tyre recycling – YDMA

Letters and Numbers: Understanding Your Tyres

Developer Administrator — Thu, 20 Aug 2020 21:00:27 +0000

When it comes to buying a vehicle, a lot of consideration is put into the needs of the purchaser, and replacing tyres should be given just as much attention, advises Australian tyre expert and recycler Chris Lett from Branigans Budget Tyres in Queensland. The tyres a car owner chooses will affect the overall performance and safety of their vehicle.

“All new vehicles are fitted with optimal performance original equipment (OE) tyres, also known as standard tyres. These are designed specifically for the vehicle type and have been optimized for general use, making them a reliable choice, but they may not be the best tyre for the car owner’s needs,” explains Lett.

What Car Owners Need to Consider

“Drivers need to consider their driving habits, the speed they drive at, the conditions of the roads they travel on, seasonal changes and heir vehicle requirements when choosing their tyres,” says Lett.

“A good place for car owners to start is to check the existing tyres on their car. On the sidewall are numbers and letters which give the tyre’s width, profile, diameter, load index and speed rating. If the tyres are not the original ones that came with the vehicle, the owner will be able to find this information on the inside of the driver’s door or in the owner’s manual, which will also give a list of compatible tyres. It is essential to have the correct tyres for your vehicle, as an incorrect size will add stress to the vehicle, and the tyre could even come off while driving.”

Understanding the Numbers and Letters on the Sidewall

Being able to understand the tyre label will help car owners choose the correct tyre. The first three digits on it identify the tyre’s width. According to Lett, the wider the tyre is, the better the grip, which makes it ideal for wet roads. A narrower tyre will make less noise, but not have as good a grip.

Related to tyre width is the tyre profile, the next number on the tyre label. A high profile, above 50, offers a more comfortable drive, and long lasting tyres, whereas a low profile is considered better looking, and has better steering performance, but is more vulnerable to damage.

The numbers after the letter R are for the tyre size, and the following two numbers stand for the load rating (how much weight the tyres can bear). The last letter is for the speed rating, which affects grip and stopping power. A higher speed rating will offer better performance, but the life of the tyre will not be as long.

“With the wide variety and different types of tyres available on the market today, it can be a daunting task knowing what to choose,” says Lett. “If someone is not sure about the ideal tyre for their needs, they should speak to an expert who will be able to point them in the right direction. And they don’t need to be brand new. As long as they use a reputable outlet, good quality recycled tyres can be a safe and cost effective choice.”

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.

Listen to Your Car For Signs Your Tyres are Tired

Developer Administrator — Sun, 16 Aug 2020 21:00:13 +0000

If a driver is wondering what state their car’s tyres are in, it’s often quite possible to find out without leaving the car, according to Australian tyre expert and recycler Chris Lett. All it involves, he says, is learning to listen to the car, and hearing what it’s telling the driver about what’s going on down under.

“Your car will tell the driver if there is something wrong by starting to shake, bump or make noises, or by simply not performing as it usually does. Over time, all car parts deteriorate, and so do tyres, and very often a problem with one can cause trouble with the other. By learning to interpret what your car’s telling the driver, and acting swiftly, a car owner will save a lot of money, avoid further damage, and, potentially, could save a life,” Lett said.

Visible Damage

Tyre damage is often visible in the form of bald patches, worn tread, cracks and lumps. To realise they are there, it is imperative to do monthly checkups, and ensure the tyres are clean from mud and any road debris stuck in the tread. Simply cleaning them with water and soap will remove any chemicals and dirt, and give he owner a clear view of what’s going on.

Signs of Deeper Damage

Damage to tyres is not always caused by age. It can also be the result of underlying problems within the vehicle itself, or by any incidents on the road. And while there are no fixed rules regarding this because drivers and their vehicles all differ, there are some general pointers which are consistent with mechanical faults.

Driving over potholes, curbs, and even speed humps, can result in various problems affecting the stability, steering control, suspension, and alignment of the car. This, in turn, can damage tyres or speed up their degradation, and in an equal exchange of damage, worn or compromised tyres may impact on the very same systems because they are not rolling evenly because of damage, or too worn to keep the car stable.

The Mechanicals Most Often Involved

Tie Rod Ends

If damaged, the ends on the tie rod which connects the car’s wheels with its steering system (as well as those suspension components which form part of it) can result in tyres deteriorating badly, and their road life being shortened considerably . But, worse still, they may cause the front wheels to wobble, put them out of alignment, and negatively affect the steering, all of which can result in an accident.

