80km at a top speed of 80kmph on a punctured run flat. Which allows you to get home or to a tyre centre to assess the damage. You avoid having to replace your wheel at the roadside (which can be difficult and dangerous) or call roadside assistance. With no need to carry a spare wheel, you get more boot space, greater fuel efficiency and mileage. Run flats also make it easier to control your vehicle in the event of a puncture, reducing the risk of an accident.

If your car has run flats and your TPMS warns that you’re losing tyre pressure, it’s vital that you stick to the speed limit and mileage specified by the manufacturer (found in your vehicle handbook). Then change your tyres as soon as possible.

While they may look fine to the untrained eye, it’s essential that you get to a tyre centre and have them checked out. If you don’t, there’s a danger you’ll damage the wheel itself, which is far more costly than replacing your tyre.

Can I fit run flats onto an older vehicle (retrofit)?

Consider these points before changing to run flat tyres on a vehicle previously fitted with ‘normal’ tyres :

• Tyre Pressure Monitoring System
  Run flats must only be installed on a car which has a TPMS/tyre pressure monitoring system. TPMS alerts the driver to a puncture so they are aware that they have a limited time to replace their tyre, and so they drive within the limits of their deflated tyre.
• Vehicle Suspension
  You should also note that you may need some changes made to your vehicle’s suspension. Because of their stiffer construction, run flat tyres contribute to a vehicle’s suspension when fitted as original equipment.

Can you repair a puncture in a run flat?

Unfortunately not. Due to the way in which a run flat tyre is reinforced to be usable when punctured, it’s not recommended to repair them following a puncture or any other sort of damage. The reason for this is that the sidewall is very thick, making it difficult to examine for damage.

Once you drive on a damaged run flat tyre, you compromise the structure that supports the weight of the car. 

Any other disadvantages?

Some drivers feel cars with run-flat tyres are slightly less enjoyable to drive. Or aren’t as good at soaking up potholes and broken tarmac as cars fitted with conventional tyres. The suspension is less effective because the stiffer sidewalls are less adept at absorbing bumps. They also add ‘unsprung’ weight (mass not supported by the car’s suspension).

On average, run flat tyres are 10-25% more expensive than regular tyres. However, they can save you money in the long run, by removing the need to buy and carry a spare, or having to rely on calling for roadside assistance in the event of a puncture.

Call us to talk about it

Many car makers are now fitting run flat tyres as original equipment. If your vehicle uses them and you need replacements, you can call TyreAware on 087 3522920 for a quick quote. We supply tyres for most makes and models, with a wide range in stock from major brands to suit all budgets.

The post Run Flat Tyres appeared first on Tyreaware.

For our example we’ll use a Nissan Qashqai Diesel, driving 30,000km per year (35% urban, 65% highway).

Fitted with old “F energy rated” tyres this car’s fuel consumption is 6.9 ltr/100kms. 

If upgraded to “B energy rated” tyres- it would save €210 (€1.62/ltr) in fuel over the year, reducing the fuel consumption to 6.5ltr/100kms. That’s 130 litres of fuel!

This means a CO2 emissions reduction of 342Kg CO2.

To sequester that amount of extra CO2, you’d need to plant 12 trees every year. Not to mention the time and money it takes to fill up at the pumps. 

We’re all trying to find ways to be more environmentally friendly, by upgrading to a better rated tyre you can not only do your bit and enjoy a safer drive, but save time and money too. 

Tyre retailers are legally obliged to display labels for each tyre showing their various ratings, energy efficiency, safety, noise production etc. We’re always happy to go through it with you to find the best option for your budget. 

At the time of publishing (Nov. 2021), TyreAware can offer a set of 4 new tyres with a “B energy rating” in tyre size 215/60 R17 from as low as €380, with a budget alternative for €320. 

Call 087 3522920 to book or chat about your options.

Sources:

https://www.encon.be/en/calculation-co2-offsetting-trees

TyreAware.org fuel savings calculator

Have you seen the rest of our online blog section? We have loads of top tips and informative articles. Check it out here: https://tyreaware.ie/blog/

The post How your tyres affect your time, money and the environment. appeared first on Tyreaware.