Our Blog - Pellon Tyres And Auto Centre Halifax

Bald Car Tyres- Bald tyres are lethal and also dangerous to ALL road users.

17th February 2020/in All Tyre Articles /by Eric

Bald Car Tyres

Bald Car Tyres can be killers

Pellon tyres in Halifax West Yorkshire. Hence, has never seen so many bad tyres. Removed from customers wheels. Hence, in 40 years of trading as a tyre business. These bald tyres are a danger. Hence, to all other road users.Of course, and the people who drive about with them on. Car tyre prices have escalated threefold. In the past two years.Consequently, due to the cost increase in the raw materials. Hence, that go on to making tyres. Also, cheap tyres are flooding the European tyre dealers. So, causing a battle for cheap car tyres. Therefore, between all the tyre manufacturers, This is helping to stabilise the price increases. But only very slowly.

We have all had to cut back in these difficult times, but to cut back on buying car tyres will put the vehicle owner and other motorists in great danger. Everybody should change their tyres before they become bald tyres. There is nothing worse.Then coming across a heavy shower, after a beautiful sunny day. Hence, a car with bald tyres. Will start to skid on the wet surface.Thus, and could cause an accident through aquaplaning. For this reason, this is when the tyre is separated. Thus, From the road surface on a wet road, sometimes due to a bald tyre on a wet road, this causes the tyre to lose grip and then the loss of the cars steering causing an accident tom happen.

Bald Car Tyres

When your bald tyres are separated from the road surface by a thin layer of water, your tyre does not grip because of the absence of tread on the tyre and the car can go in any direction when the brakes are applied, according to R.O.S.P.A this is the cause of many motorway crashes.

Also, you may have seen F1 cars during a race, in dry weather the racing cars are fitted with bald tyres (called slicks), but when the weather turns wet, the cars are changed to tyres that have a tread pattern. This is the same for an average car; it is highly dangerous to drive on “bald” tyres and also illegal.

Use your sense and buy new tyres, even cheap tyres are better than having “bald tyres.”

A large section of the public car drivers do obey the law when it comes to replacing their tyres, we have been very busy since last November, and it is not all the people that run about on bald tyres, far from it. Many of our customers are looking for, car tyre prices, only to find that we can compete with our top internet competitors.

Eric Roberts

Autonomous Emergency Braking -What is it all about or AEB?

17th February 2020/0 Comments/in Brake Servicing Halifax /by Eric

Autonomous Emergency Braking

(AEB). So, is possibly the most vital advancement in vehicle safety and security. Incredibly since the seat belt! Might conserve an incredible 1,100 lives and 122,860 casualties in the UK over the following decade.

It’s a safety technology that keeps an eye on the roadway ahead. Importantly, and will immediately brake the auto. So, if the vehicle driver looses concentration slowly reacting to an accident risk. Consider it like an additional pair of eyes on the road.

As well as an added foot over the brake pedal, prepared to act if you’re distracted. In this way, rather than safeguard the driver. So, making use of the safety belt as well as air bag in any collision. Excitingly, the AEB can avoid the collision entirely.

AEB Has different names

Accordingly, different car makers have given AEB different names. For example, some vehicles that are made feature two or more AEB systems. So, here is a few example of the different names for these systems.

Alfa Romeo: Autonomous Emergency Braking
Audi: Pre-Sense Plus
BMW: Driving Assistant Plus
Ford: Active City Stop
Holden: Automatic Emergency Braking City Stop
Honda: Collision Mitigation Braking System

Eric Roberts

Watch our video clip to get more information concerning the strenuous scientific strategy that enters into screening AEB systems, to make sure that they can remain to save lives. AEB is a system that makes your car a better, safer driver than you, basically, which is why it’s a shame it’s not standard fitment on every new vehicle sold.

Source: What is Autonomous Emergency Braking or AEB?

BMW Minis Run Flat Tyres-Many drivers with older BMW Minis find the tyres Expensive?

BMW Minis Run Flat Tyres

BMW Minis Run Flat Tyres-Many owners of BMW Minis are are just coming to terms with run flat tyres. Here in Halifax, we pride ourselves on our excellent client base, from mini drivers who trust us to carry out servicing on their cars. Trust is essential when it comes to advice about your car.

