One of the biggest risks to motorists is driving on old or expired tyres.
Similar to most things in life, tyres become less effective the older they become, even if your car is parked for a long your tyres haven’t run for a long while.
Being exposed to the elements can cause the rubber and other critical components in your tyres to degrade; cracks can form and the steel belts inside your tyre can gradually begin to separate.
Most tyre manufacturers recommend that you replace your tyres after 10 years, regardless of their appearance.
Nitrogen gas is an alternative to compressed air but did you know that it’s good for your tyres too?
Many motorists use air in their tyres but very few seem to know about the benefits of using nitrogen instead. Since converting to nitrogen many years ago I can confidently attest to the numerous benefits of using it instead of air.
Before getting into an overview of the benefits of using nitrogen in your tyres, let’s first discuss what nitrogen is.
What is nitrogen?
The air we inhale comprises approximately 21% oxygen and 79% nitrogen. In its purest form, nitrogen is simply dry air that is completely devoid of oxygen. Nitrogen is:
Non-combustible
Non-corrosive
Non-flammable
Environmentally friendly
Unlike air, nitrogen does not oxidize (or weaken) the rubber of the tyre.
Of all known gasses, nitrogen has the biggest molecules which means it seeps through tyres much slower than air. As a result, it takes longer for a tyre pumped with nitrogen to lose pressure than one filled with air.
Image credit: Arrive Alive
The benefits of using nitrogen:
As mentioned I am a firm believer in using nitrogen for the following reasons.
Tyres run cooler because nitrogen does not hold heat, which drastically reduces instances of having a burst tyre.
Cooler tyres also mean better handling on the road, here’s why: When tyres heat up, their inflation pressure increases, resulting in a smaller tyre footprint (the area in contact with the road). The smaller the tyre’s footprint, the less grip, so the cooler the tyre the better it grips
Nitrogen reduces tyre pressure variation normally caused by fluctuating temperatures.
Due to its molecular structure, nitrogen escapes through the tyre’s inner liner at a slower rate than air, meaning the pressure in your tyres will hold for longer.
Nitrogen does not contain moisture, meaning a notable reduction in corrosion to the rubber of the tyres.
Image credit: Planet F1
With the above in mind, I am sure you’ll agree that using nitrogen in your tyres is a good idea. As a result of the above-mentioned benefits, tyre manufacturers agree that nitrogen can improve a tyre’s lifespan by up to 20%.
While I’m not an expert, I am further encouraged by the fact that Formula 1 race car drivers use nitrogen in their tyres, and if it’s good enough for Sir Lewis Carl Davidson Hamilton, it’s good enough for me!
The Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) welcomes the recent destruction of non-conforming automotive friction materials.
The Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) welcomes the recent destruction of non-conforming automotive friction materials at the National Regulator for Compulsory Specifications (NRCS) in Midrand.
Vishal Premlall, national director of the South African Petroleum Retailers Association (SAPRA), a proud association of the Retail Motor Industry Organisation (RMI) and Regulatory Compliance Manager at the RMI, was a guest at the event at which about R80-million worth of illicit products were destroyed.
Vishal Premlall (National Director of the South African Petroleum Retailers’ Association and Regulatory Compliance Manager at the Retail Motor Industry Organisation) and Acting CEO and Head of Automotive at the NRCS Duncan Motengwa.
Products were classified into four main categories: automotive, electronic, chemical, and legal metrology.
The automotive products destroyed included brake pads, brake shoes, headlamps, globes, foam tyre cleaners, and infant car seats. At the destruction event, Phambili Services coordinated the destruction processes, which included crushing with a baler, hammering, cutting, chemical processing, dumping into landfill sites, and, where possible, recycling.
Only 10% of the products were destroyed that day, with the balance to be destroyed over a period of three weeks.
“We are pleased to see progress and for the first time in many years; a public display of non-conforming product destruction. Now we need a database of the conforming products as a starting reference for the consumer because the continued trade in inferior products impacts the safety of road users,” he said.
Confiscated headlamp globes being crushed by a bailer
Premlall explained that the collaboration between the RMI and the Automotive Friction Material Industry to regulate brake friction materials has existed over an extended period, but had often been hampered with frustrating results for the parties involved.
The project seemed to lack momentum by the regulatory and compliance bodies despite the fact that the growth of brands of friction material over the past two decades has been exponential.
Most concerning, Premlall says, is there has been no means to confirm the quality and validity of these products in the local marketplace.
“The illegal trade is evolving daily. Careful tracking is essential. Accordingly, the RMI will partner efforts with all relevant stakeholders to bring guilty perpetrators to account,” he says.
