auto parts manufacturers,auto parts suppliers

The summer holidays are just around the corner. Millions of Europeans will soon be heading for the sun by road, many with caravans. Here is some good advice from Bridgestone to help those travelling on rubber have a safe journey.

Under inflated tyres put safety at risk

We’ve heard it before, but few of us do it correctly: “Check your tyre pressure regularly, and especially before long journeys.” It is a fact that driving on incorrect pressure can be both dangerous and costly. The most common fault is under inflation because tyres lose air pressure naturally over time, like a balloon. If your tyre pressure is too low, you lose handling control and your tyres become less durable due to stress and heat build up.

Low tyre pressure also costs you money: the wear life of a tyre is halved if pressure falls from 2.2 bars to 1.0 bar. Worse still, it adds an extra load on the environment. Low pressure increases your tyre’s rolling resistance on the road, leading to increased fuel consumption and higher emissions. It really does make sense to check your tyre pressure regularly.

Don’t forget your caravan tyres

If you’re towing a caravan this summer, pay special attention to the tyres. Caravan tyres are similar to car tyres, but are designed with higher load capacity and greater resistance to lateral forces to improve stability in the wind. These differences are key – don’t ever be tempted to fit car tyres on a caravan!

Another difference with caravan tyres is that they are used less often; maybe only once a year. Tyre condition should therefore be checked very carefully before the vacation. Firstly, check that there is nothing that could cause vibration, such as stones lodged in the tread. Then check the pressure while the tyres are cool. And check for tread wear. Most owners don’t go to their dealer for a new set until the tread surface has dry cracks. This is already much too late. Even without any visible signs of wear, caravan tyres should be changed after 10 years on average. See your tyre dealer for more information.

Load it carefully

It’s fun loading a caravan for vacation – but don’t get carried away! Try not to take more baggage than you need, don’t overload the rear, and spread the load evenly across the caravan to reduce the risk of zig-zag and instability. Remember: driving an overloaded caravan is not only an offence, it can be very dangerous too. And always carry a spare; you never know when you might need it.

• DRIVERS TEST GREEN DRIVING SKILLS WITH FORD AND SAVE ON FUEL
• How a Turbo Wastegate Works
• Kill the gas tax moratorium proposals
• 10 Ways to cut down your Car Insurance
• Why EGT(exhaust gas temperature) is Important
• Eden project launch for Ford ECOnectic
• MONRO MUFFLER BRAKE, INC. DECLARES QUARTERLY CASH DIVIDEND
• Chevrolet car retail sales increase of 24 Percent: Malibu up 129 Percent and Cobalt up 27 percent compared with last June
• Artega GT production beginning this summer, convertible version planned
• First Norisring podium for Audi since 2005
• some general knowledge about Anti-Lock Brakes
• bridgestone make car green
• Volvo Cars tops Britain’s Power of Aluminium Awards
• Free green tune-up advice during BMW EfficientDynamics Open Weekend
• Kingston and Ontario Mercedes-Benz Dealer of canada breaks ground for new stand alone facility
• Inside Line learns Lexus LF-A to be priced over $200k
• Some auto execs say expensive gas might be a good thing
• Volkswagen 1-litre car: Condensed high-tech perfection
• Mazda launches all-new ‘Mazda Biante’ in Japan
• Audi maintains DTM lead