Category Archives: All Neutral Tyres Stuff

All Neutral Tyres Stuff

All Neutral Tyres Stuff

An old customer recently came into our tyre depot in Halifax, Yorkshire, UK. Fred as we will call him. Bought a second hand car from a lady whos husband had recently passed away. The car had been stood in a garage for a few years. Consequently, the car was in good condition. The mileage was 47000 and the car was a Vauxhall Vectra.
The vectra was in immaculate condition. However, Fred only wanted the tyres checking. The car had two makes of tyres fitted. Accordingly, two were Michelin zx and the other two were both BF Goodrich. The tyres had tell tale “cracking”. Hence, on the bead and shoulder area of the tyres. Cracking is a tell tale sign of aging tyres?

All Goodyear/Dunlop Tyres Stuff, All Winter Tyres Stuff

Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance Tyres

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Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance Tyres

Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance Tyres
Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance Tyres

Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance Tyres

Goodyear Dunlop has introduced the latest AA rated passenger tyre which incorporates eight sizes and inherits Goodyear’s EfficientGrip Performance Series

More and more of the larger tyre companies are trying to achieve this goal a double A standard well done Goodyear Dunlop

Goodyear Dunlop joined forces in 1999

I have had the pleasure of working for both these giant tyre companies. Of course, before I opened my first tyre retail operation here in Yorkshire, UK,.
Dunlop-owned a retail organisation known as “National Tyres”.  My first job was to become their Dewsbury branch.

Dunlop was the owner of us. Therefore, we had to sell mainly Dunlop products. I can honestly say it was the first step onto the ladder of a lifelong love for the tyre trade.
It was with Dunlop that I first learned about tyres and how they were made. I had many friends in the company, and it was there that I started to gain much confidence in my abilities and was promoted to an office position.
To cut a long story short,. I had the urge to move on. Therefore, I left national tyres for a better job at a Goodyear subsidiary. In Leeds, K Nield tyres.

Nields were truck and earthmover specialists, and this took my tyre knowledge to a new higher level, I Loved every minute of working there, but that’s another story.

Goodyear Dunlop

After a very short spell out of the tyre industry. I was offered the job of depot manager with Goodyear tyres. As expected, this was at one of their retail outlets in Huddersfield, Yorkshire, UK. Once again, I just loved working for this great tyre company. Therefore, after a few successful years as a manager,. I decided that I could make a go at running my own tyre business. I opened up in Birstall with a good friend, and I never looked back; the rest is history.

Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance Tyres

were massive influences on my tyre life. I cannot think more highly of the two giant tyre companies. Accordingly,  who also went on to support me and my new business adventure? At one time or another. Both played a huge part in supplying me and helping to promote my tyre business. Thus,  I made some lifelong friends as a bonus.
The tyre industry grew increasingly competitive over the following years, and in my opinion, there were too many brands in the market, many of which belonged to the larger tyre companies.

Rumours were rife about takeovers and buyouts. One of them was the acquisition of Dunlop by Sumitomo Rubber Industries. Of course, from Japan.  Who sold tyres for road vehicles with the Dunlop brand from 1985 to 1999?
Then, in 1999, Sumitomo RI and Goodyear Tyre and Rubber Company .Naturally, the USA formed a joint venture and merged. Goodyear Tyres obtained the Dunlop Tyre assets in Europe and the USA. 

Sumitomo RI continued to sell Dunlop tyres in other countries. Naturally, some of the different names used Dunlop tread patterns. For this reason, such as Regal tyres in South Africa, I can remember these tyres being imported into the UK under the name of Dunlop, using an old Dunlop tread pattern.

Goodyear Dunlop. Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance Tyres

Dunlop Tyres Europe is now part of the Goodyear Group; which is one of the world’s largest and most prestigious tyre makers, and is now based in Akron, Ohio. They work out of 22 countries and produce annual net sales of $21 billion dollars, working out of 52 tyre making factories.
To my knowledge, Goodyear Dunlop shares the same research and development facilities. Including the development of Goodyear EfficientGrip Performance tyres. Therefore, making excellent variations of both product names. naturally, this includes this latest Goodyear Dunlop product, which comes under the Goodyear Efficient-Grip series and is an excellent double A-rated tyre.

