Tyres Archives - Arrow Tyre Services

5 tyre tips to keep tyres in peak condition

When was the last time you checked your tyres?

Our roads have more potholes than ever before, and our tyres are suffering the consequences. So, we have put together the five most important facts to keep you safe on the road.

Our essential 5 tyre tips for looking after your tyres

Uneven wear of the tread.

If you notice areas on your tyres that are more worn down than others, it could be an indication that your tyre pressures need adjusting. This is worth doing regularly, but most people tend to leave it too long between checks, and their tyres suffer from uneven wear.

Wheel alignment.

Are your front tyres wearing unevenly on the inner or outer edges? If so, this could indicate that your front suspension is off-kilter due to a pothole or running into a kerb. You can call in to our workshops, and we can check your wheel alignment for you. This will give you a much better drive and even reduce your fuel consumption.

Wheel balance.

Does your steering wheel shake? This can be a sign that your wheels and tyres are not balanced. You may be missing a balance weight which is something we can easily put right quickly and inexpensively, and your car will drive much better.

Side wall problems.

Be on the lookout for splits, kerbing damage, cracks, and bulges in the sidewalls of your tyres. Don’t risk your own safety if have any problems, these are dangerous. If you are not sure, we offer a free tyre check. Just pop in or give us a call on 01273 515128. We will only recommend replacing tyres if they are a safety hazard or illegal.

Check your spare tyre.

The last of our 5 tyre tips is to check your spare. This is frequently overlooked, and then the day comes when you really need to change a tyre and your spare is either damaged, deflated or worn. We advise checking the pressure occasionally to ensure it is in good condition, and ready in an emergency. Rotating your tyres may also help keep the wear even across all tyres.

If you want a quote for tyres, brakes, wheel alignment or exhausts, please call us on 01273 515128. We offer free competitive quotes and a fast, friendly service.

Winter Tyres – what is the difference?

Should I fit Winter Tyres?

Should you fit winter tyres and what is the difference? Tyres made for winter driving have a higher natural rubber content giving them a softer structure which improves grip as the road temperatures change.

Winter tyres are useful if temperatures fall regularly below 7+ degrees C, or you live remotely, and risk being cut off by heavy snowfall. They are also useful if you are reliant on using your vehicle in cold weather.

Winter tyres are actually cold weather tyres rather than snow tyres. They grip roads better in cold weather and their tiny grooves can bite into snow, ice and sludge. They are also good at dispersing water faster which will ensure you get more traction and better braking. These will outperform conventional tyres for traction and braking regardless of weather conditions.

The structure of these robust tyres certainly improves the handling in cold weather and thus they offer greater safety. Winter tyres are harder wearing than normal tyres and can be seen as more cost effective. You will need to replace them when the temperatures rise and store them ready for the following winter.

Both Tyresafe and the RAC have mentioned that “On snow, the gap widens considerably, as the sipes on winter tyres offer grip even when the tread is packed with soft snow. In such conditions, a two-wheel-drive car with winter tyres is invariably safer than 4×4 on summer tyres.

You can identify a winter tyre as it has a snowflake symbol on the side wall. If you see M & S (no, it’s not the store) that stands for Mud and Snow – then these tyres are not necessarily proper winter tyres.

The price of these tyres vary and are dependent on your car size and wheel size. We are happy to give you a price especially if your business relies on you being out and about in all weather conditions. If you need an all season van tyre, Avons have a good all-rounder we can supply. Take a quick look at their video.

UK and Europe

Winter tyres are not mandatory in the UK and only a few customers decide to fit them. However, if you have the two sets of tyres you will find that your summer tyres last longer and prices will even themselves out over time especially if you have your own storage space.

If you are taking your car to Europe this winter, please not that in Austria they must be fitted between 1 November and 15 April (it’s not worth risking a €5000 fine), and in Sweden they are compulsory from December 1^st to end of March. We suggest if travelling during the winter in Europe, please check local guidelines.

ARE ELECTRIC VEHICLE (EV) TYRES DIFFERENT?

As electric vehicles continue to rise in popularity in the UK how do their tyres differ from standard tyres?

The latest Government data shows the number of battery electric vehicles (BEV) owned by individuals I the UK, rose by nearly 30,000 in the 12 months to September 2020. This is an increase of 53% on the previous year. More than one third are located in the South East and London.

While we are only beginning to see more on our roads, it appears they are becoming more popular.

Electric cars feel very similar to normal cars, but they are very quiet, and clearly very different under the bonnet.

Is the wear on tyres increased with an electric car?