BMW Minis Run Flat Tyres-Price is important when selecting the correct run flat tyres

A few years ago I could see the writing on the wall. Thus, regarding a popular car. BMW mini and the high cost of parts including BMW Minis Run Flat Tyres. Hence, when the cars were becoming second and third hand. This time has now arrived.Therefore, with drivers looking for Cheap Run Flat Tyres.

The original mini (British Leyland) were build, for the main masses of the population. Thus, to enable working class motorists to afford a good reliable little car. I myself have owned five minis (old type) in my time and loved them all. You could get the up-market minis. Such as the mini cooper. But you would expect to pay a higher price for such things as new tyres. The normal tyres for Mini Cars were 145×10 and they would cost the same price for years on end (except for inflation). You knew that if you went on to a mini cooper you would have to pay more, because the tyre size was 16570×10, Get what I am on about ?.

Run Flat Tyres

Then bringing us back to the present.hence, came the BMW mini. Naturally, a completely different animal. This car has all the modern gadgets on board. Hence, to help in the battle against greenhouse gases. Therefore, is fitted with many things that were not dreamed of when the old minis were around.

Cars now have to be made much lighter and one of the things they started doing was to mess about with spare wheels, no spare tyre in the boot. This was a duel effect, in my opinion, it did lessen the weight of the car but it also cut the price of the by the price of the tyre and wheel, times this by millions and it comes to a major saving. Most BMW minis started to come out on what we now know as run flat tyres. This simply means that if you have a puncture the tyres will remain strong enough to get you to safety, providing you only drive at 50 mph.

Run Flat Safety Tyres

In my opinion, the theory of this idea is a good safety feature, the strength of the tyre does not allow the car to move, thus keeping the car in a straight line and avoiding other traffic. The problem occurs when the driver turns up at the local tyre centre.
most run-flat tyres will not repair once they have had a puncture

The people that buy second and third hand BMW minis are usually young people, and mostly females and when they realise the cost of new BMW Minis Run Flat Tyres they freak out, some of the sizes now cost £180 each, that’s buying them online at cheap tyre prices.

Cheap BMW Minis Run Flat Tyres may be bought in budget brands but do not go for part worn run flat tyres as it is more important to know where they have been and used for (the history) than normal tyres.

Eric Roberts

Flat Lawnmower Battery-Winter Time Over again time to Charge Up your Mower Battery?

16th February 2020/in All Battery Information /by Eric

Flat Lawnmower Battery

check out your Flat Lawnmower Battery it probably won’t make it after the Winter ?

Another new grass cutting year is upon us. Naturally, it’s spring time again. The temperatures are warming up and the days are starting to get longer. You get home from work and your wife complains that “the lawn needs cutting”. For this reason, the last thing on your mind. Because you wanted to watch the football match.

After dinner, you put on your old gardening clothes. Of course, thinking that you don’t want to loose “browny points”. Hence, just by not cutting the grass. You climb over a mountain of obstacles in your garage to try to get to your forgotten lawn mower. There it is ? , you pull the thing out and check that you have petrol in the can, You have, “not so good your thinking”.

Now for starting it, here goes? A few puffs and bangs and the mower has a Flat Lawnmower Battery, Yes you shout I can watch the match now, I have an excuse.

Flat Lawnmower Battery-Lucas batteries can be used on all types of lawnmowers

Sorry dear but the lawnmower battery is flat ,ill put it in charge and do it in the morning. You’ve always got an excuse she says and goes to see her sister down the road while you get the bears out and watch the match,”perfect”.

Flat Lawnmower Battery

This is how it goes for most guys, cutting grass is just another chore thrown at us by our partners. Some of us actually like gardening. The gardeners are the ones who take their lawnmower battery off their machine before the Winter comes and charges the Flat Lawnmower Battery up to make sure it makes it through the winter. In my opinion, if the lawnmower battery is old then it should be changed at the beginning of the new grass growing season and is not worth keeping or charging for long periods. Remember though if you throw away the old battery make sure that you write down the numbers and letters so that you can order the exact same size lawnmower battery the next spring.