Eric Roberts

Source: www.satreads.com

All Winter Tyres Stuff

Tyre Manufacturers Best Winter Tyres

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tyre manufacturers

Tyre Manufacturers Best Winter Tyres

Tyre Manufacturers Best Winter Tyres

What’s the best winter tyre on the market? Here are the results from our winter tyre test

Source: www.evo.co.uk

Tyre Manufacturers Best Winter Tyres

Tyre manufacturers are now fighting to produce the best winter tyres
So the article on the link reminded me that not long ago. Then the major tyre companies. Were not all that concerned about the winter tyre trade.

Especially here in the UK. I know that I have written about this before ! But at one time the only people to buy winter tyres were the lets say “better off” drivers . Consequently, who could afford to go  skiing for their winter holidays.

Farmers and other country folk would also buy winter tyres. Especially near the hills of Yorkshire and Derbyshire.
One of the reasons ! In my opinion was that the tyre manufacturers were then mostly based in the UK. Producing the tyres here for the UK market . So, would have concentrated on the home market only

All the leading and some smaller tyre manufacturers had tyre factories here in the UK.

The same would be so in the other European countries. Michelin produced most of their winter tyres for the French and German ski industry. Therefor began to develop some excellent winter tyre products. Include a winter version of the Michelin “X” tyre the “X” M+S 89 tyres.

Also producing the “XM S100 S winter and rally tyres.
The French tyre manufacturers are to this day one of the most innovative tyre designers and winter tyre producers in the world, making excellent products such as the excellent Michelin Alpin 4 range of winter tyres.
Avon tyres here in the UK had a good range of winter tyres just as they have today. I can remember that one of the most popular cars was of course the Mini and the Mini Coopers. These cars were good in snowy conditions. But the tyre Manufacturers started to bring out winter tyres for these little cars. Naturally, something to do with the fact that these cars were doing very well in rallying.

Consequently, known as the “Arctic winter range” . These came out originally in the 145×10 tyre size, but as the wheels were becoming wider there was a version on a 165/70×10 tyre size. Avon also make a modern day winter tyre range known as the “Avon Ice Touring ST” range of tyres, which come out on many sizes.
Dunlop tyres were also starting to take an interest in motorsport and rallying and they brought out a rally tyre/winter tyre called the Dunlop “Weathermaster” tyres which were a cross ply construction, which was then followed by the SP44 Weathermaster in a radial ply construction. Dunlop at that time were becoming one of the country’s leading tyre manufacturers and have continued to grow their winter tyre range right up to now with their “Winters-port and Winter response” tyre ranges.

Other early pioneers of winter tyres were Goodyear with their “Ultragrip”

Which came out in an X-ply size and then was used for rallying with a radial version. KelFollowing India Tyres with their “Super Multi-Grip” tyre, Kelly Springfield introduced their “Explorer” winter tyre and later joined Goodyear Tyres. Of course, it is soon to be bought out by Dunlop Tyres.

All these tyre manufacturers and many more have gone on to make excellent winter tyres to serve the whole of Europe; only Avon still makes tyres here in the UK, and Pirelli has a tyre manufacturing plant in Carlisle, Cumbria.
Pellon Tyre and Auto-centre offer car and van servicing and repairs to all makes of vehicles. We are members of Unipart Car Care centres and give a nationwide guarantee for all our work and parts. We also sell Avon Winter Tyres online from our website .

Eric Roberts

zzz eric roberts

http://www.motorsportmagazine.com/archive/article/february-1966/34/winter-tyres

All Winter Tyres Stuff

Winter tyres prove their worth

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A winters scene on the boundary fence at Pellon Tyres in Halifax in West Yorkshire UK.

Winter tyres prove their worth

Winter tyres prove their worth
Winter tyres prove their worth

Winter tyres prove their worth

Of course, on dreadful winter days like today! Then it makes me proud to think of all the safety-conscious drivers. Of course, some people have purposefully fitted winter tyres to their vehicles. I call it “winter” now because it shortens the subject of “winter tyres,” about which I write a lot.
This article from Halifax proves to me (not that I need any proof) that winters can be one of the best times of the year. So, it is great when the phone never stops ringing as customers require winter tyres just to go about their regular business.

