Newsletter - September 2015

Tyre Tread & Tyre Balance

Tyres must be replaced when the tread is worn down. A built-in tread wear indicator, or "wear bars," which look like narrow strips of smooth rubber across the tread will appear on the tyre when the tread is worn down. When you see these "wear bars," the tyre is worn out and should be replaced. Visually check your tyres for signs of uneven wear. Consult your tyre dealer as soon as possible.

If your car develops a shimmy (a back-and-forth vibration, usually felt through the steering wheel) at a certain speed, it's possible that one of your tyres has lost its balance weight. Having your tyres re-balanced is an inexpensive job.

Rain Driving

Driving in rain can be dangerous. The most important thing for drivers to remember is to SLOW DOWN! In rainy conditions pedestrians, livestock, and wildlife are extremely hard to spot and even harder to avoid. It takes longer to stop or adjust speed in wet weather. The following are tips for safe driving in the rain.

• Before it starts to rain, replace old or brittle wiper blades.
• Stay toward the middle lanes — water tends to pool in outside lanes.
• Maintain proper following distance (3 second rule). This needs to be increased in wet weather.
• Drive in the tracks of a vehicle ahead of you.
• Don’t follow large trucks or buses too closely, because the spray created by their large tyres can reduce vision.
• Be more alert watching for brake lights in front of you.
• Avoid using your brakes; if possible, take your foot off the accelerator to slow down.
• Turn your headlights on in a light rain and in gloomy, foggy, or overcast conditions to help you see the road and help other drivers see you.
• Avoid off-road driving; it’s hard to judge the actual depth of puddles and standing water where you can easily become stuck.
• Never drive beyond the limits of visibility. The glare of oncoming lights, amplified by the rain on the windshield, can cause temporary loss of visibility while substantially increasing driver fatigue.
• Never drive through moving water if you can’t see the ground through it; your vehicle could be swept off the road.
• Avoid driving through deep water, because it can cause serious damage to a modern vehicle’s electrical system.
• If possible, stay off the road during heavy thunderstorms. Large flashes of lightning can temporarily blind and disorient drivers, and the accompanying high winds and heavy rain can create deadly driving conditions.
• When you need to stop or slow, do not brake hard or lock the wheels and risk a skid. Maintain mild pressure on the brake pedal.
• Watch the contours not only of the road, but also the fences, trees, hedges, and buildings at the side of the road ahead. If they appear to be unnaturally low, slow down at once, because the road is probably flooded.
• Watch out for places where floodwater collects, particularly low-lying roads adjacent to streams, and dips under rail or highway bridges.

Visit us at the National Ploughing Championships

at Ratheniska, Co Laois from the 22nd to 24th September 2015

Block 3, Row No: 29, Stand No 556