Confiscated brake pads, shoes, and linings to be destroyed
To further this agenda, the RMI will take steps to ensure that products entering the automotive market are safe and are of acceptable manufacturing standards.
“RMI member workshops pride themselves in only dealing with reputable parts suppliers with trusted products that meet the regulatory standards. We must stand together to rid the industry of unscrupulous traders,” Premlall concludes.
The NRCS is an agency of the Department of Trade, Industry, and Competition and was established on 1 September 2008.
Exactly how far is an electric car able to travel on a single charge in real-world South African conditions at a steady 120 km/h?
A new benchmark evaluation answers this very question, putting three locally available electric vehicles (EVs) – the Jaguar I-Pace, BMW i3s and MINI Cooper SE – to the test in a first-of-its-kind, simulated open-road range assessment.
This inaugural test which took place at the Gerotek High Speed Oval in November 2021, sets a national benchmark for each of the three battery-powered variants. It lays down a historical reference point to look back on and allows consumers to evaluate battery performance advancements as more EVs are added to the local market each year.
While the maximum claimed range of any given EV is well advertised, the new test provides an indication of just how far consumers would be able to go on a single charge if they were driving non-stop at the national speed limit on a characteristically hot day in South Africa.
Whereas the Worldwide Harmonised Light Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) cycle that automakers use to calculate advertised range includes a combination of urban, suburban, rural and highway driving scenarios, as well as prescribed acceleration phases and a set number of stops, the Annual South African Electric Car Test, which was charged by AutoTrader, concentrates solely on open-road driving.
It thus removes regenerative braking – a recovery system that redirects what would otherwise be lost kinetic energy back into the battery during deceleration, boosting overall range and rendering EVs especially well-suited to stop-start city driving – entirely from the equation.
Considering it has the greatest net battery capacity at 84.7 kWh (this is effectively the usable portion of the standard 90 kWh pack) and a claimed upper-end range of 470 km, it’s little surprise the Jaguar I-Pace achieved the most impressive distance on the day, circling the Gerotek High Speed Oval in Gauteng for a total of 277 km, 311 m at a true average speed of 119.9 km/h.
This sort of range could be equated to driving from Johannesburg to Pretoria and back twice, with plenty of mileage to spare.
According to PlugShare, there are as many as 71 charging points within a 3.2 km radius between these two points, illustrating the fact that South Africa’s larger metropolitan areas are better stocked with charging options than many might believe.
The BMW i3s e-drive REx (the test was conducted with this derivative’s range-extender fuel tank emptied) finished on 168 km, 527 m, with its GPS-verified average speed settling on 120.02 km/h, while the MINI Cooper SE was just behind on 147 km, 730 m at a true average speed of 119 km/h.
With net battery capacities of 37.9 kWh and 28.9 kWh and advertised ranges of 285 km and 215 km respectively, these two new-energy hatchbacks are designed to excel at city driving rather than out on the open road, so their final results are by no means underwhelming, particularly when one considers the average daily commute for South African car drivers is a mere 22 km one way.
The three sub-R2.5 million EVs available to purchase in South Africa at the time of the inaugural open-road simulation were driven in their respective eco modes – Eco for the I-Pace, Eco Pro in the case of the i3s and Green for the Cooper SE – from a fully charged state, with each one’s air-conditioning system set at 21°C on auto (the ambient temperature at the track on the day was recorded as 28°C).
“While we believe it’s important to set an official benchmark in South African conditions rather than relying on typically cooler European testing scenarios, our broader aim is simply to educate local consumers.
Range anxiety is a hurdle many potential buyers face and this test will help them form a better understanding of the variations in range when it comes to EVs,” explains AutoTrader’s CEO, George Mienie.
“Owing to our familiarity with traditional petrol- and diesel-powered vehicles, we’re used to equating stop-start city driving with high fuel consumption, and highway cruising with better economy, but the opposite proves true for electric cars. This is the sort of interesting information the test highlights, helping inform consumers as EVs become more widespread in our market,” concludes Mienie.
Strong windy conditions create dangerous driving conditions, particularly if accompanied by hail or rain.
To help keep you safe, we have created a list of tips to help keep you safe should you find yourself driving in windy conditions.
Always check the weather forecast before embarking on a long trip as they may issue a warning relating to high winds or stormy conditions along your journey.
Keep your windows closed as drag can hamper your progress while allowing debris, dust, and other objects into the vehicle as these will affect safety and visibility.
Reduce your speed and be alert as you may need to stop unexpectedly.
Keep an eye out for uprooted trees/branches, and debris that may have been blown onto the road.
Keep an eye out for people, cyclists, motorcyclists, and children who may be hurriedly seeking shelter.