Winter Tyres have developed and improved over the last few years. Winter tyres prove their worth

Uncompromisingly, then, the tyre manufacturers have had to keep up with the demand. As a result, more environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient vehicles are being developed. So, this line of developments also includes winter tyres.
This is, of course, the primary reason that winter clothing is now made of various materials. that were used to make their predecessors back in the days of chunky, hard rubber tread patterns. Importantly, the main breakthrough was the use of “silica.” As a result, it must be blended with the rubber compounds that make up the majority of tyre materials. Silica keeps the tyres supple in cold weather. As a result, the tyre’s footprint grows, as does its ability to grip in ice and snow.

Silica keeps a winter tyre flexible in lower winter temperatures. Winter tyres prove their worth

This goes along with the modern tread patterns that are computer designed. So, it helps make winters what they are today. In general, a tyre that is prepared for and capable of dealing with extreme winter weather.
Winter tyres were originally designed for the drivers of mainland Europe. Many people take a winter break to go skiing in the Alps.

The Germans were the most visible! who drive down their autobahns (without a speed limit). Of course, this enables them to do a weekend of skiing. up and down the mountains of the Austrian and Swiss Alps Tyre manufacturers realised that a special tyre would be required for this. That would perform well in all the conditions. Including high speed motorway driving and then having to drive through snow and ice up the mountain passes to the ski resorts

This is why the winters of today were developed and we now all take advantage of these wonderful things.

Drivers will be driving much safer as a result of these advancements in winter tyre ranges. Especially those still running on summer tyres. One of my customers had a set of winter tyres fitted to his car just before we had our first snow in 2010 and was so impressed with their performance in the snow. Inevitably, he instructed us to install them in his fleet of vans.

I could tell you many similar stories; we now have whole families that have fitted winters. So, simply by word of mouth from a friend or relative who has had these fantastic products fitted, So, telling them how good they are and how much safer they have felt being able to keep control of their vehicles when cars around them were skidding all over the place.

This winter in 2020-2021 is turning out to be a bad one,

with more snow and ice forecast for the next few weeks. So you still have time to enhance your winter driving experience and buy a set of winter tyres.
Pellon Tyre and Auto-Centre offers car and van servicing and repairs for all makes of vehicles. We also sell winter tyres online from our website, www.pellontyres.co.uk, by using the tyre selector and choosing your tyre size. So, we offer courtesy cars to local motorists who need to go to work and leave their car with us while they are at work. We are also an official MOT testing station.

All Neutral Tyres Stuff

Summer Tyres Versus All-Season

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Summer Tyres Versus All-Season

Summer Tyres Versus All-Season

Summer Tyres Versus All-Season

Summer Tyres Versus All-Season

This is getting easier as time goes bye. First, it depends on what time of the year you are buying your tyres? At the end of summer and the beginning of autumn. I would say this is the best time to buy all-season tyres.

Summer Tyres vs. All-Season:

Summer Tyres Versus All-Season
Summer Tyres Versus All-Season

A Battle for Grip on Halifax’s Hilly Roads

Okay, fellow Halifax drivers, let’s get into the age-old debate: summer tyres or all-season wonders—which should be spinning beneath your vehicle? Now, I understand that we don’t get the most consistent weather in Yorkshire, but that doesn’t mean we should skimp on our tyres. Strap in because we’re about to take it apart.

First, let’s discuss summer tyres. These babies are the thoroughbreds of the tyre world, built to grip the road with the tenacity of a Yorkshire terrier burying its teeth into a pork pie.

They’re designed for the warmer months, when the asphalt begins to sizzle beneath the Halifax sun (or what little of it we get). Summer tyres, with their specialised rubber formulations and tread patterns, provide exceptional performance when the temperature rises.

Consider this: you’re driving down Pellon Lane, handling those turns like a pro, feeling every inch of grip as you manage Halifax’s hills. That’s the charm of summer tyres, guys.

But hold your horses

or should that be Land Rovers—for the all-season brigade is on its way. These tyres are like the “Jack of all trades, master of none” type. They’re built to withstand everything Mother Nature throws at us, be it a sprinkle of rain or a dusting of snow.

