Tyre tread may seem like a fairly basic concept: roughen up the surface of the rubber and it gets a better grip. But a great deal of innovation and scientific thought has gone into developing the tyre treads that are seen today. “It’s a surprisingly interesting topic,” says Chris Lett, Gold Coast tyre specialist and a man whose love for cars spans a lifetime of auto-engineering know-how.
Tyres and tyre technology may not be uppermost in most people’s minds, but there’s a lot more to them than meets the eye. The average consumer knows that keeping wheels and tyres in good condition…
A recent exposé on unscrupulous tyre sales tactics in South Africa may also reflect the Australian context, at least at certain dealerships, warns Chris Lett, an automotive engineer with tyre businesses in Burleigh Heads and…
Chis Lett, tyre expert and owner of Branigans Tyres says that “it may not appeal to everyone, but tyres do need to be changed and when that time comes, the right ones need to be…
Tyre noise is normal. The result of tyre material rolling on the surface is bound to create a sound that cannot be avoided and with so many different types of tyres out there, the noise…
One measure of a tyre’s performance is traction which is how it deals with its grip on roads. Tyre traction is tested on both wet and dry roads to ensure that a sufficient amount of…
With at least 1.5 billion car tyres reaching the end of their roads every year globally, disposing of them in a bio-friendly and sustainable way has become a major problem for car owners who don’t…
There’s a lot of controversy regarding whether or not electric cars will make a huge difference in the amount of emissions and urban pollution currently produced by internal combustion engine vehicles, and it’s particularly the…
As tyres have been shown to have an almost unlimited shelf life when stored in a climate-controlled warehouse, it’s highly possible that, even without access to such a warehouse, regular maintenance, tyres lifespans on the…
Many buyers still assume that a new vehicle will automatically come equipped with a spare tyre, and are often caught off guard when they don’t find one in the boot (trunk) when they really need…
Not all tyre salesmen deserve the poor reputation society has placed on them, says Australian tyre expert and recycler Chris Lett. He says many salespeople in the tyre industry are just going about and doing…
Very few people would risk hiking up a steep hill wearing boots with worn-out soles. They would know it wasn’t safe, as they would probably slip. Yet the same doesn’t apply to their car’s “boots”…
For Australians trapped at home by the threat of Covid-19, it might seem like hitting the long road again is nothing more than a dream. But the time will come when the lockdowns are over…