Tyres

  

The Cooper Tyres I use on my Ford Territory come with a warranty provided they are rotated and balanced every 10,000 km. After rotating all four tyres the dealer wants to balance all four, whereas I think only the fronts need balancing. What are your thoughts?

The code on the "new tyres" I have just bought indicate that they were made in the 43rd week of 2008, that's earlier than my car. Are they ok, or have I been taken for a ride?

Most tyre makers have trouble getting people interested in the product. It's a grudge purchase: you buy tyres because you have to, not because you're excited about them.Goodyear set about to change that, with the help of Ben Conrad, director of Ken Block's last two Gymkhana videos for DC Shoes - Ken Block's Gymkhana 4; The Hollywood Megamercial and Ken Block's Gymkhana 5: Ultimate Urban Playground; San Francisco.With Hollywood stunt driver Danny Downey posing as a tyre salesman, a few unsuspecting buyers got the demo ride of a lifetime. 

The S60 and V60 now come with a space-saver spare tyre package as a no-cost option, plugging an important gap in the equipment lineup.The package - tyre, cover and tie-down straps - was previously available at a cost of $410.40, not including GST, but Volvo has now recognised the need for more than just a tyre repair kit as part of the driveway package at dealerships.“We've taken on a variety of feedback and made it happen. We think this is a positive result all-round, giving people the option of taking the space-saver package,” says Oliver Peagam, spokesman for Volvo Cars Australia.But there are still downsides. There is no dedicated spare-wheel storage in the S60 and V60, which means the wheel must be strapped into the luggage space, and the no-cost choice will not be backdated for existing owners of the mid-sized Volvos.“It does eat a bit into the boot space," admits Peagam. “But you can leave it in the garage or put it into the car for a long trip. It's there ready for work straight away. “Some people aren't bothered about the spare, but for some it's important. This is a flexible solution for people who want a spare.”Total sales of the S60 and V60 have now topped 1700 cars, with 1281 S60 sedans delivered since sales began in 2010 and 513 V60 wagons since it arrived in 2011. 

All four tyres on my 2009 Hyundai Tucson front-wheel drive, which has done 42,000 km, show uneven wear. The dealer told me that it is normal, but I have heard that this is a problem. Can you please throw some light on this?

UK research shows 36 per cent of Brits don’t know how to change a tyre -- and four per cent don’t know if they even have a spare. And the NRMA says Australians are reluctant to grab hold of a spare as well.The NRMA’s Tim Pomroy says that while a flat tyre is one of the most common call-outs for their roadside assistance, it’s not always because callers can’t change the flat.“Many people in Australia call for roadside assistance not because they can’t necessarily change a tyre but because they don’t want to,” Pomroy says. “A lot of people are on their way to work when it happens and don’t want to get their clothes dirty.”In the UK, the research into flat tyres by British repair company Kwik Fit, suggested that the poort result was a symptom of the confusion caused by differing practices among car manufacturers.Drivers reported varying methods offered by manufacturers to deal with a flat tyre, from smaller space saver tyres to providing a puncture repair kit instead of a spare tyre, Kwik Fit’s UK communications director Roger Griggs says.“The recent trend among car manufacturers to offer space-saver spares or puncture repair kits instead of full-size spare tyres could be the cause of this confusion among motorists,” said Griggs.“It’s is worrying how many drivers don’t know what provision they have for a puncture, but it’s even more of a concern to see how many have absolutely nothing in their car to deal with a deflated tyre.“There are clearly gaps in knowledge around how to change a tyre, and indeed many cars are missing tools, which means even if a spare is carried some motorists will struggle to swap it over.”Do you know how to change a tyre? Take our poll. 

Survey results show that defective tyres have been reported in 20 per cent of cars owned by Generation Y drivers.By comparison, the national average of motorists reporting receiving defective notices because of tyres is only 8 per cent. National vehicle crash test organisation ANCAP (the Australasian New Car Assessment Program) will now push for tyre-pressure monitors to be mandatory on new cars.The result of the national Canstar Blue survey indicates that of the 10 million cars on Australian roads, about 800,000 are travelling on substandard tyres that can lead to serious accidents."Tyre pressure monitoring is included in the safety assist technology (SAT) part of our Road Map plan to upgrade safety standards,'' says ANCAP CEO Nick Clarke. "The Road Map, which started last year, sets out the standards required for achieving ANCAP star ratings over the next five years. "It is reviewed annually in consultation with industry."We have high expectations about the role SATs will play in reducing the road toll.'' Mandatory tyre-pressure monitors in Australia would follow the European Union that from this year will require new cars to be fitted with the devices. A survey by tyre group Kwik Fit claims 68 per cent of cars on European roads have underinflated tyres.But it also found that less than half of motorists would recognise the tyre pressure warning light if it came on. Kwik Fit found that 34 per cent thought the image meant their coolant was overheating while some thought the light warned of a cattle grid in the road ahead.The Australian Canstar Blue survey found that Generation Y respondents were far more likely than any other generation to have had their car defected over bald tyres (at 20 per cent of respondents) compared with 11 per cent of Generation X and only 3 per cent of Baby Boomer respondents.The survey also showed 18 er cent of respondents lack the skills and knowledge to change a tyre. This figure comprised of 6 per cent of male respondents and 36 per cent of female respondents. Experts such as the automobile clubs say motorists who neglect to check their tyre tread for signs of wear could - at best - be at risk of poor fuel economy, and less responsive handling and braking.Car owners should make it a priority to ensure their tyres have ample tread which helps disperse water and grip the road, they say. They warn that, at worst, bald tyres can lead to tyre failure, punctures and can impact on your ability to steer and brake effectively and the potential to have an accident. Motorists are urged to check their tyres once a month and before long trips. 

A tyre dealer has told me to increase my inflation pressure on my Honda CRV to 280 kpa (40 psi) when the recommended pressure is 200 kpa. Who is correct?

After a scheduled service on my 2009 Toyota Aurion ZR6 which runs Michelin MXV 8 17-inch tyres I was told they should be inflated to 36 psi. I have been running them at 34 psi, trying to get a balance between the firmer Sportivo suspension and ride comfort. The service manager indicated there was some minimal wear indicating under-inflation. Would 2 psi make that much difference in the 17,000 km the car has traveled?