And, hey, I see the appeal: Who wants to deal with changing tyres every season? But here’s the thing: while all-season tyres provide good overall performance, they’re not as specialised as summer tyres are. Sure, they’ll get you from A to B without too much trouble, but do they provide the same adrenaline rush as tackling Halifax’s legendary Shibden Hall? I think not.

Now, I get what you’re thinking: “But what about our unpredictable British weather?” Believe me, I understand your anguish. One minute, it’s sunny, and the next, it’s raining heavily. But here’s the thing: summer tyres aren’t only for sunny days and park picnics.

Even when the skies open, they outperform their all-season equivalents because of their superior traction on wet roads. And don’t forget about the dreaded snow: while all-season tyres may provide some grip in icy circumstances, they’re no match for a full pair of winter tyres when it gets very cold.

Summer Tyres Versus All-Season
Summer Tyres Versus All-Season

So there you have it, folks:Summer Tyres Versus All-Season

the age-old conflict between summer tyres and all-season miracles. In the end, it boils down to whether you value maximum performance or all-weather versatility. Me? I’ll take summer tyres any day of the week; nothing beats hugging the corners of Halifax’s twisty roads like a real Yorkshireman.

If you live in an area that may have some snowfall,

then I would look at a good set of conventional winter tyres. For this reason, I would probably choose Falken winter tyres. Falken has proved outstanding in winter tyre tests.

For regular motoring and the summer ahead of you. Then perhaps a set of normal summer tyres would be as good as anything. Believe it or not, summer tyres are still the most popular tyres that we supply at Pellon Tyres here in Halifax, UK.

All-weather tyres are starting to get some momentum.

Perhaps mainly because of the large amount of TV advertising. Hence, Michelin Tyres has done in the recent past.

Eric Roberts

What to opt for: summer tyres or all-season ones?

All Neutral Tyres Stuff

Waste tyres are great for growing

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Waste tyres great for growing

Waste tyres are great for growing

waste tyres

This is a great alternative to the traditional way of raising potatoes in rows and best for any confined space.
Growing potatoes in tires is enexpensi…

Source: www.instructables.com

Of course, another great way to use old tyres is to use them as planters. So, it is surprising how good they can look when painted. Or you can just use them as they are in your back yard.

naturally, I am a keen gardener and i am speaking from experience. Consequently, the tyres hold water and also heat, they are a great growing container.

Waste tyres as Planters are a great idea

Since becoming a keen blogger and searching the internet for ideas and stories about my specialist subject. Mainly tyres and all other garage related news items that may spring up.

I am not surprised at the ingenuity and ideas that the general public comes up with. So, when utilising what many people would see as rubbish,.
The rubbish that I am referring to is old waste tyres. Waste tyres have always been an environmental hazard. Of course, and are still regularly dumped on spare ground and in country lanes !

We have all seen them. This always happens whenever we have to pay something to dispose of.  Then we will get the dark side of the tyre trade just dumping their old waste tyres.
Subsequently, I have written about this for ages . Until the practice stops, I will continue to do so. On the other hand, I think it is great to see this levelled out by the number of people.

Who are constantly looking for ways of using a tyre when it has reached the end of its life.

waste tyres

Waste tyres are great for growing

Old tyres are used for many things, including children’s play areas, tile flooring, tarmac additives and many more, but the one use that keeps coming up is the use of old tyres for growing plants in “planter’s.
Those who know me well will tell you that I, too, am a keen gardener and now use some old tyres as planters.

When I first saw this, I shuddered at the thought of using old tyres to grow things in, I think it was because I see tyres every day and were sick of the site of them, especially the old ones, which are costing me £1 each to dispose of.

However, one spring day, I decided to give it a try

but first of all my wife Michelle painted them for me, I think that they look better that way and were more acceptable if they looked a pretty colour. The first crop I grew was in fact potatoes. I did this because I wanted to try to see if I could find another way of not having to earth them up to encourage a bigger crop of potatoes.
When the green stems and leaves grew, I simply placed the same size tyre on top and topped it with new soil.

Waste tyres conserve water and heat
waste tyres

To be truthful, the system worked well. I found that the waste tyres absorbed the sunlight and heat from the sun, giving the plants an ideal growing climate.

