“There’s a perception that doing things the more environmentally-friendly way will be more costly and that will push prices up,” says Chris, “but that’s not always true. For example, using fewer resources to produce a product may be environmentally-friendly and cost-saving at once, and choosing new or nearly new things that would otherwise have been thrown away is almost always cheaper.”

Going Green with Tyres: Multiple Benefits

Just keeping car tyres in good condition and replacing them when necessary is already eco-friendly and can be a cost saving. “Good quality tyres improve fuel efficiency,” explains Chris, “and if the car is more fuel-efficient, it also produces fewer emissions while being cheaper to run.” 

However, Branigans takes the combination of saving customers money while benefiting the environment a step further. The business offers “nearly new” tyres that Chris and his team source and thoroughly check before resale. 

“Only the best ones will do for Branigans,” says Chris, “and the guarantee offered ensures that consumers can buy them with complete confidence. Needless to say, the tread of the tyres chosen for resale is in good condition, and the inspection eliminates tyres with any flaws. It’s a great way to save people money with tyres that are still good for thousands of kilometres. And since perfectly good tyres that would otherwise have been dumped now have a longer time in service, it’s environmentally friendly too.” 

Old Tyres Reused or Recycled

Environmentally-conscious motorists may find themselves wondering about the other end of the tyre life-cycle. After all, old tyres are removed and disposed of whenever tyres are replaced. But Chris has this end of things sewn up too. “There are many ways to recycle old tyres nowadays,” says Chris, “and Branigans is very particular about where waste tyres end up. They should never be burned or sent to landfills, for example.”

Despite advances in recycling, Chris admits that rubber car tyres still aren’t ideal from an environmental perspective: “Some of the big tyre manufacturing companies are working on improving lifespan and recyclability through using different designs and materials,” he says, and there are already indications that they may have found a better solution. How long it will take these advances to reach the general motoring public is a matter for speculation. Meanwhile, everybody needs tyres, and by conducting its business as it does, Branigans limits the environmental impact of its activities while providing safe, cost-effective, and above all, greener tyres to its customers. 

Eco-Friendly Can be Cheaper – and it’s Not Just Tyres

“There are certainly times when greener alternatives will be more costly,” says Chris, “but it won’t always be the case. Sometimes, the planet-friendly option will have a lower price tag, as it does at Branigans, but sometimes, comparing costs can mean looking at things like running costs or the expected useful lifespan of an item to weigh cost against benefits properly.”

“It’s great that people are willing to pay more for greener options, but if they follow the principles of ‘reduce, reuse, recycle,’ being green will very often cost less. Branigans Tyres does all three, and the savings are passed on to its clients.”

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.

Australian Tyres Must Have the Following Markings

Traceability is important. Therefore, manufacturers are required to display their name in print on the sidewall of tyres. Beyond that, the specifications for use and tyre size ensure that replacements will match the specifications for any particular vehicle. A serial number indicates where and when the tyre was made and specific variants, for example, radial or tubeless tyres are also indicated. Over and above that, the country in which the tyres originated, the mould number and a specific factor code number are also printed on the tyre.

How to Read Tyre Specification Codes

The first part of the code is a single letter. For most people, that would be a “P” for “passenger vehicle.” “C” denotes a commercial vehicle and “LT” stands for light truck. 

The number following the first letter of the code indicates the width of the tyre measured in millimetres. A backslash separates this number from the following one which is termed “aspect ratio.” It indicates the percentage of width when compared to the height of the sidewall. 

98 percent of tyres will display the letter ‘R’ next in the code. It stands for radial ply, and it’s one of the biggest advances in tyre technology. Steel belts run radially across the tyre and they make tyres tougher while improving fuel efficiency.

The number after that indicates the diameter of the wheel rim, and it’s still given in inches, while the final number of the code we’re cracking shows the load index. It’s followed by the speed rating indicated by a letter T, H, or V which shows the speed that a tyre can safely be driven at. Suffice to say that this speed is higher than any speed that one can legally drive at! H and V tyres are regarded as “performance touring tyres” and handle the highest speeds. 

How to See Your Tyres’ Age

All that’s left now is the fine print right on the edge of the sidewall nearest the rim. It expresses the date of manufacture by showing the week number and the last two figures of the year of manufacture. So, if this code reads 1420, for example, it was made in the 14th week of 2020. If a vehicle owner doesn’t drive their car much, they should check this number. Most tyre makers say that tyres should be replaced by the time they’re 10 years old, regardless of how good the tread still is. 

