Owning and running a car is an expensive business nowadays and tyres can be one of the biggest expenses. However, if you are on a limited budget and don’t fancy paying hundreds of pounds for the latest tyres there is the option of going for a budget tyre or even a part-worn tyre.  And usually there is very little difference in price in the case of good part-worns and new budget tyres.  But there are several issues to consider when making your decision, not least the safety aspect.

Tyre regulations for part-worn tyres

The Motor Vehicle Tyres (Safety) Regulations 1994 lays down strict rules regarding part-worn tyres including;

A part-worn tyre must not have cuts longer than 25mm (or 10% of the section width of the tyre) and the original grooves must be to a depth of at least 2mm across the full breadth of the tread.

It should have no lumps, bulges or tears both internally and externally and no cords or piles should be exposed.

It must still show all the original markings including speed ratings and feature the words ‘PART-WORN’ in 4mm high letters.

What to consider

Consider these points: do you know where the tyre has come from? Has the tyre been previously punctured and repaired? Tyre wear is unique to each vehicle and a part-worn tyre will have ‘moulded’ to the vehicle it was originally fitted to so this may potentially cause steering or wear anomalies which may require tracking correction or even, in the worst cases, may affect your car’s suspension.  A brand new tyre comes with a tread depth of 8mm whereas a part-worn tyre can legally be sold with as little as 3mm of tread depth so, considering the legal minimum is 1.6mm then it is obvious that a part-worn tyre will have a limited lifespan on your car.  It may also have less grip on the road, especially in adverse weather conditions.  So, although a part-worn tyre may be suitable as a short-term solution it could prove to be a false economy.

A new ‘budget’ tyre, on the other hand, comes with a manufacturers guarantee for peace of mind.  From brand new it will adjust to your car and your driving style and because it will already have more tread depth it will obviously last longer and will have better grip on the road surface; more reassuring from a safety point of view.

There are so many tyres to choose from so to get some expert advice on which one best suits your needs and budget click on www.tyrequote.com.

There are, nowadays, increasing numbers of drivers looking for and buying tyres on the Internet, whereas numbers were negligible until fairly recently.  The last five years has seen an unprecedented explosion in online shopping of all types, but most especially in the field of tyre buying.  The UK appears to be leading the charge in this area, with a doubling in numbers of people preferring to buy tyres online only, in the space of one twelve month period; and other European countries are not far behind.  Recent surveys have shown that some 45% (approximately) of motorists are making tyre purchases online and this figure is expected to continue rising, particularly amongst younger motorists, who are at the forefront of most advances with the use of technology.  It is not just men either, female drivers are just as likely to research, and buy their tyres online.

Why buy tyres online?
It is said that the main factors driving this increase are price, choice and convenience.  Online companies are not restricted to nine to five working hours.  The convenience of being able to compare tyres and prices quickly and easily from the comfort of one’s own home, at any time day or night and 365 days a year, is a big attraction.  Drivers are feeling increasingly satisfied with the online buying experience because of the discounts and vast choice of tyre brands available and this is reflected in the numbers willing to repeat the experience of buying tyres online.  Added to this are things such as improvements in customer service and technical assistance, which can only give an encouraging boost to Internet tyre retailers.

Comparing prices is a big attraction
Many of the biggest names in tyre retailing have also seen the advantages to be had through selling online by reaching more customers and so increasing sales.  It is possible to compare different tyre brands and prices in order to get the best deal, in the same way that you can use comparison websites for such things such as insurance and utilities.  The internet has certainly provided a more level playing field which enables smaller companies to compete with the big boys more fairly and the bigger names will now offer tyres more cheaply or will sometimes price-match.
When you look at the obvious advantages of researching and buying tyres online it is hard to see why anyone should go to the trouble of actually going to a tyre shop at all, considering the inconvenience and the limitations in choice. Simply visit tyrequote.com, and all your options will be easily visible, allowing you to make the best choice for your car.

With over four-million part worn tyres exchanging hands each year, the crisis of illegal part worn tyres is starting to come under the spotlight, and councils across Britain are warning motorists to watch out. But just how bad is this epidemic and can motorists be blamed for wanting to save money on replacement tyres?

New or Used Tyres? How much of a difference is there.

Last year from those four-million part worn tyres which were sold in the UK, sources estimate the over half of these tyres were already past legal limits, therefore not only dangerous but also illegal. Across the UK and Ireland, councils are beginning to notice that the part worn problem is not just a passing trend but instead it is something that is here to stay. After all with part worn sales booming, there is a great deal of money to be made so many garages are introducing them into their sales strategy, but at what risk to their customers?

Motorists want to buy cheap

We are all aware that everyone loves a good bargain, and with part worn tyres it seems that superficially many motorists are getting an exceptional deal. In parts of the UK prices for a part worn tyres can be from as little as a mere £15, and if you compare that to the price of a budget tyre at an average of £35 it seems a no-brainer for main cash-strapped Britons. But the sad fact is, it’s that many motorists are not clued up to the basic principles of tyre safety, or the impact it can have on your vehicle handling, safety and even lives.