Also, the inside part of the tyres holds water and moisture. The downside to this was the fact that this is the ideal place for SLUGS to live and breed, but I suppose that that is a different story and we all have our own methods of dealing with the slug problem?
I have posted some great pictures of painted tyres on this article and hope you will enjoy converting waste tyres into planters.

Eric Roberts

zzz eric roberts


Pellon Tyre and Auto-centre offer car and van servicing and repairs to all makes of vehicles. We also sell Michelin Tyres online from our website www.pellontyres.co.uk, by using the tyre selector and choosing your tyre size.

All Neutral Tyres Stuff

TyreSafe Aquaplaning Film

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Why good tread depth on your tyres is important http://t.co/Oq2cArSdHI

Another great video from TireSafe.

TyreSafe Aquaplaning Film

TyreSafe Aquaplaning Film
TyreSafe Aquaplaning Film

TyreSafe Aquaplaning Film

www.pellontyres.co.uk

Aquaplaning is a tyre term from the past

I first heard the word “aquaplaning” in recent times. So, it took me right back to the seventies. This word became the buzzword among tyre manufacturers. As the battle for tyre sales dominance took place,. Of course, between the large tyre makers of the time. Namely, Goodyear and Michelin, with Dunlop not too far behind.
I’m not sure if the tyre manufacturers invented that word. However, I can remember that half of the Tyre Kingdom found it difficult to spell the word? Tyres were beginning to get more sophisticated in the late 1970s. So, to keep up with speeds that cars were then able to do.


The new radial tyres were doing better than ever, with increasing mileage

Especially coming from Michelin. Goodyear tyres were not far behind and in my opinion they had an edge on advertising their tyre products, a sort of Americanism.

Their tyre advertisements were brash and in your face and included new technical terms such as aquaplaning , often using race car characters and stars such as Sterling Moss, the famous racing driver.

Goodyear were also at the forefront of offering tyres to be used in motorsport; this was also the tactic of Michelin and Pirelli and is still carried on to this day. I can also remember Jackie Stewart extolling the virtues of the Goodyear NCT tyre.

Aquaplaning is also known as hydroplaning

and occurs when the water between the road surface and your tyres cannot be removed fast enough. This layer of water builds up at front end of the tyres and then the pressure of the water becomes much stronger than the pressure of the tyre on the road, The result is that the tyres lose contact with the road surface.

This loss of traction causes the wheels to slip and prevents the car from responding to steering, braking or accelerating. As a result, it is very likely that your car will go out of control, start to skid or spin. It is a very, very dangerous situation to find yourself in.


This is why new tread designs

were a top priority for the tyre makers; they knew that they were on to a winner if they made a tyre that would cope with aquaplaning and make driving a safer experience.

Tyres with a good tread can cope far better than tyres with little or no tread, but in deep water, even new tyres will start to aquaplane if care is not taken.
In 1974, Sir Robert Mark worked with Goodyear on some TV and newspaper advertising, saying, “I believe Goodyear tyres make a major contribution to road safety.”

The tyre in question was the Goodyear Grand Prix S.

This was perhaps the first time that I had heard the word “aquaplaning,” and it became more relevant in the battle to sell more tyres.
Pellon Tyre and Auto-Centre offer car and van servicing and repairs to all makes of vehicles.

All-season tyres
All Neutral Tyres Stuff, All Michelin Tyres Stuff

Self-Seal System: Michelin and Continental

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Self-Seal System

Self-Seal System
Self-Seal System

Self-Seal System

Michelin will be rolling out its puncture-resistant Self-seal tyres around the world starting 2015.

Source: www.tyreblog.co.uk

It is not just the inconvenience of having a puncture

but the dangerous situation you can find yourself in when running over a screw at, say, 70mph?

The Michelin self-seal will repair itself instantly and get you out of trouble. It cannot, however, help you if you have a sidewall problem, In that scenario, the tyre will deflate like any other tyre would, but it is a step in the right direction but not as safe as a run-flat tyre.

Continental tyres and Michelin tyres launch

a new type of self-seal tyre
Both these giant tyre companies have come up with a similar type of product that will give the motorist some kind of protection against their tyre deflating when the tyre picks up a screw or nail in the tread area of the tyre.
Both companies use a type of soft compound that is located inside the tyre below the tread area and resembles a thick layer tar? The tar-looking substance is very sticky and, as I have said, covers the inside of the tread area and stretches from shoulder to shoulder.

