No Spare Tyre? Don't Panic!

Many vehicles don’t come with a spare tyre as standard anymore. This is because it saves space in your car and you don’t have to carry around the extra weight, which can save you money on fuel.

If the worst should happen and you suffer a puncture while driving, don’t panic! Most cars will have a puncture repair kit on board that can be used to fix your car at the roadside.

Stay ahead of the game

Of course, the best way to avoid having to even use your puncture repair kit is to make sure that your tyres are in good working order. This means that you should check there is enough tread left for them to function properly and safely, and that the tyre pressure is correct.

Replace your tyres when necessary to be as safe as possible. KarPro stock a range of Kumho tyres, along with other makes, and will happily change your tyres for you.

However, even if you keep your tyres in their best possible condition, things can happen to tyres, such as running over glass or nails and this could cause you to have a puncture.

How to use a puncture repair kit

As long as you know how to use your puncture repair kit, you can fix your tyre before taking it to your mechanic in Sutherland for it to be fixed properly or replaced as necessary.

Firstly, check over your tyres to see if anything has been caught in them, such as a nail. This will also tell you where the puncture is. Remove the foreign body from your tyre.

Put the lubricant that comes in your repair kit over the hole and use the reamer tool. Put some repair cord into the hole using the insertion tool; you may need more of the lubricant at this stage.

Take the insertion tool out and cut down the repair cord. You then need to reflate your tyre to the correct pressure for your vehicle.

Rather than going on to your onward journey, take your vehicle to your mechanic so that your tyre can be properly fixed.

It is important to note that if your tired looks damaged beyond repair, it is time to call in your emergency breakdown cover. Some signs to look out for are:

•    Bulging sidewalls
•    Cracks in the tyres
•    Belts that have become exposed
•    Separations of the plies

Why choose KarPro for your tyres?

KarPro has several different locations and we can help you to continue on your onward journey. If possible, we can fix your tyre for you or replace it if necessary. We stock a huge range of tyres and we will offer you guidance on choosing the best one for your vehicle.

Cooper Tyres: Are they any good?

Is it time for a set of new tyres? There are quite a few excellent brands available on the market right now, which can make it quite challenging to pick the best tyres for your car. At Karpro we distribute a wide range of the finest brands, and we recommend tyres by Cooper Tyres.

Here are the top reasons we believe that these will be an excellent pick for your car;

A Trusted Brand

Cooper Tires have been making excellent tyres for over 100 years. With a century of experience in tyre manufacturing and such a longstanding reputation, you can bet that their tyres are highly durable.

A Wide Variety to Choose From

Cooper Tires produces the widest range of 4WD tyres in the world. They offer anything from the highway to terrain tyres.

Excellent Handling

Each of their tyre ranges is specially designed to offer you superior handling for the roads you are most likely to drive. These tyres are crafted to provide you with an excellent grip on the road, good strength and will offer you great mileage.

They Offer a 100,000 Km Mileage Warranty

The company is so confident in their superb quality tyres; they offer a 100,000 km mileage warranty on many of their tyre types. These tyres are built to last and will serve you well budget-wise.

Excellent For Road Safety

Cooper Tires are constantly analysing their tyres and improving their technology to create tyres that offer all the elements you need for enhanced road safety. These tyres are specially designed to provide you with lots of grip for both acceleration and braking, and they handle very well on slippery and wet roads.

Reduced Road Noise

These tyres are not just crafted for enhanced grip and safety. They are also designed to reduce road noise as you drive. This feature is a Godsend for those that frequently travel and for those that take frequent road trips.

Tyres for a Variety of Vehicle Types

Cooper Tyres produce a very wide range of tyres for different types of vehicles. You can certainly find a good tyre whether you drive a 4WD car, a family car or a performance car.

Affordable Prices

When you consider the mileage warranty, the quality of these tyres and the added benefits such as road noise reduction and enhanced road safety, these tyres are a good investment. They will serve you well for a long time to come and offer great value for money.

Want to buy a set of Coopers? We welcome you to visit your Mechanic in Campsie to get a fresh new pair fitted on your car so you can drive in style and enjoy a safe journey.

What You Need to Know Before Buying New Tyres

No one really gives their tyres much thought until it is time for you to buy a brand new pair.  Suddenly you are forced to deal with this unknown territory and have to make a choice between different brands, sizes and types of tyres. 

It is quite challenging to choose the right pair of tyres because they all look pretty much the same.   What’s more, tyres don’t come cheap, so you really want to choose a pair that is going to provide you with maximum efficiency and durability.  So, how do you tell which set will be the right option for your vehicle? Perhaps this guide can help you out.