Councils Crackdown

Councils from Newtonabbey  to as far as Ballymoney are launching campaigns a bid to warn motorists when they buy part worn, and approaching retailers to ensure that the tyres they sell are in line with tyre regulations. Many councils are conducting their own regional studies into how deep-rooted the problem actually is, and what the state of part worns being sold actually is. Of course, this is not a problem which can be solved overnight. In the current climate it will take a lot for motorists to be swayed from buying part worns. However the truth is, is that if motorists shop around when purchasing their new tyres, they can often save more than they expected and be safe in the knowledge that the tyres they are investing in are brand new and are not illegal. (We recommend checking out TyreQuote.com, we hear they can save you a great deal on new tyres in your area, giving you quality, price and service).

Part worn regulations

The government has put into place regulations that any part worn tyre seller must adhere too, however latest statistics show that over 90% of part worn tyres on sale are in fact illegal and disregard the following regulations:

• Any cuts bigger than 25mm or 10% of the section width of the tyre measured on the outside and deep enough to reach the ply or the cord;

• Any internal lump, bulge or tear caused by separation or partial separation of the structure;

• Any of the ply or cord exposed internally or externally or any penetration damage which has not been properly repaired;

• They must also have a minimum tread of 2mm.

It seems though that the key way to get motorists to take note is through the media and online. With general knowledge about tyres being so low tyre organisations, garages and officials need to be shouting so people will hear that part worns can kill.

When customers replace their tyres, for many their first port of call is to search via the internet. The general ease as opposed to searching through the yellow pages means it saves time and hassel and many garages give you the option of contacting them via email. So with more and more people opting for the internet to purchase new tyres why is it only 58% of independent garages run a website?

Earlier this week, the Independent Garage Association (IGA) shows that while Independent garages are beginning to adopt the use of websites, progress is still slow and a high percentage of its members are not taking advantage of the opportunities a website could offer.

The report surveyed over 2000 IGA members. When reviewing those with websites by region:

•  The region with the highest percentage of members with websites is Northern Ireland at 80%.

• The region with the lowest percentage of members with websites is Wales at 39.5%

Stuart James, Director of the Retail Motor Industry Federation’s Independent Garage Association, commented: “Recent statistics indicate that consumers are using the internet as a reliable tool to research which garage they will next use. With the increased use of internet marketing by businesses and sites such as Facebook and Twitter being used as advertising tools it is more important than ever that independent garages move into the technological age.”

He continued, “By modernising the way they portray themselves to customers, independent garages can begin to move away from more old fashioned practices to ensure they stay competitive.”

Of course, we must be aware that some garages are not yet equipped to move into adopting the use of the web, but it is relatively easy to do so. Instead of bearing the heafty costs of paying someone to build a website, many garages are opting to use TyreQuote.com as they get the ability to quote users online and offline and their very own landing page.

With more and more consumers using the web, and in the midst of a recession, its never been more vital to make sure garages are making the most of the web and expanding potential business avenues.

Winter can put a great deal of pressure on your Tyre quality, and whether you realise it or not, the government are on the crackdown when it comes to tyre safety. 

During the winter months its not just snow and ice that make the roads difficult to drive on and impact on your vehicle handling; damp and cold conditions can also affect driving conditions and more importantly, your overall vehicle safety. Many of us tend to overlook the condition of our tyres instead focusing on whether or not we have enough De-icer in the boot! But the time has now come where tyre safety is now a key concern of the UK government and police, and a crackdown on unsafe tyres is now unfolding across Britain.

Up and down the country Vehicle  Inspection Units have been spotted at various locations stopping drivers and carrying out checks. And if your vehicle fails…? Then your wallet is in for a nasty shock.

“85% of motorists are unaware of the illegal Tyre tread depth limit” – Mancheim Auctions Survey 2011

Remember back to the days when you took your driving test and theory? Remember when your instructor kept telling you that once you owned your first car that you must check regularly basic things like Tyre tread depth, brake fluid and oil? Well it seems many of us had switched off during these conversations in eager anticipation of getting our licences changed from green to pink. A recent survey by Manheim Auctions discovered that a shocking 1 in 5 motorists never check their brake fluid, 1 in 6 don’t check brake lights are working correctly and 1 in 9 of us never check Tyre tread depth.

Are your Tyres safe this winter?

With proposals in parliament currently being made to change the MOT test for vehicles to every two years, it has never been more vital that motorists take responsibility for their vehicle safety and ensure they are not putting anyone’s lives at risk whilst on the road.

As it stands the current fine for illegal Tyre tread depth in the UK is a hefty £2500 with the risk of losing your licence if you are driving on four bald Tyres. If you are caught out with even one illegal Tyre, the fine still stands along with three points.