The compound protects against penetrating nails

Including other Sharpe objects that are up to 5 mm in diameter, but only in the tread area. When a nail goes into the tyre, it seals instantly, eliminating the need to stop and change the wheel or even have a tyre repair done at all.

This will be bad news to the larger tyre repair companies, such as Rema Tip-Top, who have spent years developing different tyre repair materials that we use for repairing punctures with.

Even when there is just a hole in the tread, say if a nail goes in and comes back, the repair material will still seal the hole almost instantaneously, the tyre will not require another repair and can be used without requiring a roadside spare wheel change.


self-sealing tyre reduces the risk of a flat tyre. Self-Seal System


These tyres do have their limitations and drivers are still advised to check their tyres at regular intervals for cuts, lumps and bumps. Remember, the tyre seal does not protect you against any sidewall problems, but only the tread area. They are also not run-flat tyre and must not be run on if the tyre loses any pressure at all.

Michelin tyre self-seal system is pretty much the same.

The special compound sits inside the tread of the tyre and seals nails and screws that penetrate the tread area. The hole is sealed instantly by the sealing compound,. Consequently, the tyre is deemed to be repaired, and as long as no pressure is lost, the tyre can continue running as a normal tyre.
Michelin say that the self-seal tyres will be used this year (2015) on some VW models and that there is no reason why the system cannot be used on any of its tyre range without any compromise to tyres performance abilities.
It is important, though, to remember that self-seal tyres are not the same as run-flat tyres .

I’ll say it again: if they experience any pressure, have them checked out by a professional. Self-Seal System


In my opinion for what its worth, I think it only confuses things from a practical point of view? When we have to repair a self-seal tyre, we have to buff of the area where the repair is required (a very messy job) before carrying out the repair.

Once the tyre is repaired, it can be no longer be classified as a self-seal. In fact, we have come to the conclusion that, like the run-flat tyres, the self-seal is not worth repairing and we offer the customer a new replacement tyre.

All-season tyres
All Neutral Tyres Stuff

Keep Winter Tyres On

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Keep Winter Tyres On

Keep Winter Tyres On
Keep Winter Tyres On

Keep Winter Tyres On

Keep Winter Tyres

Keep Winter Tyres On

Why Some Motorists Keep Their Winter Tyres On All Year
Hello, everyone! Have you ever wondered if you should just leave your winter tyres on all year instead of replacing them? For some drivers around the world, this is not only a lazy alternative, but also a safer one. Let’s look at why this might be the case, with a bit of international flair and, of course, a nod to how we do things in the UK.

Global Perspective: All-Season Safety


In many places, particularly those with variable weather patterns (and I’m not just talking about the great British weather!), having winter tyres on all year can be a safer choice. For example, temperatures in portions of Canada and the northern United States can vary dramatically throughout the year. Winter tyres, with their deeper tread and specific rubber formulations, offer superior grip and stability in cold weather.

Similarly, in mountainous places such as Switzerland or Norway, where snow might fall at any time of year, it is typical to see cars equipped with winter tyres. The logic is straightforward: it is better to be prepared than caught off guard.

Why use winter tyres year-round? Keep Winter Tyres On


Winter tyres are intended to perform better in cold, icy, and snowy weather. They have a softer rubber compound and deeper tread patterns than regular tyres, resulting in increased traction. When the temperature dips below 7°C, which happens frequently even during a British spring, these tyres can significantly improve handling and braking.

But here’s a twist: while winter tyres excel in cold weather, they also offer some advantages when the temperature rises. Their deeper grooves aid in water dispersion, lowering the chance of aquaplaning during unexpected spring downpours or the infamous British summer rains.

The Local Spin: UK Drivers Take Note!


While we may not have the harsh circumstances of the Alps or the frigid cold of the Canadian tundra, our weather in the United Kingdom is everything but predictable. This presents an interesting subject for discussion: could keeping winter tyres on all year be helpful to us as well?