Electric cars are much heavier than regular cars due to the battery requirement, so logically, there will be more wear on electric car tyres. The pressure of a larger load means an ordinary tyre won’t last as long or stand up to our demanding roads as well.

Are electric vehicle tyres more expensive?

EV tyres have been specifically designed to cope with excess weight and the instant torque of an electric vehicle. When these tyres are made, the manufacturers considered:

Construction methods
Side Wall design
Rubber compounds
Tread design
Groove width
Belt arrangements

Because more time and effort go into the development, there is a higher price tag than with a conventional car.

EV tyres will last longer

These electric vehicle tyres are impressively quiet, durable and will save you money in the long term. You will also be more aware of your surroundings when running on quiet EV tyres.

EV tyres will last longer and are designed to accommodate the vehicle’s additional weight and absorb any extra strain.

EV tyres are quieter. If you put standard tyres on a BEV, you may experience more road noise.

If you use normal tyres, expect them to wear around 30% quicker than EV tyres, and they won’t be able to handle their torque.

Like any other tyres, it is worth extending the life of your tyres by monitoring their wear. We advise checking them regularly. Making sure the tread is legal and that they are inflated to the correct pressure.

Wheel balancing and aligning

Checking if your wheels are balanced will ensure that the wear is even and equally distributed over all of your tyres.

We often get asked for wheel alignment. Did you know wheel alignment will not only improve your tyre performance and vehicle, but wheel alignment will improve fuel efficiency and make your steering more responsive? If you need one or more of your tyres changing or would like us to give your tyres a free safety check, then please pop by or give us a call. We are a friendly and experienced local tyre business which has been trading for over 50 years. We provide competitive quotes and honest advice whether you require tyres, brakes, batteries or exhausts.

Call us now for a quote or pop in to our Newhaven branch.

BEST VAN TYRES FOR STRENGTH AND DURABILITY

If you are not sure which tyres are best for your minivan, van or commercial light truck, come and chat with the experts and find out what would work best for your business.

Choosing the right tyres can cut your fuel consumption, reduce your braking distance in the wet and will last your business longer.

There are lots of options to consider when choosing a van tyre, especially manufacturers, sizes, load-bearing and vehicle type.

Van tyres for tough jobs

When vans are off the road, your business is affected, and a key consideration with fleet maintenance has to be, the life of your tyres. Even if you are a sole proprietor you must know that, if your van is subject to heavy loads and a lot of wear and tear, it would be best to fit tyres with strengthened side walls which can cope better with the weight.

Van tyres for heavy deliveries

The labelling of van tyres has been developed in such a way as to help drivers understand how reinforced the tyres are; for example, XL stands for ‘extra load’ and RF is short for ‘reinforced’ tyres. These are generally car tyres that have been reinforced to take a little more weight.

If your vehicle takes heavier deliveries, we would recommend a tyre labelled ‘C’ which is designed to be used on a van. These C tyres have been constructed to carry heavier loads and withstand rougher roads. C tyres are especially suitable for driving on country roads, industrial estates and construction sites.

Maintain regular air pressure checks on van tyres

When driving a car, the weight of the vehicle remains relatively constant, especially if you are using it to commute to work or take the children to school.

A van is used for deliveries, and the weight will vary every time it is driven. Tyre pressures need to be frequently adjusted to balance the weight of your load. This may be a nuisance, but it improves fuel efficiency and can lengthen the life of your tyres. If your business relies on a van or commercial vehicles, it’s always best to get the most mileage from your tyres.

Therefore, selecting the correct tyres for your van makes great business sense. If you are not sure what you require, please give us a call on 01273 515128 or pop into one of our garages and have a chat. We can give you some prices and advice, and the rest is up to you.

We keep a wide range of tyres in stock, but if something is out of stock, we can order it and our experienced mechanics will fit them within a couple of days.

If you have a number of vehicles and you’d like to discuss van and lorry tyre checks and inspections, we are flexible to your business needs and can fit tyres across the board from your company cars to vans, light trucks and commercials. Just ask us for details.

TIPS TO PREVENT YOUR CAR BREAKING DOWN IN THE HEAT

Here are a few tips as we don’t always look after our cars in the hot weather. Summers in the UK are definitely getting warmer, with temperatures hitting 30°C and more this is great news for sun-lovers and holiday-makers, but it’s not ideal for our cars which can be adversely affected by the heat.

Breakdown statistics for roadside callouts show that there is a 20% increase and those figures rise to 30% in coastal areas. One of the leading causes is that cars overheat despite modern vehicles being built to withstand more extreme temperature changes.

