The start of May 2018 has seen preparations for the proposed changes to the new Ministry of Transport test, where cars over 40 will be road legal, but with no obligation to partake in an annual MOT test. We have previously discussed how 1970s vehicles are now classed as a classic car, and the implications this may cause. 1.5 percent of cars in Britain will not have an MOT certification but will be on the road, but this shouldn't be a cause for concern says the Department for Transport. On the 20th of May, the changes will be in full effect and the Department for Transport has stated that owners of most classic cars take great pride in maintaining their vehicle.
The new MOT includes other changes for cars, vans, motorcycles and other light passenger vehicles. During MOTs, tougher emissions tests will be performed, and faults will be rated in categories of dangerous, major and minor. If a car is rated in the dangerous category it will fail its MOT examination, but if it has minor faults it will pass but the ‘advisories’ or areas of concern will be recorded.
Neil Barlow, MOT service manager at the DVSA states, “The changes to the MOT will help ensure that we’ll all benefit from cleaner and safer vehicles on our roads.” The new MOT is following the government's 25-year Environment Plan, to help improve our existing environment. After 2040 the government will ban the sales of any new diesel and petrol cars, following this initiative they have implemented tougher tests for diesel engines. Cars with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) that produce any visible smoke will get an automatic major fault and might fail their MOT.
Do you need an MOT test for your car? Contact the Sunrise experts on 01258 459798.
It is inevitable that even the best quality tyres will need replacing after enough time, however, have your driving habits been speeding up the process? As your local tyre experts in Blandford, we’ve got some top tips on how you can increase the lifespan of your tyres and save yourself money on replacements.
Whilst preventing all tyre wear is impossible, it can be reduced by making adjustments to your driving habits that could be speeding up the process:
Misaligned wheels
Driving through potholes can not only cause tyre wear, but can also cause a puncture or move your wheels out of alignment; you should therefore avoid them when it is safe to do so. If your wheels become misaligned, they will no longer run perpendicular to the road's surface, which means they will begin to wear unevenly due to increased friction and at a more rapid rate.
Driving too fast into bends
When you drive too fast into bends, the momentum of the vehicle pushes the weight onto the outer edge of your tyres, leading to increased wear on the sidewall.
Rapid acceleration & braking
Accelerating and braking too severely and causing your wheels to skid across the surface of the road are a sure way to increase unnecessary tyre wear. Tyre marks on the road are evidence of this and are where tyre residue is left behind. If you are a little to trigger happy with your acceleration and brakes, it might be time to slow down!
Driving at high speeds
The faster your car speed, the more your tyres will heat up and the faster the wear will be. This is because as the tyre heats up, the tyre becomes softer and more residue is left behind on the road – this is one of the reasons Formula 1 drivers have to change their wheels so often. Stick to the speed limits to reduce tyre wear and improve safety.
Are you unsure about your tyre tread depth, wheel alignment, or require replacement tyres? We are your leading experts for tyres in Blandford, so contact us on
01258 459798 with any enquiries.
Your tyres are incredibly important, so it’s essential you keep them up to date. However, with so many different tyres available, how do you begin to choose the right tyres for your vehicle? Our expert team can fit replacement tyres in Blandford and have compiled some helpful tips to help you make the right choice.
Look at your current tyre wall or at your vehicle handbook to find out your tyre size so that you can get an exact match. The information will be displayed in this layout: 225/55 R16 91V and is broken down into:
225 = section width in millimetres
55 = aspect ratio of tyre’s width to height as a percentage
R16 = rim diameter in inches
91 = load rating – maximum load that the tyre can support
V = speed rating
The speed rating indicates the maximum speed capable of that tyre in mph and is represented by a letter:
P=93
Q=100
R=106
S=112
T=118
Once you know which size tyre you’re looking for, it’s time to consider quality and budget. All our tyres abide by strict safety regulations, though more premium tyres will carry your vehicle further without needing replacement and should give you an overall easier and smoother driving experience. Premium tyres are designed to have better stopping distances, grip, less noise and reduced fuel usage.
Mid-range tyres are for those who are looking for great value for money and can also benefit from improved technology and a longer lifespan. Finally, budget tyres will work just as well as mid-range or even premium tyres given the right conditions, however, they will not perform as well in wintery or wet conditions when compared with more expensive makes and typically last up to 8,000 miles before they require changing.
Are you unsure about what types of tyre your require or already know which replacement tyres you want? We are your leading experts for tyres in Blandford, so contact us on 01258 459798 with any enquiries.
How you handle a flat tyre depends on whether your car comes equipped with a spare tyre. Unfortunately, many car brands have done away with the spare tyre in order to save space and money, so the first step in the case of a puncture is to check your vehicle handbook for more information and equipment locations.
If your car doesn’t come with a spare tyre, the you’ll need to call for a recovery service. We offer a recovery service in Blandford and the immediate area, so don’t hesitate to contact us if you require assistance getting your vehicle off the road and serviced with a replacement tyre.