For places of the UK that have more cold mornings or are prone to damp conditions (looking at you, Lake District and portions of Scotland!), the safety benefits of winter tyres may outweigh the inconvenience of changing them twice a year. Furthermore, it’s not just ice and snow; these tyres can provide improved grip and shorter stopping distances in any low-temperature circumstances, which are typical throughout the year.

Considerations and Conclusions


Of course, there are certain drawbacks. Winter tyres wear down faster on hot, dry roads and are louder. They may also marginally boost your fuel consumption due to their higher rolling resistance. So it’s all about weighing the benefits and drawbacks based on your specific climate and driving habits.

Whether you opt to leave your winter tyres on all year or make the seasonal changeover, it’s critical to stay informed and make the decision that best protects your safety – and the safety of others on the road.

So, the next time you’re thinking about tyre strategy, keep the big picture in mind as well as the specific situations you’ll be dealing with. Safety is vital, and sometimes the uncommon option may be the best bet. Drive safely, everyone, and keep those rubber sides down!

This is not a weather warning for the UK?

Although it is expected to turn much colder in the third week of April,. Unfortunately, my wife and I are going to Scotland for a short break.

It could even snow? However, it just shows that it’s not only the UK that suffers from climate change. Hot and cold weather is becoming the norm. My recommendation is to keep your winter tyres on until, say, May. Anything can happen?

Eric Roberts

TyreSafe Forges Important New Partnership with Fresh Drivers UK

Temperatures expected to drop to as low as -1 degrees Celsius, according to state weather service Meteolux.

Source: Luxemburger Wort – Don’t change your snow tyres just yet, Luxembourg …

All Neutral Tyres Stuff

Toyo Tyres launches a new R888R tyre

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toyo tyres
Toyo directional tyre

Toyo Tyres Launch a new R888R tyre

For those who have been following my blogs and articles over the years. Then they will know that I have always been a keen follower of the Toyo tyres products. Over the years I have sold thousands of Toyo tyres . Indeed we used to buy the tyres in containers, direct from Japan.


I have always tried to maintain a good relationship with a mid-range tyre company . Of course, that will give us some promotional backing as well as having a good quality product to sell us. At the moment and for the foreseeable future, Yokohama tyres are fitting the criteria that I am always looking for.
Brand consistency has always been my goal, as it is important to sell a good tyre product that the customers can rely on both in quality and supply. It is no good, if your customer has to buy a different brand of tyre every time he or she needs a replacement tyre.

Toyo tyres filled this requirement

toyo tyres

At different times in my long career in tyres, Toyo tyres have filled this spot. Part of the mix of a good supplier is the price of the products and also the stability of the price. It is no good if the price fluctuates every time you need new stock and also the popular sizes should have special offers attached on a permanent basis.

This factor also gives you customer loyalty because they know that when they come back to you, the price will be the same or very close to their last purchase.
If I did have any criticism about certain tyre suppliers, it would be that they change tyre designs too much, with claims that their new tyre will give them “X” better miles or they will be able to corner faster. Michelin and Continental tyres are the worst culprits of this, in my opinion, but as a mid-range tyre manufacturer.

I would say that Toyo tyres have also been guilty of this.

As a tyre retailer we try to offer our customers continuity and value, but this becomes difficult when they are always changing tread designs claims that this new tyre is better than their old tyre.

toyoy tyres
Toyo Proxes

It can make you feel daft when every time a guy buys a new tyre, you have to sell him the latest tyre that superseded the last one he bought. One of my main grumbles was when Toyo tyres introduce a directional tyre and ran besides a normal tread pattern.

This was also done by other tyre companies along with the introduction of the asymmetric tread design, which meant that the tyre could only be fitted to one corner with the tread facing a certain way, which were marked “inside” and “outside”.
This mixture of tread designs and specific tyres for specific cars started to put me off a little, because I did not think that it was what my customers here in Halifax UK, wanted.

Like many of the mid-range tyre companies, Toyo tyres had ambitions to join the top elite tyre companies, by way of supplying the car manufacturers with the Toyo tyres product.
One of the car makers that they were successful with was Audi. Some of the Audi models were coming out on Toyo tyres as original equipment. This also meant that when the tyre needed replacing, then there would be a chance that the driver would replace the tyres with Toyo again and would give them a better market share.