Find Out What the Optimal Tyre Type Is For Your Car
 
Car manufacturers usually work with a specific tyre brand when developing a car.  This ensures that the tyre suits the need of the vehicle perfectly.  This tyre brand and size is known as Original Equipment or OE fitment. 

It usually is amongst higher performance brands and usually is the tyre that will provide you with optimum road noise blending, ride comfort, handling, braking, efficiency, wear rate and durability.  If you are looking for the best of the best, then consult your owner’s manual to find out what the original tyres for your car were.

Choose the Right Type for Your Car
 
If you cannot find your original tyre brand or cannot afford that specific brand right now, then don’t worry.  There are lots of good alternatives out there, but you do need to find the recommended tyre based on size, speed rating, load rating and groove type.  It can be challenging to understand tyre codes, so ask a professional to help you identify the right type for your vehicle.

Stick to Trusted Brands
 
If you are familiar with a specific tyre brand and know that that brand offers good quality tyres, then it is best to stick with that brand.  Brands like Bridgestone Tyres might be more expensive, but the tyres could end up lasting a lot longer and can make a world of difference when it comes to road safety.

Buying Cheap Is Risky
 
We all want to save money, especially on tyres since they can be so expensive. However, buying cheap can prove to be quite risky.  Cheaper tyres might not have all the needed function to provide optimal road safety and might not allow you to accelerate or brake at the right speed or efficiency. 

Cheap tyres might also handle poorly in rainy weather conditions, and with these tyres, you never know just how far you can travel before they will start to wear down.

The best thing you can do for good quality tyres is to buy from a reputable company like Kar Pro Tyres & Auto.  We have experienced tyre experts on our team that can help guide you to the right tyres for your vehicle, and we only sell the finest quality brands like Kumho Tyres in order to ensure road safety and durability.  

Oh Those Pesky Potholes

It’s happened to us all at some time or other. We’ve been driving along on autopilot, and before we know it, we’ve driven straight into a pothole. Depending on the severity of the pothole, the jolt from dropping into the depression can affect everything from your vehicle’s tyres to their alignment and, if you drive over them repeatedly it can really take a toll on suspension too

The Hidden Complications Due to Potholes
Whether we’ve got top of the range Pirelli tyres or Kumho tyres on our car, they can be damaged by driving into a pothole. The extent of the damage will be affected by the speed at which you hit the pothole and also the depth of the hole. In the worst-case scenario, you’ll damage the tyre so that it fails completely although, as often is the case the damage will build up over time without you even noticing that there is a problem.

Tyre Damage

Hitting a pothole hard can bend the rim of your wheel which will result in a compromised seal between the tyre and rim which will ultimately lead to air leaks and a flat tyre. That’s why it’s always important to check your tyres regularly and note any changes.

Issues with Alignment

Driving into potholes can also cause issues with alignment which can affect steering, lead to premature or uneven wear on the tread of your tyres and cause the vehicle to vibrate. You may also notice that your car is ‘pulling’ to one side as you’re driving. This is an indication that your wheels are out of alignment. Not only will this mean that you will need to replace your tyres more often, but it also affects the safety of the vehicle.

Problems with Suspension

The suspension system not only supports the weight of your vehicle, but it has been designed to absorb and dampen shocks and ensure that your tyres remain in constant contact with the surface of the road. By driving over a pothole, the force on the tyre is transferred to the suspension. If this happens repeatedly, it will accelerate the wear and tear and decrease the performance of the suspension system. You’re unlikely to notice this until it becomes a problem.

Damage to Your Vehicle

If the pothole is particularly deep and you hit it with considerable force, your vehicle may actually make contact with the surface of the road. The resultant damage may range from scratches to the undercarriage to breakage of mechanical components.

Get Your Car Checked Out

If your car has been over one too many potholes, it’s wise to get it checked out before the damage becomes a problem. And, as we’ve said before, it’s advisable to inspect your tyres on a regular basis so you can spot any changes as soon as possible.

The Pros and Cons of Mobile Car Servicing

As our lives become busier, we’re constantly looking at ways to save time and make routine tasks more convenient.

That’s one reason why mobile car servicing companies are on the increase especially for routine services such as oil changes and car detailing.

In many instances, the cost of a mobile mechanic in Roselands is no more than if you took your vehicle to your local service centre and many mobile mechanics charge less than static garages. So it’s no wonder that mobile services are increasing in popularity.

More Than Just a Convenient Service
Being able to have your car serviced at home or at work is one of the main reasons drivers choose to use a mobile mechanic in Miranda. However, there are more advantages to mobile services than simply convenience. You often receive a more personal service from a mobile mechanic as it’s likely that they are the owner of the business.

Many mobile mechanics in Campsie are more flexible than centre-based businesses and can come out to see you with as little as 24 hours’ notice, although it is true to say that some mechanics are so busy that you may need to book up a week in advance.