“If your tyres have persistent problems like uneven wear on the inside or outside of the tyre; this is happening to more than one tyre; or you are having to check and adjust your wheel alignment regularly; there is a good chance your tie rods are causing the problem,” says Chris Lett from Branigans Budget Tyres in Queensland. “A worn tyre rod will also give less support to the wheel, causing the tyres to sag.”

Control Arm and Stabilizer Bar

A serious situation arises if there are problems with the control arms which hold the front wheels on the road; or the stabilizer bar (sway bar) which links these arms to suspension components on the wheels. This system is responsible for stability and preventing cars from tipping and rolling. If either are bent or badly worn by age, it may lead to accidents or, at the least, make the car unsafe for use on the road.

A sign there could be a problem with that vital stabilizer bar is if your car makes a knocking noise when driving over bumps. If the control arm is damaged, your car’s steering wheel could be off center, and the car’s suspension noticeably bouncy. Damage to the tyre can be severe, denting the rim, or forcing the liner to separate and a bubble to develop on the surface, which may result in a blow out.

Other factors causing premature and irregular tyre wear could be suspension, steering or chassis problems. Worn shock absorbers can cause the tyres to lose their grip on the road, making them bounce and creating uneven tread wear which, in turn, can cause the steering wheel to shudder when hitting bumps. It will also cause the car to pull to one side when braking.

When the time for replacing tyres that are damaged by mechanical problems, or are damaging them, good quality recycled tyres from a reputable outlet are a safe, and far less costly, option. Chris Lett, with 15 years experience as owner of Branigans Tyres in Queensland, offers top quality, hardly-used second hand tyres at less than half the price of new ones.

Branigans Budget Tyres specializes in secondhand tyres and stocks brand new tyres at competitive prices. For further information, visit or call Chris and his team for Second Hand Tyres Gold Coast |Branigans Budget Tyres Service Centre at Burleigh Heads (07) 5535 2660 or Southport (07) 5591 8633.

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

Your Tyres’ Health Determines Your Safety on the Road

Developer Administrator — Tue, 21 Jul 2020 21:00:46 +0000

One of the most overlooked causes of vehicle accidents and poor vehicle performance, is faulty tyres, says Australian veteran tyre recycling expert Chris Lett. He emphasises the importance of regularly inspecting and maintaining your tyres, and the importance of checking their health before navigating the roads, especially if the car’s been standing for long periods without use.

Lett says the list of dangers attached to driving with old or damaged tyres, incorrect pressure and worn tread, is long, especially if the road is unsurfaced, wet, icy, or pitted with potholes. Any of these can call for longer braking distances and raise the chances of skidding, as well as resulting in a tyre blowout, poor vehicle performance, and the danger of injury or death for you, your passengers and others on the road.

“Any of these situations can cause immediate loss of control of the vehicle, potentially causing it to veer or roll. In this situation, you should not use your brakes to stop the vehicle, but rather use the gears to slow it down,” Lett says.

Preventing the Unthinkable

To avoid finding yourself in a dire situation, Lett said it is vital to become aware of anything unusual in the car’s performance while on the road, such as unusual vibrations or sounds while driving, as this could be a sign you have a problem with your tyres. It is also necessary to check tyres regularly, and pay close attention in the process. A quick glance, or kicking the tyre, is not sufficient.

“Very important is to regularly check the rims, treads and tyres. Make sure nothing is wedged into the tread or rubber, and check that the sides of the tyres are free from cracks, splits or cuts, or any strange bulges and bumps,” Lett says.

Tyre Maintenance, the Do’s and Don’ts

Wash your tyres regularly with soap and water, cleaning off any road debris and chemicals that may degrade the tyre, check all valve caps are present and bolts correctly tightened, and look out for any signs of uneven wear or bald spots.

Check the pressure of your tyres once a month when the tyres are cold for better accuracy. The tyre specs for your vehicle can be found in the vehicle manual or on the label on the inside of the driver’s door. These specs will give you the correct pressure for the tyre size and speed/load ratings for your vehicle.

Look out for lumps, bumps and tears: Situations such as hitting a pothole or obstacle in the road can cause wheel alignment to go out of balance and cause internal damage to the tyre. Squealing tyres, the car pulling to one side when driving straight, and uneven tyre wear, are all signs of damage.

Keep an Eye on the tread: Check the tread on all your tyres regularly. A tyre has markers called TWI (Tread Wear Indicators) which are placed evenly in the main grooves in the tyre tread. These give a visual indication of how much tread is left on your tyre. If they are worn down to the level of the TWS, it is time to replace the tyre. Another method is to use a tyre tread depth gauge.