Your lawnmower battery should be changed about every two years.

If you are like the first guy and do not like gardening then the easiest thing to do is to throw the old Flat Lawnmower Battery away and buy a new one. Your lawnmower battery can be bought online and e-bay carry a good selection, but it is important to write down the numbers and letters on your old lawnmower battery and get the correct one. You will find plenty of good lawnmower battery care advice websites and all are good quality. Many of the standard types of lawnmower now have key starting with a 12 volt 5 amp Lucas battery fitted. These are miles better than using a pull chord and breaking your neck?

Eric Roberts

Automotive Jobs To Go-Sales ban of petrol, diesel and hybrid cars could start in 2032

16th February 2020/0 Comments/in All Car Manufacturer Articles /by Eric

Automotive Jobs To Go

As the owner of a small garage in Halifax UK then I am disgusted by our Governments decision. So, I am now in my early 70’s and remember the complete devastation of the coal mining! Of course, caused by the Margret Thatcher government. As a long life Conservative supporter then I feel let down already by this decision ?

So at the moment electric cars have to go back to the main dealers with anything to do with the cars giant battery. Going forward, my fear is that this is how it will remain. Car manufacturers dealerships will be the only way that motorists will be able to have there battery serviced. In other words they will be tied down to the place where the car was bought from.

In my opinion this will mean that thousands of small garages, parts companies and indeed petrol stations will have to be shut down! Including thousands of factories making engine parts and Automotive batteries. Of course, because of lack of work due to car electrification.

Government bows down to the “extinction rebellion” lobby

So, also millions of people in the UK will not be able to afford an electric car. Nissan leaf owners are already having problems sourcing affordable replacement batteries. Because of a blog that I did about this then I get many emails asking for help! regarding the whereabouts of a reasonably priced replacement battery. One guy in Leeds was quoted £20,000 by the nissan dealer.

What I cant understand is why car makers were not given enough time to develop greener engines from fossil fuels. Vehicles out now are very green with low emissions. Also I am surprised at our government. Who incidentally claim that they are on the side of hard working small and medium size businesses such as the independent private garage sector. Like the coal miners I fear that we will be all trodden over, by this stupid surge for electric cars.

I would love to hear what other people in the industry think.Importantly, I would also like to know why the World did not come to and end after the catastrophe that was the first and second world wars. The poison gases that were emitted over the period of the wars surely must have brought the world to an end ?

Finally we are going to need millions of charging points all over the country. Also where is all the electricity to come from to charge them all up. The country will be littered with thousands of stranded cars with flat batteries ?

Eric Roberts

The UK’s planned ban on sales of new petrol, diesel and hybrid cars could start as early as 2032, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps has said. The government sparked industry concern after it brought the date forward
Source: Sales ban of petrol, diesel and hybrid cars could start in 2032 – Garagewire

Dunlop Tyres-One the founder and therefore earliest tyre companies and still a great tyre company.

16th February 2020/in All Dunlop Tyres Stuff /by Eric

Dunlop Tyres

It was back in 1888 in Scotland. Thus, when the pneumatic tyres were invented by John Boyd Dunlop. Yet, another great British invention. He was working on his son’s bicycle at the time. Hence,he came up an inflated rubber tube filled with air. Of course,it was fitted around a metal rim for comfort. Hence, the rubber tyre was born.This invention paved the way for the future of the great company we now know as Dunlop tyres.

In 1985 Dunlop were bought by BTR plc and later a Japanese company Sumitomo were given the rights to make tyres under the Dunlop tyres road brand, it then started producing tyres in its UK subsidiary under the Dunlop Tyres Ltd name.

In 1999, the Sumitomo group began talks with Goodyear tyres and Goodyear bought a 75% stake in the company. Sumitomo carried on making Dunlop products in Japan and Goodyear made Dunlop in North America.

Motorsport tyre introduced

In 2006, The new tyre company stopped making tyres here in the UK. Motorsport tyres are still produced out of their Birmingham UK factory, turning out about 300,000 specialist tyres a year.

The old factory can still be seen from the M6 motorway as you travel through Birmingham but it is a shadow of its former self, joining in with the rest of the decline of British manufacturing in the UK, very sad, I have had many visits to the old tyre factory in its former glory days but now the tyre products are produced in China, Poland and Slovenia, not a British product anymore.