This new drive led Toyota to develop a tyre for Audi.

Even though it was legal to drive on regular roads with these tyres, aspiring car racing stars used them in numerous club championships. This new tyre has also been recognised by the French car maker Renault, when Renault Sport fitted the tyre as original equipment on the new Megane R26R model.
The new tyre will be produced in 32 different sizes in the beginning. The new Proxes R888R will give the driver a fast warm-up time with increased dry grip and sustained performance over multiple laps and heat cycles.

A rayon “super-high” turn-up ply on some sizes, together with steel side plies, gives the new Proxes R888R a more accurate steering response and driver feedback, increasing the driver’s control and therefore optimising lap times.

All-season tyres
General tyres Stuff

235/70×16-General Grabber AT

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235/70×16-General Grabber AT

235/70×16-General Grabber AT

235/70x16-General Grabber AT

235/70×16-General Grabber AT

General Grabber AT wins second consecutive local 4×4 tyre test General Grabber dominates Drive Out / WegRy all-terrain tyre evaluation Top scorer in off-ro

235/70×16- General Grabber AT wins 4×4 Tyre Test

Source: 3d-car-shows.com

General Grabbers are a winner

Here, in Halifax, UK, we are lucky enough to be living in a very hilly area. We are at the foot of the Pennine Mountain range that straggles through the centre of the UK.

We are also a farming area and the towns and cities soon turn into a rural setting, full of sheep farms in the upper regions.
I am explaining this because these guys are the main ones that buy and indeed need 4×4 vehicles to get them around, especially in winter.

We are in a good central area to be able to sell tyres to these farmers (and repair millions of punctures?).
The farmers of Yorkshire are well known for not parting with their money, so we have to offer them value for money, as the y always want “something for nothing”.

but these were in the early days of cross-ply tyres, sizes like 600×16 and 750×16 on the long wheel base of Land Rovers.
As the years rolled on, the 4×4 vehicles became fitted with radial tyre sizes, and many new makes of tyres were introduced into the country. Some came from America, where the 4×4 market was huge. Even the normal guy on the street would own a pick-up truck.

235/70×16: General Grabber AT wins 4×4 Tyre Test

In the beginning, the tyres were imported. Hence, by the bigger tyre companies. Such as Goodyear and some of their subsidiaries . Including Kelly tyres. As a result , they were famous in the States for some of their wide and large 4×4 tyres.

Thus. it became a big thing to see how large a tyre you could fit on your 4×4 truck. Smaller companies started to import tyres into the UK . Hence, for the 4×4 market,. Including Cooper tyres, BF Goodrich, and 235/70×16-General Grabber AT.

These tyres had a huge following in the USA.

Consequently, they were well advertised in the 4×4 magazines. That were being sold here in the UK. This also corresponded with the increase in the popularity of 4×4 trucks. Thus, those are now appearing here in the UK.

Many farmer’s sons were responsible for their initial popularity. Who were going off the traditional Land Rovers. So then  onto the American-style pickup trucks. At the time, Nissan and Mitsubishi were importing them.
The tyre that was racing ahead in popularity became the BF Goodrich (BFG), which was an on/off road tyre. This means that the tyre was comfortable to drive on a normal tarmac road but equally good when driven off-road in the fields and in mud and snow. BFG were the one to beat, but in my opinion, they became too expensive.

general grabber
General Grabber AT2 4x4x tyre

People started to try other cheap tyre products in the 4×4 tyre range and this is where the General Grabber came into its own. 235/70×16-General Grabber AT, was originally an American tyre, but as a result of the tyre takeover war, Continental Tyres purchased it to add it to their line of 4×4 tyres.

235/70×16: General Grabber AT wins 4×4 Tyre Test

This is what gave the General Grabber more recognition and it was not long before tyre retailers such as us were selling these tyres to the 4×4 market.
The General Grabber began to outsell the BFG tyres with their AT (all-traction) range of on- and off-road tyres.

The other good advantage they had was that they were also priced in a lower price bracket, which suited the farmers and builders that were the main users of these types of vehicles.

The General Grabber still remains very popular today, with updated versions of the tread patterns.
Pellon Tyre and Auto-Centre offer car and van servicing and repairs to all makes of vehicles.