In the height of summer or, during heat waves, when cars have to work in these conditions for weeks at a time, there comes a time when this impacts on performance and safety.

What can you do to ensure your car remains safe and roadworthy and, how can you prevent future damage?

Cars are often overlooked in the summer, and it is easy to neglect them when the children or your garden need attention.

Did you know that you are 20% more likely to get a puncture in hot weather? Clutch problems also increase with heat causing added wear and tear.

Soaring temperatures? Then let’s give you a few tips to make you less hot under the collar!

Car Batteries

Heat can take its toll on car batteries with the added use of air-conditioning, fans and electric convertible roofs. Heat can also affect the chemical process inside a battery. Our tip is, if you haven’t checked or replaced your battery in 2 or 3 years, now may be the ideal time to have it checked. Our free checks will give you an idea of the health of your battery and avoid any problems in the future. If you drive an old car, it might be a good idea to pop a set of jump leads in the boot if you’re planning a long journey.

Tyres

Hot weather and tyres don’t mix well due to the air inside the tyre expanding in the heat with a possible cause of over-inflation. Over a year, there are around 300,000 tyre-related breakdowns each year, many of them in the summer. Tyres degrade naturally through sunlight (Ultraviolet/UV), exposure to heat and rain. Remember also that older tyres on caravans and trailers will also suffer in extreme weather.

Our tip is to check your tyre pressure every two weeks and preferably don’t do this in the middle of the day or when your tyres are hot from driving. It’s important to make sure your tyres are not a few PSIs over the recommended pressure as this will put you at an increased risk of a blowout.

Remember to check for any signs of cracking on the sidewalls, especially if your tyres are over four years old and if you park outside. Any tyre specialist will give you advice if you are not sure if your tyres are safe to drive.

Cooling Systems

A car’s cooling system has to work much harder in both cold and hot weather. These systems keep the engine working at the right temperature; therefore, when it’s hot, they have much more work to do.

Cooling systems rely on coolant/antifreeze to keep all parts of the engine cool. On a hot day, the coolant flows around the engine at a higher temperature, causing some parts of the engine to overheat and fail. Problems with cooling systems happen more frequently during low-speed driving when there is less air circulating through the fan which cools the radiator.

You can mitigate any problems by topping up your cooling system with a high-quality coolant/antifreeze recommended for summer driving. A car engine’s optimum running temperature is around 90°, but it can run hotter in warm weather, which is why our tip suggests using a coolant/antifreeze that offers boil protection.

We recommend first checking the current protection level of your coolant/antifreeze with a coolant tester which will show the concentration of the mix and indicate the level of protection your car currently has.

Be sure and, drive safely.

HOW OFTEN DO YOU THINK TO CHECK YOUR TYRES?

It is easy to forget how important our car tyres are and it is not until the autumn, when you may feel that your grip on the road isn’t as good as you remember it, then you might consider checking the pressure and giving them the once-over. But do you know what you are looking for?

Tyre advice from experts

At Arrow Tyres, our fitters are specialists and know exactly what to look for when they check your tyres. It is easy to forget that the only point of contact between your car and the road – is your tyres.

Did you know that a new tyre comes with around 8-9 mm of tread and that once you get below 3 mm your car can take as much as 44% longer to stop in wet conditions? The bare minimum for tyres is 1.6mm across the central- three-quarters of the tyre but this will severely affect your braking performance.

Why are tyre tread patterns so important?

The channels in the tread pattern are vital to dispersing surface water – this prevents you aquaplaning and when the tread gets thin, you lose your grip and your tyres are unable to disperse water quickly and efficiently.

Should you buy part worn tyres?

One of the things we do know is that part worn tyres are often sold because they have come from cars involved in accidents. Just consider that those tyres will have been subjected to considerable force – how much, one will never know and although there are strict conditions to selling part worn tyres, it is generally not an attractive choice.

Affordable tyres

If you talk to any reputable tyre dealer, you will find tyres are available for different costs and a brand new tyre may only cost you a fraction more than a part worn tyre. Tyres are available these days to cover all budgets – from entry level tyres to performance tyres. Do discuss options with your local dealer, take your car in for a tyre check and make sure your vehicle is ready for those autumn rains and misty mornings.

Visit our branches in Newhaven and Southwick, Brighton and we will check your tyres for you.

AN INVITATION TO CREATE ART WITH TYRES

An invitation to create art with tyres as part of our 50th Anniversary Celebrations in 2018.