Be prepared for people and animals who cannot hear your horn in these types of conditions.
If you are carrying cargo, make sure it is securely tied down.
Keep your distance to allow other motorists the time and space to avoid obstacles on the road.
Turn on your headlights to intensify your visibility as well as to increase the chances of other motorists seeing you.
Heavy wind can make it difficult to handle and steer a vehicle, so it is a good idea to keep your hands on the wheel at all times.
Be aware of large cargo vehicles, buses, and vehicle towing trailers as there are vulnerable to losing control or tipping over in high winds.
Remember that the best safety feature at your disposal is your own sense of safety. If you don’t feel confident driving in windy conditions, pull over as soon as you can and wait for the wind to die down.
Accidents in the driveway are more common than you might think; but when you consider how easily and quickly they can happen, you’ll understand how dangerous they can be.
Picture this: You are leaving home and have kissed your little one goodbye. You head off to your car, settle in, start the ignition, pop the transmission into reverse and slowly start to back out when you hear a thud. Perplexed, you get out to check and are greeted by the horrifying sight of your little one’s body, lying halfway under your car.
Image credit: Lundy Law
These types of accidents can happen to anyone especially because toddlers are by nature incredibly fast and can dart from the house to behind your car surprisingly quickly
Those driving distracted, under the influence, or whose vehicles are not fitted with rear park sensors or reverse cameras are easily vulnerable to these types of accidents. Of course, similar mishaps can take place along the roads within residential complexes, shopping mall parking areas, and even fuel service stations. The key is to be alert and to drive slowly whenever you are in the vicinity of small children.
Government needs to find a definitive solution to the ever-increasing fuel costs; and they need to do so quickly.
The Automobile Association (AA), says Government must act quickly to find ways to mitigate against rising fuel costs which are negatively impacting on all consumers in the country. One way to do this is through a review of the current fuel pricing model.
“Our economy is closely linked to the fuel price; it is a major input cost in the manufacturing, retailing and agricultural sectors. We have noted before that a review of the current structure of the fuel price, as well as an audit of all the elements which comprise the fuel price, should be done sooner rather than later. We therefore call on the Minister of Finance to initiate such a review during his Budget Speech on 23 February,” says the AA.
In addition, the Association again urges the Minister not to increase the fuel levies which are part of the fuel price.
“We know all too well of the economic challenges facing the country, and of the importance of the revenue raised through the two main levies. We are also aware that, as was the case last year, delivering a Budget in the current economic environment is tricky and difficult and that the pressure to ease government’s financial burden is immense. However, increasing the levels of the General Fuel and Road Accident levies will be counter-productive as this will impact mostly on the poorest of the poor,” says the Association.
The General Fuel Levy is currently pegged at R3.93 per litre (up from R3.77 in 2021) and the RAF levy at R2.18 per litres (up from R2.07 in 2021). Combined they add R6.11 to every litre of petrol and diesel sold in the country. Any adjustments announced by the Minister in the February Budget Speech are implemented annually in April.
Neighbouring countries who buy fuel directly from South Africa do not add these taxes to their fuel pricing, making their fuels cheaper than it is in the country which supplies them.
2021 saw fuel prices reach record levels and they are again touching those levels despite a decrease to fuel prices in January. The Association says any adjustments to the collection rates of these levies will have severe consequences for consumers and they should not be altered.
“Our country faces enormous and complex economic challenges. High fuel prices are adding to these challenges and instead of accepting the current model, we must seek solutions that benefit consumers, not place them in more financial distress. One immediate solution for us, for instance, is to review the funding of the poorly managed Road Accident Fund (RAF). Our reliance on the RAF is a direct result of South Africa’s poor road safety and that’s where more attention needs to be given for a long-term solution,” urges the AA.
Source: The Automobile Association of South Africa
We receive a lot of queries via email and social media from readers enquiring about various aspects of motoring. Rather than answer each individually, we have decided to share the queries here as there may be other readers faced with similar car problems.
Palesa Mokoena* of Diepkloof, Soweto sent us this query….
When driving on the highway, I have noticed that some cars have at least one tyre that bounces up and down like a tennis ball. It looks scary and dangerous but I wonder what causes this and how I can make sure I don’t have a bouncy tyre too!
Palesa Mokoena
Let’s start off by saying that the only contact you have with the road’s surface is a small patch of rubber which is about the size of the palm of your hand. That patch of rubber, multiplied by 4 to represent the number of tyres your car has, is all that keeps your car on the ground. If one tyre constantly bounces, then the driver of that vehicle only has 3 ‘palms of rubber’ in touch with the ground.