Goodyear Dunlop tyres also own two smaller tyre companies,

Fulda and Sava both brands that we used to sell in past and are good quality tyres. Goodyear tyres now operate from offices in Luxembourg and Brussels, who report to the main head office which is still in Akron USA.

Eric Roberts

Absorbed Glass Mat Batteries- Absorbed Glass Mat batteries AGM are now a very popular battery

15th February 2020/in All Battery Information /by Eric

Absorbed Glass Mat Batteries

Many people think that GEL and Absorbed Glass Mat Batteries are the same

Many people buying new golf batteries or mobility batteries. Therefore, believe that the two types of battery are the same. They are very similar.Hence, they are a deep cycle with a low discharge. Because they do not spill they are classed as sealed.Therefore, may be mounted in any position.For this reason, are safe to use in a confined area. Naturally, and may be carried safely.

Absorbed Glass Mat batteries. Are filled with a type of fibreglass material.As expected, that is fitted inside the battery and then soaked with the electrolyte between the batteries plates. Therefore, this makes the battery leak proof.In other words, if the battery casing is broken.Accordingly, then no acid will leak out. This type of battery is also the most popular here in

the UK (in my opinion this is due to the price difference) these are usually much cheaper batteries, in particular with the golfing fraternity.

Absorbed Glass Mat Batteries

GEL batteries have filled a type of silica gel mixed with the electrolyte making a thick jelly that allows the electrons to flow through the plates. Once again as in the other kind, they do not leak when the casing is broken.

One of the most common reasons. Thus, for people using the Absorbed Glass Mat Batteries. Is it can give out a high burst of amps if required to do so. Of course,they can also be charged with a standard battery charger. So, and an alternator if necessary.Also, they have a longer life expectancy.Especially, if these batteries are not fully discharged between discharges. In my opinion, this is a mistake that people make, they fully discharge their batteries too often causing premature failure, I think that people should keep a backup battery as a spare so as to not allow their batteries to become too discharged.

GEL batteries as stated before cost more than Absorbed Glass Mat Batteries

But offer better-working conditions.Especially, in hotter climates. Although, this does not affect us here in the UK. The big problem with gel batteries is that they must be charged correctly. Hence, or failure will follow. If you have a GEL charger then stick to a GEL battery.For this reason, they are designed especially for these types of battery. GEL should not be charged with an alternator. Unless appropriate adjustments are made. Another battery that is starting to appear in the marketplace. Naturally, is the Lithium-Ion battery.So, watch out for this one.
To conclude. We think that Absorbed Glass Mat. Now has the upper hand and unless you only have an own charger on your golf buggy or mobility scooter you would be better off buying AGM.

Eric Roberts

43 Suspension System-Components-Suspension and Parts explained in this Video

15th February 2020/in All Car Repair Articles /by Eric

43 Suspension System-Components-Suspension

This is a simple but effective video. Hence to help our customers understand the parts of their car. Of course, that goes into making the car suspension up. Our main suspension problem, is shock absorbers. Of course we call them shockers for short. Shocker problems, usually come with the cars age. Of course shocker problems are also picked up in the cars annual MOT test. Of course the main problems we get is that the shockers dont work at all. Believe it or not, customers are never aware that the shocks on there car are defunct.

The oil in the shocker piston slowly dissipates or leaks. Hence this is over a number of years. A simple bounce test will show ineffective shocks up. Replacing them is usually very simple. Nuts at the top and bottom are removed and the old shocker comes out. naturally we just do the opposite to fit the new one and the jobs done. More complicated ones include the Mc pherson strut. The shocker is fitted inside the coil spring assembly. Therefore this job is more difficult. So I would leave this job to the professionals.

