For many years there has been a push by some tyre dealers to sell nitrogen filled tyres with the premise that it is used on some racing cars and aircraft. I though I would look at the reasons why they offer this service - and the claims of using nitrogen in road tyres. Firstly it is important to note that a road car bears very little resemblance to a race car or an aircraft … [Read more...]
Cross-Ply & Radial Tyres
I originally wrote this article in 2008 for my podcast after I had found an old TV advertisement on YouTube showing the dangers of mixing cross-ply and radial tyres on the same axle. The result could be circular driving with ends swapping direction! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lrRz_ItWWDw The tyre as we know it today came from the minds of two Scotsmen: John Boyd Dunlop … [Read more...]
Tyre codes – what do they tell us?
Tyres have come a long way since the beginning of motoring – and we’re not talking miles or kilometres. Today’s tyres are very complex components that are multi-layered and in some cases have different rubber compounds across their carcass. Believe it or not, tyres are one of the most important features for car safety and fuel economy, so understanding them will help you save … [Read more...]