Spotted small cracks around your tyres? It’s easy to assume they’re nothing to worry about, especially when there’s still plenty of tread left. However, tread depth only tells you part of the story. Tyre rubber deteriorates with age, even on cars that aren’t driven very often. You can’t stop tyres ageing altogether, but correct pressures, suitable cleaning and protection from prolonged exposure...
You’ve found a parking space on a narrow street but getting out of the way of passing traffic means putting 2 wheels on the kerb. It might seem harmless, especially if everyone else has done the same. So, does parking on a kerb damage your car? It can, particularly if you hit the kerb hard, scrape your tyres against it or leave a tyre resting awkwardly on its edge. However, parking with a wheel...
One minute you’re driving in bright sunshine; the next, rain is bouncing off the windscreen - typical UK weather! Add darker evenings and poor visibility to the matter, and even a familiar journey can feel quite different in autumn. A few changes to your driving habits, along with some straightforward vehicle checks, can help you prepare. These autumn driving safety tips cover what to watch out...
Whether it is the school run, a quick trip to the shops or a short commute, many of us regularly use our cars for journeys of only a few miles. They may be convenient, but are short journeys bad for your car? The occasional short drive is unlikely to cause a problem. However, if nearly every journey ends before the car has properly warmed up, it can place extra strain on the battery, engine and...
Your car has passed its MOT, but the certificate includes a list of advisories. Can you carry on driving? Do they need fixing immediately? And which one should you deal with first? An MOT advisory highlights an issue that is not serious enough to make the vehicle fail the test at that time but may need monitoring or repairing in the future. It should not be treated as proof that the car will rema...
Passing your test and getting your first car brings a new kind of freedom. It also brings a list of responsibilities that may not have featured much in your driving lessons. From checking the tyres to keeping an eye on dashboard lights, a little routine maintenance can help your car stay safe, reliable and ready for the road. The good news is that you do not need to be a mechanic to look after t...
Motorway journeys can make even small differences between tyres feel surprisingly big. A little extra road noise becomes difficult to ignore; poor wet-weather performance matters more when spray is reducing visibility. Higher rolling resistance can also add to running costs when you regularly cover long distances. So, what are the best tyres for motorway driving? There is no single model that su...
A roof box can be a lifesaver when you’re packing for a family holiday. Instead of playing a stressful game of luggage Tetris in the boot, you have extra space for suitcases, camping equipment and all those “just in case” items that are always included. However, adding a roof box changes more than your car’s storage capacity. It increases the vehicle’s height and weight, affects its aerodynamics...
Some tyre noise is harmless and may simply come from a coarse road surface. Other sounds can point to low pressure, uneven tread wear, wheel imbalance or damage. The tricky part is working out where the noise is coming from. A noise that appears to come from a tyre may actually be caused by a wheel bearing, brake or suspension component. Is some tyre noise normal? Yes. As the tread meets...
A vibrating steering wheel is never something you should ignore. While the cause could be something simple, it can also point to issues affecting your tyres, suspension or steering components. Let's look at the most common reasons why your steering wheel vibrates at higher speeds and what you should do about it if this happens to you. If your steering wheel only starts vibrating at motorwa...