Your Car Tyre Choice Matters for Everyday Driving

Your tyres are the only thing connecting you to the road, so they have a huge role to play in your car’s performance. Worn or incorrect tyres can affect how well your car drives, impact fuel efficiency (which can be a big deal when you’re on the go with little ones), and, most importantly, they can impact your safety. Who wants to worry about car troubles when there’s so much going on? Taking care of your tyres helps reduce that stress and keeps your vehicle in top condition.

How to Pick the Best Ford Car Tyres

As a Ford owner, you’re behind the wheel of a car renowned for its reliability, style, and comfort. Whether you’re navigating city streets in a Ford Fiesta, heading on family outings in a Ford Focus, or embarking on road trips in a Ford Zetec, your car is ready for anything. But to truly get the most out of your Ford, it all starts with choosing the right tyres. When it comes to picking the best car tyres for your Ford, it’s important to make sure they match your driving style and everyday needs. For example, for mums always on the move, car tyres that are durable and efficient are a must. For those rainy days when you’re doing the school run or heading to the shops, tyres with a good tread pattern that channels water away will ensure better grip on slippery roads. If your family enjoys weekend getaways or drives through rougher terrains, tyres designed for durability and comfort are essential for a smooth ride. And, of course, fuel-efficient tyres are a game-changer when you’re driving long distances to visit family or go on mini-vacations.

Upgrade Your Car Tyres for a Safer & Smoother Ride

Choosing the right Ford car tyres is essential for everyday driving. Imagine taking a quick drive to the local park or running errands on a busy Saturday afternoon—having tyres that reduce road noise and provide a smooth ride can make these everyday tasks far more enjoyable. Whether you’re navigating the bustling streets of the North East of England or exploring the scenic routes through Yorkshire, tyres with superior traction and handling are essential for tackling the unpredictable British weather. If you live in areas with frequent rain or occasional snow, these car tyres will keep you and your loved ones safe. For instance, being a Ford driver, choose tyres that suit your driving needs and experience an improvement every time you turn the wheel. You can upgrade your ride with the best Ford car tyres – shop now at Reg Greenwood! They will help you equip your vehicle with the best tyres, and you’ll notice a transformation in how your car handles everyday journeys, making your drives safer, more efficient, and stress-free—no matter where you are in driving daily in Yorkshire or taking a road trip to North East of England. 

Conclusion

In conclusion, as a busy mum, choosing the right tyres for your Ford can make a world of difference in your everyday driving experience. From safety to comfort, efficiency, and durability, the right tyres are essential for all the little adventures and big tasks in your day. 

Properly Inflate Your Tyres

Nearly every car owner knows that they shouldn’t drive around on flat tyres. This is dangerous and means you won’t be able to corner properly, potentially leading to a catastrophic loss of control. You might notice your tyres are spreading out under the weight of the car when they’re under-inflated but this means they have already gone well beyond the safe inflation level. In fact, you can’t actually see when a tyre is partially flat. You need to take your car to a garage and use the pump to detect the pressure of your tyres. Do this every few thousand miles or even more frequently if you live somewhere like London where there are lots of speed bumps you have to drive over. Keep your tyres inflated to the recommended level but don’t go over it because this also causes safety concerns with less grip.

Check the tread depth of your tyres. You can do this with a twenty-pence coin. The rim of these coins is the same as the legal minimum tread depth so simply place the coin into the grooves of your tyres and look at it sideways on. If the rim disappears from view, then your tyres have sufficient tread to be legal. To be safe, however, you’ll want the rim to go out of view and have some tread to spare. Make sure your tyres have sufficient tread all the way around them, too. If your tyres are balding or reaching the legal threshold, then don’t hesitate to replace them, especially if you are planning on driving in a busy city like London. You can find quality tyres in London at Elite Direct or an outlet near you. Wherever you buy your tyres, ask for a professional fitting service and check the wheel alignment while you’re at it. This can help to prevent lane drift on high-speed roads like the M1 or M25.

Check For Sidewall Damage

Some tyres look fine on the outside edge but develop gouges or bulges on their sides. If your tyres show degradation like this, then it usually means the compounds they are made from are starting to split. This may lead to a blowout on the road or even worse on your driveway close to where children might be at play. If you see these issues, take your car to a tyre fitter immediately.

Inspect Your Spare Tyre

Finally, taking to the road with your family as passengers means covering all eventualities. Although you don’t need to carry a spare tyre with you by law, it is a good idea to have one ready to go should you need it in an emergency. Check your spare tyre is inflated and operational. Make sure you know its range and any speed restrictions that may apply should you fit it, too.

Overall, tyre safety is more than being able to drive without causing problems for yourself and other road users. It is about keeping those you care for most safe and secure. Why compromise on that?

Mobile tyre fitting is increasingly becoming popular as a means to have your tyres repaired or replaced by a professional tyre fitter. This professional is equipped with the necessary skills, equipment and experience and will directly come to your location to solve any kind of tyre problem you might have. Below is a handy guide detailing the benefits you will enjoy when you seek mobile tyre fitting services.