Arrow Tyres Services are celebrating 50 years in business this year. As a local company which started at Southwick, near Brighton we shortly afterwards opened our Newhaven branch and to celebrate this business milestone, we wanted to do something different, involving the community, local businesses, artists and organisations.

Newhaven and the arts

This year, we have discovered that Newhaven is a hotbed of artists! Something we appreciate as art does run in the family. We, therefore, liked the idea of coming up with a free-to-enter summer competition for local artists, community groups, individuals and businesses to up-cycle old tyres into creative artworks or usable products.

It’s not all about the prize money but there is £100 prize for the winning artwork

We can offer free resources – dependent upon availability and the deadline is well in advance for entries – 28th August 2018 at 12 noon. You don’t need to purchase anything or even be a customer and entrants can enter up to a maximum of 3 items.

Because of the nature of tyres and the strength of the material, we do need to think about safety so we have restricted the entry to over 18 as we know you will be probably be using some cutting tools to make the artwork. We advise entrants to ensure they use appropriate gloves and equipment safely.

To download the flyer with the entry details here or give us a ring on 01273 515128 to ask about used tyres as resources.

For ideas visit our Pinterest page and do post your entries on Facebook and share them with us!

LEARN HOW TO REDUCE TYRE WEAR AND TEAR

How do you drive? Fast and aggressive or cool and composed?

Aggressive corning and braking will put more wear on your tyres, as will driving at higher speeds.

Do you load your car or van?

Excess loads increases wear on your tyres, so if you are a business owner and carry excessive weight around, expect your tyres to wear out soon. If you pull a trailer or caravan – your tyres are going to wear out quicker.

Are you under pressure?

What we mean by that is do you have time to check your tyre pressures? No? Driving on under-inflated or, on over-inflated tyres will both increase wear. We advise checking your tyres at least once a month to get the most wear out of them.

Why do my front tyres wear faster than my rear tyres?

It’s all to do with the steering. Because of the movement you create steering your care, the tyres on the driven wheels will wear faster.

When was the last time you checked your wheel alignment?

If your wheels are not aligned, or your suspension components such as shock absorbers are worn, this is another cause of wear and uneven wear.

How long should my tyres last?

You should get at least 20,000 miles out of front tyres and around double that for rear tyres, on a front wheel drive car. However, tyres meet a lot of different demands on our roads today.

The longer lasting tyres are frequently the noisiest as they are manufactured from harder compounds. Even the tread pattern can affect the amount of road noise.

Buying softer tyres will give a quieter ride but will wear quicker.

Tyres also degrade with heat, sunlight and moisture. All weathers can have an effect on the life of a tyre.

Not sure if your tyres need replacing?

Confused? Don’t be; we have experts on hand who can give your tyres a free check if you need reassuring. Just call into one of our local garages in Newhaven or Southwick for some friendly advice and ensure your tyres are roadworthy.

CHECK YOUR TYRES BEFORE HOLIDAY TRAVEL

Before you set out on your holiday this year, it is worthwhile taking the time to check your car is up to scratch rather than breakdown on the trip with children, or elderly parents in the car.

The extra weight of luggage and passengers can add to the strain when travelling distances and a few simple checks, giving yourself time to fix any problems, will reduce your pre-holiday stress and make you more confident of the hours ahead.

Tyres and wheels summer checks

Checking your tyres is very important. We all know how many potholes litter our roads in Sussex and any tyre problems should be easy to spot. We recommend checking your tyres every two weeks, but when there is much to think of, you might make a mistake and forget.

Take a look for cuts, bulges and gouges. If you are not sure, bring your car into one of our garages at Newhaven, just off the ring road, or at Southwick, Brighton. We will give your tyres a free check for your peace of mind.

If you are not sure of the legal tread, it should be 1.6mm across the middle two-thirds of the tyre around the whole circumference. You can do a rough check with a 20p coin. The coin’s outer band is approximately 1.6mm, so if you can see some of the band, you need a new tyre. At Arrow Tyres, we will also check your tyre treads as part of our free customer service.

Finally, check your tyre pressures and also that of your spare tyre. You can do this on most petrol stations’ forecourts with a specialised gauge. It will read in either PSI (pounds per square inch) or Bar, the metric equivalent. The reading should be confirmed by looking inside your driver’s door or passenger door for the tyre pressure chart. If you don’t have a sticker inside either door, your tyre pressures can be found in your car handbook.

Happy summer driving from all at Arrow Tyres Services in Newhaven and Southwick, Brighton.