Basic Principles – Spring Action & Control – Solid Axle – Independent Suspension – Independent Suspension – Rear -Coil Springs – Leaf Springs – Torsion Bars -Rubber Springs -Hydraulic Shock Absorbers – Gas Pressurized Shock Absorbers-
Load-Adjustable Shock Absorbers – Manual Adjustable-Rate Shock Absorbers – Electronic Adjustable-Rate Shock Absorbers -Automatic Adjustable-Rate Shock Absorbers

110 Amp Caravan Battery-Some general caravan battery information for Beginners

14th February 2020/in All Battery Information /by Eric

110 Amp Caravan Battery

110 Amp Caravan Battery-Is there such a thing as a Caravan battery?

To a novice, caravanner wanting to buy their first battery. Therefore, it could be a beginner’s nightmare. There are many different products. hence, that are on the market for your caravan battery. Manufacturers all try to create an individual product. Hence, that makes it easy to choose a new one. Of course, the battery may not be the right one for you.

I am thinking about the type of person that I would class as a leisure caravanner. Who would probably stay in the UK. Thus, for the holiday season. For perhaps their two-week summer break and not a touring around the World holiday. Therefore the owner that uses his caravan. Perhaps, to tootle around the roads and lanes. Probably, only need the same kind of ones used on other recreation vehicles; These are a cross breed. Thus, between a“car starter battery” and a “deep cycle battery”. naturally, Starter batteries are measured in CCA or “cold cranking amps”. But once again it does not mean that leisure caravan batteries are “deep cycle batteries”. Therefore, the way that you can tell would be to cut one in half. I am sure this would not be a very practical thing to do.

110 Amp Caravan Battery

Caravans usually have a single one the (same as a car posts) for example one negative and one positive post, this is to link the battery to your accessories, these will come in different amp sizes the most popular one that we sell at batteriesontheweb.co.uk is the 65 amp/85 amp/100 amp and 110 amp. These come with a three-year guarantee from the dealer and are sealed calcium alloy of the highest quality. These batteries from 65 to 110 amps usually go up according to the caravan size and the amount of appliances in the caravan.

For example, a small caravan could use a 65 amp or an 85 amp, with the bigger caravans going up to 110 amp battery size. Some batteries such as the 100 amp battery fit the VW camper van, but will also be alright for caravanners. Please do not forget that when not in use your battery must be fully charged and tested when not in use, or the battery will fail and will not be covered by your guarantee.

A leisure caravan battery will also double up with the starter battery.

Hope this is not too complicated, in general, buy a caravan battery from a reputable company make sure it is sealed and maintenance free. (check for screw tops) these are not sealed and not suitable.

Eric Roberts

Pellon Tyre and Auto-centre offer car and van servicing and repairs to all makes of vehicles.

Astra 1.6 Engine Problem-Lack of regular servicing the cause of the problem!

14th February 2020/0 Comments/in All Car Servicing /by Eric

Astra 1.6 Engine Problem

So, I must confess this was a ne one to me! Of course my staff give me some out of the ordinary car problems that we encounter from time to time. Knowingly, these car problems are good for our blog. So informing driver about things that could be a future problem with their cars. This particular day last a guy with a Astra 1.6 Engine Problem called into our reception.

As usual we asked him to leave the car with us for a test drive and solution to the problem. So, the car was a Vauxhall Astra 1.6 16 valve VVTi model. Importantly the VVTi stands for “Variable Valve Timing with intelligence” a term that was new to me!

So, the problem with the car was that the engine had become very noisy and was rattling its head off. The guy could not remember when the Astra was last serviced. Tactfully we suggested that he should start with a good service. Ryan examined the car and straight away suspected that the engine parts were getting starved of oil!

Oil filter had totally collapsed

So, on examination we found that the engine oil was in a bad state and commenced to change the oil filter as part of the service. Astoundingly, we found that the oil filter had never probably been changed! Not for a long while in any case. The filter had totally collapsed into itself. Therefore blocking the path of the oil from the sump to the engine parts.

Of course you can see the sate of the old oil filter in the posts image. So, the customer had been very lucky, bringing the car in just in time before the engines cam had seized up. probably requiring a new engine?

Attentively, we carried out the full service, hoping that the problem was solved when we re-started the Astra’s engine. Happily, the car was fixed and the engine was running normally. Although there was no lasting damage the driver was very lucky. Of course this would not have happened with regular car servicing. The oil filter would have been changed at the correct time. So, alleviating the possibility of engine failure and an expensive bill ?

Eric Roberts