Convenient. Repairing or replacing a damaged or punctured tyre is an inconvenient task to undertake whether at home or while on the road. With driving to the garage being the last thing you want to do in your hectic schedule, why don’t you implore the services of a mobile tyre fitter? It will save you energy and time.

Swift emergency service. Whether on the roadside, at home or at work, being stuck with a damaged tyre is most people’s definition of having a bad day. Thanks to mobile tyre fitting services that have helped eradicate this problem and will provide swift and effective solutions at any time of the day.  Furthermore, for mobile tyre fitting, you can check with experts at Fife Autocentre to get any help you may require.

Safety. The main reason for the development of this service is to enhance your safety. Driving with a damaged tyre cannot only put your safety at risk but that of your vehicle too leading to road hazards. It’s best to remain in your car while waiting for the professional tyre fitter to arrive as this will ensure your safety and you get professional help.

Expert help. Experts are experienced and have the equipment to handle your vehicle with care. It is always a good idea to have your tyre replaced by an expert who is highly skilled and will ensure you get high-class service. Whichever problem you have it will be efficiently and effectively repaired.

Mobile tyre fitting service should be your go-to option when you experience any sort of problem. It is accessible, convenient, cost-effective and will enhance your safety.

When it comes to your little ones, we know you’ll move heaven and earth to keep them safe and happy, and their safety when driving is always of upmost importance. When it comes to car seats, there are some myths that surround their use, along with advantages and disadvantages. We’re here to help dispel these myths and make you a much more informed and confident parent.

Want to be in the know? Read on to see our top five car seat mistakes you didn’t know you were making.

Switching to forward-facing too soon

Turning your little ones around can change their point of view, and potentially calm them down if they’re upset. However, this must be done with caution. Experts state that children should remain in rear facing seats until around the age of four, although most parents don’t tend to wait that long, and in fact, an alarming statistic has revealed that 1 in 4 parents plan to move to forward-facing car seats as soon as possible. Please do not be that parent that swaps safety for scenery.

Buying a Second-hand Seat

We strongly advise against buying a second-hand seat, as tempting as it may sound. The reason for this is that you just never know if there are any parts missing, or if it’s passed its manufacturing expiry date. Buying a new car seat can sometimes be a daunting and expensive task, so it’s worth doing the research before you make your decision. Amongst others, we recommend the Britax baby car seat in particular, as they have a long history of manufacturing and keeping your child safe.

Incorrect Installation

Reading the manual is most likely not enough to get the installation of a car seat sorted. A common mistake is to buy the car seat, read through the manual, then go ahead and make the best of it. Even if it looks secure, it’s still worth getting a trained professional to install the seat for you. Again, the survey revealed that two-thirds of parents don’t get the seat installed by a professional.

This can seem like a minor thing to get sorted yourself, but the results could be tragic if the seat isn’t installed and fastened correctly.

Adding extras

Adding extra padding, blankets or pillows to the car seat, can have detrimental effects on its overall safety. The straps may feel snug once you’ve tightened them around the child, but after taking out the extra padding, you’ll see the difference all that padding makes, as the seat won’t feel as snug without having to readjust the buckles again.

Using Front Seat with Airbags

Never put a rear facing car seat in the front passenger side, if the passenger airbag is activated. Not all vehicles are designed to accommodate car seats, and the risk of injury is only increased when the seat is moved from back seat rear facing, to the front seat, facing either way.

It doesn’t matter if you’re choosing a car seat for the first time, or moving up to the next stage as your child gets older/bigger, it’s important you bear in mind all the factors considered. Whether it’s ensuring the seat is compatible with your car, or has the recommended safety rating, choosing a seat that will be comfortable, so your child has enough room to move their limbs, or even something as trivial as price, be sure to keep safety at the forefront of your decision making.

Along with our basic health care, we also need to keep a vigilant check on our automobiles that act as the main source of our commute in this harsh weather. Hence, our cars need to be fully prepared to face the snow and ice that they will roll on. An important and most significant check should be on the tyres of our vehicles as they are the only vehicle part directly in contact with snowy and cold terrain.

Inspect the tread Depth

You need to first of all see whether the tyre tread depth is suitable for your car to be driven in winter. A tread depth is an outer layer of your vehicle’s tyre that shields it from damage caused by an external environment such as rough road terrain or wet weather causing your tyre go misty from inside. During winters the tread depth of your tyre needs to be around 3mm so that it has a strong grip on ice or snow and does not let your car skid away in the wrong direction. This helps you and your family safe during a trip in such harsh weather.

Get strong Tyres

You need to realise that if your tyres are showing signs of deterioration and wear then they are not suitable for winters. You should then consider buying winter tyres that have excellent braking ability as compared to normal season tyres. Further, tyres specially manufactured to be used  in winters have strong road grip and improved traction system on snow and icy roads. Tyres can be a real game changer and if you are considering replacing your wheels – you should do it before your safety is compromised. For areas like London, you should choose a reliable tyre provider. One such reliable tyre dealer from where you can now book new tyres in London from is Iverson Tyres – call them for local fitting (020 8566 4666). Investing in quality tyres will help you save day to day repair expenses that you do on worn out and old tyres.

