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Quality Car batteries- And other top tips for driving your CAR in the wet winter conditions

Quality Car batteries; driving the car in winter conditions

One of the most obvious but important parts of winter driving is to prepare  for the bad weather that will be certain to affect us. Every winter we are bombarded by bad weather. So, most of us will get caught out and unprepared for the journey back home from shopping or from work. This happens time and time again. Of course, to many motorists who get caught out in heavy rain. Especially, flooding similar to the weather this week, or a really fast and heavy snow storm. If you check your car out you will eliminate most of the worry of bad road conditions. Feeling, safer and glad that you were prepared.

  • It always pays to have your car checked at independent local garage for a pre winter check.
  • This takes the form of checking your levels for antifreeze. To make sure that it is the correct strength to withstand freezing temperatures. Also your screen wash and oil levels must be checked. The early dark nights also call for your lights checking. How many times do you see a car with only one head on, that looks like a motorbike from a distance ?.
  • The most important things to check are your tyres. I know that I harp on about it, but please buy a set of winter tyres. So, this alone will help you on wet and snow covered winter roads and give you much more confidence when traveling out to work or to the shops. Many more drivers are now switching to winter tyres and are spreading the news to their relations and friends, they really do make a massive difference when driving on roads in winter time.

Check the depth of the water before going through in your car

Other advice now relates to flooding. Flooding has now become a common scene here in the UK. When you approach a flood please take care not take your vehicle  in too deep. Try to avoid the flooded road if possible. Especially, if you must go across the water make sure you stop and check your brakes on the other side. Of course, a minor point is that water could damage your exhaust pipes and catalytic converter a few weeks later. Another part of the car that is neglected in winter is your car battery.

You can easily be caught stranded away from home if your battery lets you down. If your vehicle is over 5 years old it may be better for you to change the battery for a new one before your old battery lets you down. Remember it always happens when you are away from home and will cost you less to replace it , than expensive breakdown charges. if you do have to buy a new battery do make sure that you chose Quality Car batteries. They often come with a better warranty and will last longer

For more reading…

“ Quality Car batteries rarely last longer than five years so you may want to consider replacing your battery for the winter season. If you see any corrosion around the battery’s contact points, clean off with a wire brush to ensure a strong connection”… http://www.which.co.uk/cars/driving/driving-advice/driving-in-snow/prepare-your-car-for-driving-in-snow/

And also…

“Winter has well and truly set in now, with flooding in some parts of the UK and snow and ice forecast. So what can you do to make sure getting from A to B is as safely as possible?”…

Hankook Tyres-launches 4 HP

Sunbeam Rapier Cross Ply-Tyres-Classic car fitted with 590/600×13 TYRES

Sunbeam Rapier Cross Ply-Tyres

Sunbeam Rapier Cross-Ply Tyres-1961 Rapier had 600×13 whitewall tyres

One of the great things about my job. Hence, as MD of Pellon tyres. No two days are the same. Thus, the only unfortunate thing about this is that your time does fly when your having fun.

As expected, the other day I had a motorcycle battery to deliver, (we offer next day delivery). Because it was only a few mile away in Bradford, I decided to deliver the battery myself. I will very often provide batteries in the near by towns in West Yorkshire. We try to give the best service to our customers from our Tyre shop and web-sites.

However, I arrived at the house in Bradford. So the customer was out. Therefore, I hid the battery under a bucket and left a note. Thereupon, on my way back to my van I noticed an old car parked up in next doors drive. I love old cars and often write blogs about them. Hence, this was no exception.

The car was a Sunbeam Rapier. I was over the moon and took a couple of pictures. These cars reminded me of when I was a young mechanic, my friend Richard Ellis worked in Dewsbury at a Rootes garage, and I worked at a BMC garage ( soon to become British Leyland). We always shared stories about the good and bad points on the cars we worked on including the Sunbeam Rapier. I do not remember seen one until the other day in Bradford. I think the owner of he Sunbeam is a member of the Sunbeam Rapier Owners Club.

Sunbeam Rapier Cross Ply-Tyres

The Rapier was an up market version of the Hillman Minx the early ones only having a speed of 85mph. The Rapier was given tail fins and a new style grille for the radiator, with the options of a convertible body making the car look kool. As far as I can remember they originally came out on cross ply tyres in the sizes 590×13 and then 600×13 tyres but I stand corrected if you know better.

In 1961 the convertible came out and was a very sound car, it had whitewall tyres

and was fitted with a walnut dash with two tone paint, making the car look unique. The Rapier was out at the same time as the Vauxhall Cresta and the Ford Zodiac all iconic cars of the time.

Lastly, I hope this blog brings back some memories as it did to me. A story from a motorbike battery delivery sunbeam with 590/600×13 tyres