Ignoring vehicle safety checks is dangerous. Its important for motorists to be aware that police are cracking down on safety, especially following winter months when Tyres have had the most wear. Its worth spending 15 minutes making sure your vehicle is safe to drive otherwise it could not only be a costly mistake to your wallet, but also more importantly your life and other road users.

As our brand begins to grow, we are beginning to connect more and more  with motor industry professional across the UK. Well now we are sharing those key contacts with you.  

Here at TyreQuote.com our aim has always been to actively support smaller independently run garages and give them a platform not only to advertise on a national basis but also get consumers the best deal on tyres.

Everyone likes to network, and these days social media seems to be the best way to do that. You can now join TyreQuote.com on LinkedIn , Facebook and Twitter. We regularly update all our networks, and we want you to benefit from them too. Whether you are a customer seeking to chat to local garages about the best deals they can offer you, or just want to talk to like minded people who share the same interests as you; we have the contacts. Sometimes its difficult to chat to industry experts directly, but with more of them now on social networking sites, you can now interact with them and find out exactly what you need to know about your vehicle.

Its also a great way to talk to us directly, and you can also get the inside knowledge on any deals that we have sourced specially for you.

]]> http://www.tyrequote.com/blog/2012/01/30/tyrequote-network/feed/ 0 http://www.tyrequote.com/blog/2011/06/29/tyre-labelling/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=tyre-labelling http://www.tyrequote.com/blog/2011/06/29/tyre-labelling/#comments Wed, 29 Jun 2011 17:44:59 +0000 James http://www.tyrequote.com/blog/?p=31

Today’s Hot Topic from TyreQuote.com is ‘Tyre Labelling’.

Sounds fascinating, doesn’t it?! Well to us, it could be. Let me explain…

In November 2012 another bit of European red tape will hit our shores and this time the impact will be on tyre retailers. The lovely people in Brussels have decided that all tyres should come with a label that allows consumers to easily compare 3 criteria – Fuel Efficiency, Wet Grip and Exterior Noise.

The labels will look much like the sort of thing you see on fridge freezers with coloured bands that range from a greeen ‘A’ to a rosy red ‘G’ with A being the best and G being the worst. We assume that low noise is good and higher noise is bad – contrary to what many motor enthusiasts believe to be true of their exhaust or engine notes!

So far there’s not much noise from the major tyre retailers about the forthcoming tyre labels, it will certainly cost them to ensure that all the right labels are displayed in the right places but in our view the concept is a good thing. At TyreQuote we already grade almost all of our tyres for Dry Grip, Wet Grip, Tyre Wear and Comfort. We then compile these measurements for an overall grading to help you purchase the right tyres for your motoring needs. We shall certainly be looking to add Fuel Efficiency and Noise to those gradings as soon as we can tease the data from the manufacturers.

We know that picking the right tyre can be a confusing task, especially if you do few miles each year and care little for the mechanics of the rubber wrapped round your wheels. The average punter is very much in the hands of the salesman/mechanic in their local fitting centre and we’re not saying that is a bad thing, but having clear and concise labels on each tyre has got to be an improvement on just the bewildering impressions of letters and digits we find on tyre sidewalls these days.

TyreQuote.com say yes to EU Tyre Labelling and look forward to displaying them on our site as soon as we can get the relevant data from the manufacturers.

James

You tyre shoppers out there are very clever people. With our pockets being pillaged by utility companies and petrol station tills you are looking all over for a deal to save a few quid here and there.

At a recent trade show in the Middle East, a speaker reported on ‘the emergence of budget tyres’ and that over 50% of UK tyre sales were now on budget brands. This is an even bigger than we had expected. The bigger brands spend a lot of money getting into your hearts and minds with clever advertising across all the media platforms, but it may be falling on deaf ears. Sure enough, when we looked at our own figures, more and more of you are scrolling down the list of tyres towards the cheaper end of the scale when you search our own site for replacement tyres. As a result we have increased the representation of budget brands on our database, to give you a bigger selection of options at the lower end of the tyre price range.

Is there anything to worry about with cheaper budget tyres?

The tyre industry is highly regulated and European legislation means that all tyres are safe for your vehicles. All we must say is that you make sure you buy the right size tyres and always buy new tyres, rather ‘part-worn’ tyres.  Saving money is one thing and buying budget brands is a sensible way to do so, but compromising on safety by buying tyres that have already been fitted to a different vehicle and/or damaged in the process is just foolhardy.

However, if you are doing a lot of miles, budget brands may not save you money as they could wear out a good bit quicker than some more expensive brands like Bridgestone and Pirelli.  You are much better off buying one good set of tyres that will last 12 months than a set that lasts 6 months and therefore requiring the inconvenience and expense of an extra tyre fitting.

If you have any experiences good or bad of budget brand tyres, please write to us at help@tyrequote.com, likewise if you ever need helping selecting the right tyres for your car.

James