You may hear a rhythmic thumping sound and your steering will start to feel erratic or begin to pull to one side. This may not happen suddenly and instead your tyre may deflate over time, but as soon as you start to feel your steering becoming unresponsive you should slow down and look for a safe place to pull over.
It’s important to note that if you are on the side of a motorway or busy carriageway then you should never attempt to repair a tyre yourself as it’s too dangerous and you should instead call for breakdown recovery immediately. If you are on a quiet stretch of road and you have all the equipment that you need, then follow these steps to get your car running again.
Prepare the car
Remove the necessary equipment and passengers from the car. Apply the car handbrake and switch on your hazard lights, chock the wheel that is at a diagonal to the tyre that needs replacing. If you don’t have a chock, a brick or large rock will do the same job and will prevent your car from rolling when jacked.
Prepare the tyre
It’s easier to loosen the wheel nuts before you jack the car up. Do this after levering off the wheel trim. Loosen the wheel nuts to the point that they can be turned by hand, but don’t totally remove them.
Lift the car
Consult your car manual on how to properly do this, as every car has different jacking requirements. Raise the car from near the punctured tyre to between 10-15cm off the ground.
Replace the tyre
Fully remove the wheel nuts and pull the flat tyre off before lining your spare tyre up with the wheel nut slots and tightening them by hand. Lower the car until the wheel is touching the ground and use the wrench to finish tightening the wheel nuts.
Finish up
Once you’ve done this, you can fully lower the car and remove the jack. Double check the tightness of your wheel nuts and the tyre pressure if you can. Drive straight to your nearest petrol station to refill air pressure if too low and then go to your nearest car service station for further professional advice.
Have you suffered a puncture and require a recovery service in Blandford, or require replacement tyres? We are your leading experts for tyres in Blandford, so contact us on 01258 459798 with any enquiries.
Usually, the trigger for needing replacement tyres comes down to the tread being too worn for legal use.
If you’re caught with one tyre under the minimum tread depth of 1.6mm in a continuous band around the central three quarters of the tyre, then you could be facing a £2,500 fine and 3 penalty points on your licence. Now image you have all four tyres in this scenario, you’ve suddenly got to pay £10,000 and have lost your licence altogether!
A quick and easy check by either yourself or a car servicing specialist such as ourselves, will potentially save you thousands of pounds and, even more importantly, keep you safer on the roads.
Your tyre tread is essential in providing grip for your car when braking, which becomes even more important during wet weather. The grooves act to channel water out from beneath the tyre, which means that you remain in contact with the road and retain control. When your tread is greatly reduced, you could end up losing total control by a process called aquaplaning.
Aquaplaning is when a layer of water gathers between the wheel and the road’s surface, essentially removing your vehicle’s contact with the ground. This means that the vehicle will not respond to your steering in the same way it would if your tyres had full-tread, and can result in a total loss of control.
According to figures released by the National Tyre Distributors Association, 40% of deaths on the road caused by vehicle-defect in 2015 were due to illegal, defective or under-inflated tyres. They continued to say that 97% of used tyres are being sold illegally due to being part-worn, so put the safety of yourself and others first by only purchasing approved tyres from industry experts, as you have no way of knowing the history of the used tyre in question.
Are you unsure about your tyre tread depth or require replacement tyres? We are your leading experts for tyres in Blandford, so contact us on
01258 459798 with any enquiries.
Low tyre pressure is one of the leading causes of tyre failure, as when too much of a tyres surface area touches the ground, the friction is greatly increased. This can cause the tyre to overheat and eventually blowout; premature wear and tread separation are also results of under inflated tyres, which means you’ll have to pay extra for a tyre service or MOT than you would if you’d kept them properly inflated.
The friction caused by under inflated tyres also means that your engine has to work harder in order to get your car moving, which means your fuel efficiency is greatly reduced, costing you more in fuel costs overall. Under inflated tyres can also lead to accidents due to unbalanced steering problems and increased breaking distances being required, as the tyres will not be able to respond as quickly.
You may think that your tyre inflation being too high must be better than it being too low, but you’d be wrong. Over inflating your tyres comes with its own set of problems, such as wear to the centre of the tyre due to too much air pressure. Again, this will mean that you'll have to spend more on a tyre service or MOT when you could have saved yourself the money by keeping your tyres properly inflated. Tyre wear also means that they lose traction and are also more ‘delicate’, often prone to damage by potholes or other road hazards, which can be a danger to the driver.
Every vehicle has a different recommended tyre pressure, so you’ll need to refer to your vehicle’s owner manual or contact the manufacturer for the answer. Once you have this information, we’d be happy to check your tyre pressure for you, free of charge, so that you can continue driving safe in the knowledge that you are not risking a potential fine!
If your car tyres need replacement, a service or simply a check-up, don't hesitate to get in contact with us at 01258 459798.