Examine Tyre Pressure

During winters tyres tend to get hard and lose required air pressure in them. The cold weather causes your tyres to underinflate quicker. In such a scenario you need to properly measure the air pressure level through a measuring gauge , in case if you find out that air pressure is not according to the required level, you need to get your tyres properly pumped up to be used all around the season. Further balanced tyre pressure will save you from facing unexpected tyre flattening situations in between your journey and will also help you avoid getting stranded on the road waiting for any external help.

If you follow the above guidelines properly , you will be able to spend your winters trips smoothly with your family and loved ones.

Make sure you check out our other tips for driving

• 5 Tips for driving with kids in the car
• Getting prepared for Winter Driving – Winter Car Checklist
• Top tips for surviving a LONG car journey with kids
• 5 Ways the modern family can afford a new car
• Looking for a family car when you have Tweens
• How to Keep Newborns Happy on Car Journeys
• Choosing the perfect family car

When Citroen contacted us and asked for us to review the new Citroen C5 Aircross I was intrigued to see how things had moved on in the last eight years. Plus my family now consists of effectively 4 adults when it comes to height (yes I am the smallest)! Plus we are nearly at the stage of buying a new car for the husbeast and he always has the larger car and me the smaller one.

Let’s start with how the Citroen C5 Aircross looks. It has a real chunky look to it with a sense of height but then as the husbeast told me the Aircross is an SUV (suburban utility vehicle). Actually we thought it was a really attractive car inside and out.

One of the big benefits of an SUV is the height, which translates to room in the rear for leggy teenagers. In fact it took 3 14 year old boys’ comfortably and the middle seat has a full seatbelt not just a lap belt. There is also lots of practical touches in the rear such as a USB charger and air vent. All three of the rear seats moved forwards and backwards independently.

The boot space is generous (enough for cricket stuff for three children at least) and has an auto open and close via the key fob. There is also a 12v socket should you have an electric cool box or such.

Once you get used to the height and different driving position the Citroen C5 Aircross is a fabulous drive. We tested the 1.5 130 horsepower diesel and it was really nippy and responsive. We both loved the adaptive cruise control feature, making motorway driving safe and stress free. I just had to get used to the fact that it had six speeds! I found parking a doddle even after my tiny C3 thanks to the visio park function which is a rear view camera with a 360 degree all round view.

Even Alvin loved the car.

In Car Technology

One of the biggest takeaways for me was that technology has moved on since I got my car and boy is it cool!

The Citroen C5 Aircross comes with a DAB radio, which is MP3 compatible and has apple airplay. The car also has voice recognition, which is amazing and so useful, not only can you change the radio station with it but you can also use it for the sat nav and for your telephone.

It also has 2 USB sockets which means you can charge you technology, one in the front and one in the rear. Better still it has an wire free charging area!

It also comes with Citroen ConnectedCAM which is a HD camera fitted behind the rear view mirror of the car enabling you to take a photo or video with on social media or by email. it is so clever. In the event of an accident ConnectedCAM is automatically activated and records and saves the footage 30 seconds before and 1 minute after the incident. This offers greater security and could be helpful when dealing with your insurance company later. 

Thanks to the GPS function within the ConnectedCAM app, you’re also able easily find your parked car.

Travel sickness and the Citroen C5 Aircross

I am a terrible passenger and it seems that Maxi is following in my footsteps when it comes to travel sickness. Bein on a screen makes it so much worse nad there is no way that I could even contemplate reading a book or looking at my phone!

We were sent a pair of SEETROËN glasses to try and I was skeptical but guess what they worked even though we looked like dorks in them!

They contain a coloured liquid that recreates the horizon line to resolve conflict between the senses. Pop them on and then after 10 to 12 minutes, the glasses enable the mind to resynchronise with the movement perceived by the inner ear while the eyes were focused on an immobile object such as a smartphone or a book. Then you can take the glasses off and enjoy the rest of your journey.

If you are planning a trip out with the kids then make sure you download our free road trip printables part one and two.

We were provided with a Citroen C5 Aircross 5 Door SUV Flair+ BlueHDI 130 6 Speed manual S&S in Tijuca blue with an on the road RRP of £29775 as a loan vehicle for the purposes of this review, and was compensated for our time. 

Getting prepared for Winter Driving

1. Never go out without at least half a tank of fuel make sure the windscreen wipers are working and our screen wash is topped up.
2. Make sure the windscreen wipers are working.
3. Screen wash and antifreeze are topped up.
4. Tyre pressure and treads area double checked. The legal limit is 1.6 mm but having more is recommended for improved steering and breaking.
5. Are all the lights working and do we have spare bulbs.

Winter Car Checklist