From the Wheels Up

Start by inspecting the tyres. “Look at the tread depth across the entire width of the tyre,” says Chris. The treads should have a depth of at least 1.5mm. This means that the car is compliant with road safety legislation, it will have better stopping power, and a better chance of staying in control, even in slippery road conditions. Drivers should also check the sidewalls of tyres – any odd-looking bulges mean there is a risk of a blowout.

If there are signs of uneven tyre wear, the wheel balancing and alignment of the care are probably less than ideal. If the treads are still deep enough, Branigans Tyres can help by switching existing tyres around, rebalancing them, and checking the wheel alignment. 

Battery Check, Belts, and Hoses

Chris is an experienced mechanic, so he doesn’t stop at the wheels and tyres his business specialises in. “Simply look under the bonnet and check your battery connections. They should be firmly attached with no signs of corrosion. If there is corrosion, the battery needs checking and cleaning. If you’re confident that you can do it yourself, go ahead. Alternatively, get help from a mechanic.”

“The belts and hoses should also be inspected to ensure that they aren’t worn. They’ll be working hard for you on your long road trip, so either check them out yourself, or get a trustworthy mechanic to take a look.”

Check the Car’s Fluids and Filters

Check the oil, transmission fluid, brake fluid, power steering fluid, and coolant levels. If the oil is starting to look dirty, consider having the car serviced before racking up hundreds of kilometres. That way, the driver can be assured that all the necessary filters have been attended to and that the car’s ready to go. 

Even if the car is not taken for a full service, at the least the air filter should be checked out. If it isn’t clean, not only will more fuel will be used on the trip, but engine problems could be encountered along the way.

Check the Brakes

Apart from attending to tyres, Branigans is also happy to assist with brakes. “Being sure that the brakes aren’t worn before a long road trip is very important. Squeaks, squeals, and grinding noises are among the signs that the brakes need urgent attention, but there are more subtle signs too. For example, if the car tends to pull to one side when you stop suddenly, there’s cause for concern. You may feel vibration on the brake pedal, or it may seem softer than usual. Brake lights that come on for no apparent reason could also point towards an urgent need to attend to the brakes,” says Chris.

Look at the Lights

As a final, very straightforward road safety check before undertaking a long journey, get a family member to walk round the car while testing the indicators, brakes, and headlights. Apart from being in good working order, the covers should also be intact. “Your car won’t break down because your indicator light covers are cracked or broken, but you won’t be as safe on the road, and you could be in line for a hefty fine,” warns Chris. 

Ready to Go: Branigans Wishes Drivers a Great Trip

With the pre-trip checklist complete, it’s a matter of packing the bags and enjoying the journey. “It’s up to you now,” says Chris. “Branigans Tyres wishes you a safe journey to your destination and wonderful welcome when you return home.”

For further information, visit or call Chris and his team at Second Hand Tyres Gold Coast |Branigans Budget Tyres by contacting the Service Centres in Burleigh Heads (07) 5535 2660 or Southport (07) 5591 8633.

Syndicated by Baxton Media, The Market Influencers, Your Digital Marketing Agency.

He says that by rotating tyres, uneven and excessive tread wear is balanced out, and the lifespan of the tyre is preserved, saving car owners from the costly experience of prematurely replacing tyres that are badly worn on one side.

However, Lett says that rotating tyres is not always as simple as it sounds. There are a number of factors to consider, with the main one being that not all tyres can be rotated, so when thinking of attempting to rotate tyres at home, it’s well worth doing some research beforehand.

Types of Tyres that can be Rotated

Lett explains, “If the tyres are directional tyres, meaning the tread pattern is designed to work in only one direction, they can only be rotated between the front and back, but not swapped sideways across the car from left to right (or right to left), as this would mean the tread would be pointing in the wrong direction.

Non-directional tyres which are all the same size can be switched between front and back, from left to right, and even diagonally. In performance cars, which usually use staggered tyre sizes, with larger tyres at the back can only be rotated with a matching size, and therefore the switch can only be made from side to side.

Wheel size is also an important factor, according to Chris Lett. He says some vehicles have the same size tyres, but some have wheels with slightly different offsets, which again means they are not the same as those on the opposing end of the car. Lett says they can therefore only be rotated from side to side, and, once again, that is only if the tyres are not directional. The differences may not be noticeable to the eye, so checking the owner’s manual for the specs on wheel sizes is advisable.

How to Rotate Tyres

Lett advises that all tyres should be marked as they come off the wheel to avoid confusion later on. The process can be complicated and it is easy to lose track of which tyre came off which wheel.

“The simplest rotation is rotating the front and back tyres. This is done by placing a jack at the front and back wheels, and using the multiple jack points available on the vehicle as described in the owner’s manual.

Ensure the jacks are stable before removing the wheels by blocking the wheels that are still on the ground in order to prevent movement. If all four tyres are to be rotated, four jacks will be needed,” Lett says.

There are two rotation methods that can be applied, one of them more dangerous for those who are inexperienced. This involves raising the car on all four jacks and changing the tyres round with the vehicle off the ground. A more time consuming but less risky option is to raise and lower the car a few times to complete each rotation separately.

Rotating tyres can be complex. Speak to an expert to get the right advice. Visit or call Chris and his team for Second Hand Tyres Gold Coast |Branigans Budget Tyres at Burleigh Heads (07) 5535 2660 or Southport (07) 5591 8633.

Syndicated by Baxton Media, The Market Influencers, Your Digital Marketing Agency.