Practical Info Worth Understanding

“The codes on tyres are worth understanding,” says Chris. “If you’re shopping around for new tyres, the tyre specification code helps you to get an exact quote on tyre pricing. And if you have old tyres, manufacture dates will give you an indication of whether they’re still safe to use.”

“When in doubt, give Branigans a call. It’s a business that prides itself on being there for its customers, so whether it’s a question about tyres and tyre health or getting a quote for new tyres, a technician will be on hand to help.”

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.

“The price point is one of Branigans big advantages,” says Mr Lett. “Locals know that they can get money-saving deals from Branigans Tyres. But even without that advantage, I think the fact that Branigans is a family-owned local business has influence.” 

Mr Lett shares his reasons for agreeing that consumers prefer small, family businesses over national chains based on his personal experience. 

People Like to do Business with People

The level of personal engagement is one of the big reasons why Mr Lett feels that being a family-owned local business is a decided advantage.

“If people were to choose between doing business with a brand and doing business with folks they can expect to see right there on the workshop floor, it would be unsurprising if they chose the latter option,” says Mr Lett. “Brands are very impersonal. Maybe there’s a local franchisee, and of course, he or she employs people, but you still don’t get the feeling that there is a really personal relationship.”

People Trust Family-Owned Businesses

When running a family-owned business, business owners have a strong sense of loyalty to both the family they work with and the community they serve. They know that the way they do business reflects on their family’s name, reputation, and position in the community. In Chris’s opinion, that means they work harder to give customers top-quality service and he feels that the public is aware of this factor. 

“When you’re a franchisee, the franchise owners might receive a complaint and seek to address it with you – if they think it’s important enough. But it gets much more intense if Mum or Dad Lett is asking you why you let the family down,” he jokes. “It gives customers confidence. They know that they’ll be going straight to the top if they have any issues, not talking to somebody’s secretary who is secretly wishing they’d just go away.”

Family Businesses Try Harder 

In closing, Mr Lett asserts that as a family business, Branigans Tyres tries harder. “When you’re a smaller business, you know you’re up against the big guys. You have to offer something they can’t or won’t offer. You need a competitive edge that’s going to make choosing your business an obvious advantage for customers. And you need to keep it up – especially if you’re hoping that your business will be passed on to the next generation.”

Aside from Branigans Tyres, Mr Lett says that he also likes supporting local businesses most. “It’s about being part of a community. You don’t get that feeling with the big chains and corporations.”

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.

“Becoming familiar with the vehicle, and its braking distance by calculating stopping distances, will provide the driver with knowledge and experience that’s crucial when it comes to quick and safe reactions on the road,” says Lett. “This is a key factor to safe braking.”

He said it was also important to be aware of the importance of tyres when it comes to braking: “The brakes do not stop the car. They stop the wheels from turning, but it is the tyres’ grip on the road and the traction healthy tyres provide that brings the car to a halt.”

Reaction, Braking Time and Speed affect Stopping Time

The average person’s reaction time is estimated at 1.5/2 seconds, and that of older and less experienced drivers averages at 2.5 seconds. This difference already affects the time it takes to stop., at 50km/hour it will be 21m and that distance will lengthen considerably the higher the speed at which the car is travelling.

“Added to reaction time is braking time,” explains Lett. “From the point of pushing the brake pedal, the braking distance is averaged at 4m for 10km/h. To work out what the stopping distance would be, take a medium sized car that is travelling at a speed of 60km/h on a dry road and it will have a reaction distance of 25m. Add 20m for the braking distance and the total stopping distance is 45m. At 100km/h the reaction distance is 42m, braking distance 56m and stopping distance is 98m.

On a wet road at 60km/h the reaction distance remains 25m, but the braking distance increases to 29m and the total stopping distance becomes 54m. At 100km/h, the reaction distance remains 42m, the braking distance increases to 80mm and the total stopping distance is 122m. This makes it extremely important to follow the rule of safe travelling distances between vehicles.”

Factors influencing braking distance

“Worn, under or over inflated tyres cause a loss of grip on the road and regardless of the quality of brakes, could cause the driver to lose control, and the vehicle to slide,” cautions Lett. “This makes it extremely important to constantly maintain the tyres, and replace them when necessary.”

Other factors are worn braking, suspension systems, and worn shock absorbers and springs which could change the vehicle’s centre of gravity and tilt the weight of the vehicle onto the front wheels, so causing lack of control of the vehicle when braking sharply. Distractions and road conditions also play a role in affecting the driver’s ability to respond quickly and safely.”

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

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