Top 10 Car Maintenance Mistakes That Drivers Make

You may have the best intentions in the world to save money and be proactive with your car maintenance, but if you’re making basic mistakes – or worse, ignoring maintenance altogether – you could be causing untold damage to your vehicle. Thankfully, Universal Tyres is here to point you in the right direction of the top 10 car maintenance mistakes that you should avoid. Ignoring the Engine Warning Light If the timing is inconvenient or you are mid journey, it’s tempting to ignore the engine warning light. ‘It will go away’ is common parlance when it comes to all warning…

Breaking Bad: Extreme MOT failures

If there is one feature of your car that is absolutely indispensable in ensuring safety, it has to be your brakes. Keeping them in prime working condition, therefore, is essential. Regularly servicing your brakes can be one way that you ensure they’re working properly, but failing to do so can have dire consequences. In the first of this month’s articles, we’ll be looking at some of the worst cases of brake neglect in the country, to give you an idea of what’s at stake. Unfitted Caliper Bolts DIY car repairs are, simply put, the wrong way to go about fixing…

Braking Distances: The Importance of Fully Working Brakes

In order to drive a vehicle safely, you need your brakes to be in full working order. Fortunately, there are relatively simple ways to ensure that your brakes are working properly, including knowing exactly what your braking distances should be. In the second of this month’s articles, we’ll be highlighting just what that involves. What Are Braking Distances? Braking distances refer to the distance it takes your vehicle to come to a complete stop from varying speeds once the brake is applied. For instance, if your car is travelling at 30mph, it should come to a full stop within 14…

Most common brake problems

Arguably the most important safety aspect of a car is its brakes, and that’s why ensuring that your brakes are in perfect condition is essential. In the first of this month’s articles we’ll be discussing the most common brake problems that you’re likely to fall victim to and that you’ll need to rectify as soon as possible, should they occur, so your vehicle can be used safely on the road. Soft brake pedals Brake pedals that feel soft underfoot are a common sign of problems with brakes that must be addressed. A good way of testing your brakes is, while…

Servicing for Spring

As the weather starts to get warmer and summer fast-approaches, there’s no better time than now to start planning a trip away! Whether you are visiting friends or going on a road trip with your family, you must make sure your vehicle can withstand the long journey without breaking down. Identifying and fixing any problems now will stop the problem from escalating, saving you a great deal of money and stress later on. Here, we will list the main things you should be aware of as a driver to prevent you from encountering any issues whilst travelling. Overheating From leaks…

MOT changes could lead to an increase in illegal tyres and brakes

  Earlier this year, the government released the latest budget which showed a proposal to increase the period of time before a car’s first MOT test from 3 years to 4 years. It is suggested that doing so will save motorists more than £100 million a year. The dangers of the proposal Since the announcement was made, many leading names in motoring have spoken out against the proposal claiming that although this change could be financially beneficial, the roads could become increasingly unsafe due to unknown faults in tyres and brakes. The Driving and Vehicle Standards Agency (DVSA) has shown…

Stopping in Time: Brake Safety

Every driver knows that when they put their foot on the brake pedal, the car will eventually come to a hault. But the most important thing for any motorist is knowing and understanding how much time it will take your car to stop. When it comes to brakes, there are a number of things that need to be taken into consideration and they are all extremely important in order to fully grasp just how vital brake safety is when driving.   Why is brake safety important? Brakes ultimately bring your car to a stop, so without them, or with faulty…

When Is The Best Time To Replace Your Brakes?

When it comes to driving, safety is paramount. When you could potentially be travelling up to 70 miles an hour, you need to know that your car can respond to any road situation, including braking or emergency stopping if necessary. There are some obvious signs that appear when your brakes may need replacing or servicing. For instance, the brake light will light up on your dashboard or you may just notice that your brakes are not responding as quickly as they used to. However, there are other tell-tale signs for when your brakes need replacing that you may not be…