Know what is on your car before you pay for it.
Practical guides to tyres and car batteries, written for drivers, not mechanics. Start with the code stamped on the side of every tyre.
Read the full breakdown in How to read the numbers on your tyre sidewall.
Tyres
Sizes, age, pressure and what to check before you buy.
- How to Read the Numbers on Your Tyre Sidewall
What 205/55 R16 91V actually tells you, and why it matters before you buy a replacement.
- How to Check How Old a Tyre Is (and When to Replace It)
Tyres age even when they are never driven. Learn to read the date code before you buy or drive on old rubber.
- Correct Tyre Pressure in Hot Weather: What to Do and What to Avoid
Why you should check pressure when tyres are cold, how heat changes readings, and the mistakes that wear tyres out early.
- Signs You Need New Tyres: Tread Depth, Cracks and Bulges
How to check tread depth with a coin, spot dangerous damage and tell when a tyre has reached the end of its life.
- Buying New or Used Tyres: A Safety Checklist
What to inspect before you pay, how to spot hidden damage on second-hand tyres, and when it is worth buying new.
- Tyre Rotation, Balancing and Wheel Alignment: What Each One Does
Three services that sound alike but do different jobs. Learn when you need each and the signs to watch for.
- How to Change a Flat Tyre Safely, Step by Step
A clear, safe routine for swapping in your spare, plus what to check before you drive away.
- Can a Punctured Tyre Be Repaired? Plug, Patch or Replace
Which punctures can be fixed safely, which cannot, and why a quick outside plug is only a temporary measure.
- How Long Do Car Tyres Last? What Really Affects Tyre Life
Typical mileage and age limits, the habits that wear tyres out early, and how to get the most from a set.
- All-Terrain vs Highway Tyres: Which Is Right for Rough Roads?
How the two tread types differ, what you gain and give up with each, and how to choose for mixed tar and gravel driving.
- How to Spot Fake, Refurbished or Old-Stock Tyres and Batteries
Practical checks on labels, date codes, weight and price that help you avoid poor-quality or misrepresented products.
- Nitrogen vs Air in Your Tyres: Is It Worth Paying For?
What nitrogen filling actually does, where it helps, and why checking your tyre pressure matters more than what is inside.
- How to Choose Tyres for an SUV or Pickup
Sizes, load ratings, LT vs passenger tyres and what to check before you buy for a heavier vehicle.
- How to Measure Tyre Tread Depth (and What the Numbers Mean)
A step-by-step guide to checking tread with a gauge or coin, where to measure, and when to replace.
Car batteries
Warning signs, testing at home and choosing a replacement.
- 7 Signs Your Car Battery Is Failing (and How to Test It)
Slow starts, dim lights and clicking noises are warnings. Here is how to tell a dying battery from a bad alternator.
- How to Choose the Right Car Battery for Your Vehicle
Size, capacity, cold-cranking amps, battery type and date code: what to check before you pay.
- How Heat Affects Car Batteries and How to Protect Yours
Why hot climates shorten battery life, and simple habits that help a battery last longer.
- How to Jump-Start a Car Safely, Step by Step
The correct order for connecting jumper cables, what to avoid, and what to do if the car still will not start.
- Why Does My Car Battery Keep Dying? Causes and How to Find Them
If a new battery keeps going flat, the battery may not be the problem. Here is how to track down the real cause.
- How to Keep a Car Battery Healthy When You Are Not Driving
Cars that sit for weeks lose charge and can ruin a battery. Simple steps to prevent a flat battery.
- Car Battery Size Codes Explained (Like 40B19L and 55B24R)
What the letters and numbers on a battery label mean, and how to use them to find a replacement that fits.
- How to Clean Car Battery Terminal Corrosion Safely
What the white and blue crust means, how to remove it with baking soda, and how to stop it coming back.
- How to Test a Car Battery: Multimeter and Battery Analyzer
Test your battery at home with a multimeter, or use a battery analyzer, and learn what the readings mean.
- How to Replace a Car Battery Safely, Step by Step
The right order for disconnecting and reconnecting, how to fit the new battery and what to do with the old one.