Finding a Reputable and Reliable Mobile Mechanic

Like any other business, you need to make sure that your mobile mechanic is reliable, professional and reputable. Look for online reviews and ask for references if necessary.

We recommend that you find out how long they have been in business, how they plan to perform the work and always get an estimate of how much the work will cost and how long the job is likely to take. You don’t want any nasty surprises.

You should also take into consideration that you may need to seek permission from your employer if you ask a mobile mechanic to come and carry out work at your workplace, especially if they need access to private employee parking areas.

You will also need to consider whether you have sufficient space available at your home for work to be carried out without impacting your neighbours.

Save Time, Money and Stress

If you do your research before you choose a mechanic in Sutherland, you may find that hiring a mobile mechanic may be a better option for you than taking your car to a bricks and mortar garage.

And it may be that you can get together with a group of co-workers or neighbours and invite a mobile provider to come and service several cars at the same time.

However, we would always advise that if your car needs more than a simple oil change, it’s probably wiser to take your vehicle to your local servicing centre which will have more specialist equipment and tools to carry out a thorough service or repair.

Need New Tyres? Follow Our Tips

We all know that our tyres need replacing when they get worn, but how do you choose the best tyres for your car? What size tyre do you need to buy and how do you know whether it’s a good tyre or not? Should you go for a well-respected brand such as Bridgestone tyres or Pirelli tyres or would an inexpensive import do the job just as well? 

When it comes to buying new tyres, follow these tips from a local tyre supplier, and you shouldn’t go far wrong.

Buying the Right Tyres for Your Car

Buying the right tyres is relatively easy as the manufacturer of your car has already worked out which ones will give the best performance and safety for your vehicle.

Therefore, choose tyres the tyres that they specify, and you’ll be guaranteed the best combination of braking, handling, road noise, efficiency and rate of wear together with a comfortable ride. You’ll find the details of the size, speed and load rating needed in your owner’s manual.

Opting for Recognised Brands

There’s a good reason why many drivers prefer to buy tyres from recognised brands such as Cooper tyres or Kumho tyres, and that’s because they trust their performance, safety and reliability.

While unbranded tyres may offer a similar performance, if there are no reliable reviews for the tyres and you’re not able to examine the construction, you won’t have the information you need about performance, longevity, safety and comfort of ride.

Don’t Compromise on Second-Rate Tyres
Many tyres are now produced in Asian countries, but that doesn’t necessarily mean that they’re second-rate. These tyres can offer the same levels of performance and safety as tyres produced elsewhere.

However, if the tyres are made by a company you’ve never heard of or one with no reviews, it’s wiser to invest a little bit more and buy branded tyres. You should never compromise on safety, and you’ll find that well-known brands offer tyres to suit all budgets.

Don’t Buy Cheap Tyres

The same goes for cheap tyres. There is usually a reason why they’re cheap. Just consider for one moment, everything that you expect your tyre to do for your car. From enabling it to accelerate and change direction to allowing it to brake quickly and safely. 

Tyres also have to cope with all kinds of road surfaces and weather conditions, so are you prepared to risk the safety of you and your passengers by buying cheap tyres?

Do Your Research or Ask a Professional
Major tyre brands offer back up and customer service following the sale. Do non-branded tyres offer the same? It’s wise to do your research before you make a purchase decision and if in doubt, you can always speak to your local tyre supplier for advice. You know it makes sense!

Is Synthetic Motor Oil Better for Your Car?

You may have heard how synthetic oil is better than conventional oil from your local mechanic in Campsie, but you’re not sure exactly what it is, why it’s better and whether you should be using in your car. If you’ve been wondering whether it’s time to make the change from conventional to synthetic oil, here’s everything you need to know.

What is Synthetic Oil?

We asked a mechanic in Roselands to explain the differences between synthetic and conventional oils.

We all know that conventional motor oil comes from mineral-based crude oil that occurs naturally in the ground. As you would imagine, the synthetic version is simply an engine lubricant that has been manufactured from chemical compounds.

Some synthetic oils have a base of conventional oil which is then chemically altered while others are created artificially from other raw materials.

What are the Advantages of Synthetic Oils?

Most mechanics agree that the synthetic version does offer specific advantages over standard motor oils.

They find that it has a superior ability to lubricate the parts within the engine and are able to reduce wear on the engine during start-up, especially when the engine is starting from cold, and also to avoid or reduce the degradation of the oil. Put simply, synthetic oils are:

•    Thinner

•    Able to resist temperature extremes more easily

•    Last longer than their mineral counterparts

This means that while you as the driver are unlikely to notice any changes to your vehicle’s performance, you’ll probably notice that you need to change your oil less frequently – and that’s a good thing!

Is Synthetic Oil Right for Your Car?