Based on Palesa’s description, we believe that that a bouncing tyre presents an extremely dangerous situation and here’s why.
Main cause of bouncing tyre: Worn or broken shock absorbers
The most likely cause of the bouncing tyre are worn or broken shock absorbers. Next to your braking system, the shock absorbers are probably the next most important safety item on a car. Not only do shock absorbers serve to ensure a smooth and comfortable ride, but they also control the movement of the suspension of a car, allowing you to effectively control the vehicle.
When one or more tyres are not in constant contact with the road, your ability to control the vehicle becomes critically compromised, particularly when you attempt to steer or brake.
Shock absorbers which need to be replaced can result in the following:
Loss of traction – which increases stopping distance and negatively affects control and acceleration.
Tyre cupping / Uneven tyre wear and tear – which shortens the life and performance of the tyres and can also increase road noise.
Body roll (side-to-side movement) – which negatively impacts the car’s handling and your ability to control it optimally.
Bottoming out when going over bumps – which results in the premature wear and tear of the car’s suspension components.
Nosediving (the bonnet of the car dips upon deceleration) – which results in premature front-brake wear.
Acceleration squat (the rear of the vehicle drops upon acceleration) – which adversely affects traction, vehicle handling and control.
Source: Gabriel
If you suspect that your tyres may be bouncy, then we suggest you have your suspension system checked as soon as possible.
Alternatively, you can occasionally ask someone to watch each of them as you drive. Just make sure you are on a fairly straight road with very little traffic on it – to be on the safe side.
Even though rims are generally sturdy, they aren’t immune to getting damaged and can result in blow-outs.
There is a joke which says that if you drive in a straight line on any road in South Africa, chances are you are intoxicated; whereas if you drive haphazardly are you are most likely to be sober. Why? Well, when you zig-zag across the road the assumption is that you are avoiding potholes.
Cracked rims are just as much of a threat to your safety and the overall performance of your car as any other component of your vehicle. Sometimes, it is quite easy to spot a crack on the rim but at other times, the crack can be quite fine, making it difficult to spot.
Either way, most motorists may be unaware that there is a problem, hence it is important to regularly check the integrity of your vehicle every other day and even more so before going on a long-distance drive.
Image credit: carcomplaints.com
Common causes of rim damage
It may not always be possible to avoid damaging a rim but to avoid costly repairs, here are a few things you might want to steer (pun intended) clear of.
Hitting a pothole
Potholes are the bane of our lives. They vary in width and depth and should always be approached cautiously particularly because they are a serious threat to the longevity of a car’s tyres and rims.
A lethal combination of the speed of a car, coupled with the depth, width and sharpness of the edge of a pothole has been known to rip a tyre right off its rim; shredding it almost instantly on point of contact.
At other times, the damage is not as visible to the naked eye but can reveal itself over time.
2. Driving on a flat or poorly inflated tyre
A properly inflated tyre can absorb impact from bumps and other anomalies on the road. However, a tyre that has low pressure will not absorb any impact from any irregularities on the road’s surface. Instead, the force of such impact will hit the rim directly thereby causing damage such as cracks or dings.
3. Driving over a curb
On roads such as ours which are, in some instances, devoid of even the faintest remnants of paint, one can occasionally drive over an unmarked curb or similar hard shoulder. This is more prevalent when driving on unfamiliar or poorly lit roads.
How can I tell if my rim is damaged?
A visual inspection of your tyres and rim is one way to check the health of your wheels.
Another is noticing a continuous vibration through the steering wheel or an unfamiliar sound emanating from the direction of the affected wheel.
Lastly, when you notice that your tyres can no longer retain pressure for long, forcing you to pump them more often than normal, chances are there is a problem with your wheels.
Is it safe to drive with a cracked rim?
My quick and short answer is no.
No matter how small or fine the crack might be, it would be best to have the rim replaced as soon as possible. Cracks on your rim are a hazard and can jeopardize your safety and that of other motorists around you.
The smallest crack could either grow over time or widen exponentially at the slight of impacts. In either scenario, where there is a crack on your rim there is a very real possibility that the air from our tyres could escape abruptly and without warning. Should this happen, even the most skilled drivers would have a hard time controlling the vehicle.
If you suspect that you have a cracked or bent rim, it is best to have it attended to immediately. Remember that your rim holds your car’s tyres and that the only contact you have with the road is about the size of the palm of your hand.
Should there be an abnormality on your rim, then suffice it to say there will be an abnormality with your tyres, causing a ripple effect which could result in a tyre blow-out, serious injury, expensive damage to your vehicle and at worst – death.
It’s better to be safe – and out of pocket due to having replaced a rim – than injured or sorry.
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