Balancing, Wheel Alignment and Rotation: Lett recommends visiting a tyre specialist at least every 10,000 km to check wheel balance and alignment, and rotating your tyres in order to ensure the long life and health of the tyres.

Replacing tyres

Many people may take a chance on delaying tyre replacement because they can’t afford to purchase new ones. This is where good quality recycled tyres come in at a fraction of the cost. Lett stresses the importance of ensuring recycled tyres have been tested and graded by a reputable dealer, who will provide you with safe tyres with a good few years of use still left in them.

Lett’s Branigans Tyres in Burleigh Heads and Southport stocks well-known brand names such as Continental, Avon, Bridgestone, Michelin, Dunlop, Firestone and Goodyear. All recycled tyres are thoroughly checked and graded for age, tread and projected functional life-span before being sold to customers at budget prices.

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

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

The Importance of the Right Tyre Pressure

Developer Administrator — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 21:00:39 +0000

Checking a car’s tyre pressure regularly is important. With a busy lifestyle it’s so easy to overlook. But considering the major impact incorrect tyre pressure has on your car’s performance, its safety, and how long it will be fit for use on the road, it’s certainly worth getting into the habit of checking pressure levels regularly. According to tyre experts like iconic Australian tyre recycler Chris Lett of Branigans Tyres in Queensland, doing so monthly (at the very least) could save lives and make sure you don’t have to replace tyres too soon.

Why Tyre Pressure is So Important

Many may believe the tyres are what supports the weight of the car and its load, but it’s really the air inside them that does the heavy lifting. With the correct tyre pressure, the weight of the car is spread evenly over the tyre’s tread, stabilising both the tyres and the car by providing the optimal amount of contact with the road for the best grip. When tyres are either over-inflated or under-inflated, that stability is negatively affected, and the car becomes harder to handle, Lett said.

Determining if tyres are at the right pressure can’t be done with a quick glance as you climb into the car, or by kicking the tyre to see if it’s “flat”. That requires a proper test at home using a pressure gauge, or by stopping at the local service station for a check.

However, there are some warning signs that it’s time for those tests. These include the car’s performance seeming sluggish, the ride being not as smooth and comfortable as usual, and the occasional bump as the car battles to deal with stones, potholes and roughness on the road it would normally deal with easily, Lett said.

And that’s just the beginning, according to Lett. Incorrect inflation can lead to far worse situations. These start when it affects the ability to keep control while braking, stopping, or going round corners. This can lead to accidents and collisions, and bad ones at that. Tyre defects and failures, including incorrect tyre pressure, are listed among the top factors playing a part in fatal collisions.

Consequences of Incorrect Tyre Pressure

Tyres change shape when either under-inflated or over-inflated. If there’s too much air inside the tyre (overinflated), the normally flat tread area, distorted by the pressure, can become curved with a bulge in the centre part of the tread. Road contact is reduced to one narrow strip of tyre surface. This increases the strain on the tyre, causes more difficulty with handling, provides a bumpier ride, and leads to uneven tread wear, which could lead to blowouts, and will definitely shorten the tyre’s lifespan.

When tyres are under-inflated, the opposite happens. Instead of bulging out, the tyre tends to collapse inwards because of too little air, Lett said. The tyre loses its round shape and firmness and the contact area with the road expands and flattens, increasing the rolling resistance and so making it harder for the engine to turn the wheel. The resulting increase in energy usage can increase fuel consumption by about 1.5% when the tyres are as little as 0.3bar under the level listed on the sticker inside the car door. There will also be tyre damage, particularly on the edges, and braking performance will be affected.

Whether they are over-inflated or under-inflated, tyres are not going to last as long as they should. And, according to Lett, the shortfall could be as much as 7500km.

What affects your tyre pressure?

A number of things affect tyre pressure, the most obvious being if the pressure is not checked for a lengthy period, says Chris Lett. During that time, the pressure may decrease by as much as 1 or 2psi per month.

Air temperature both inside and outside the tyres also plays a big part, with the pressure rising with heat and lessening along with temperature drops. Ambient (outside) air temperature can cause the pressure to rise or fall by 1psi for every 5 degree temperature change, while tyre heat generated by friction can cause the tyre pressure to rise, especially when speeding.

For Lett, owner of Branigans Tyres in Queensland for more than 15 years, has spent these years helping motorists with high quality, low mileage secondhand tyres at budget prices so he’ll be there for you if your tyres lives are shortened by tyre pressure problems.

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

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