Car 6

A survey carried out by German tyre manufacturer Continental of some 100 UK-registered vehicles on car dealer forecourts in Dublin showed that more than 75 per cent of them were fitted with budget tyres, in particular, cheap Chinese brands, writes Trish Whelan . For Road Safety Week (taking place this week from October 7-11), Continental Tyres is also urging Irish motorists to get into the tyre safety habit of regular checks.   According to Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres Ireland (pictured): “Lower cost is what is driving the growing number of second-hand imports into Ireland and it is clear that, in an effort to keep the price as low as possible, the majority of car dealers are opting to fit the cheapest tyres on these vehicles.” He said independent tests by safety authorities in several countries have shown that so-called budget tyres do not have anything like the same performance and safety attributes as premium tyres. “This is particularly true when ...

For families planning a ‘staycation’ or venturing further afield on holiday with their car, Continental Tyres advises a number of easy checks to ensure a trouble-free trip, writes Trish Whelan .   Continental is advising that some simple car checks before heading off could save a lot of trouble. Here are five simple vehicle safety checks that any driver can do to their car to help eep families safe during the annual migration. Give the car’s interior a clean: Most motorists aren’t particularly careful about keeping their cars very clean - inside or out. A recent Continental Tyres survey of 2,000 motorists showed that one in five claimed to tidy the inside of their car just once a year, generally before an NCT or garage visit. It’s important to have the cabin area of the car clear of the usual clutter that can accumulate; an empty can, bottle or other piece of rubbish rolling under the brake pedal while driving could have very serious consequences. Check the ...