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10 Tips on Changing a Tyre

Changing a Flat Tyre

10 Tips on changing a tyre…

You were driving along and enjoying the scenery when you suddenly hear a pop and experience a frightening feeling, causing your car to take on a life of its own and forcing you to a dead stop! You get out and feel like crying when you see that you have a flat tyre; you’ve never had one before and always thought that it only happens to other people, but none the less, there you are, hands in the air and cursing the skies, asking “why me?”

Not to fear, Skankane Transport has ten tips for you that are easy to remember if you ever find yourself in this situation, sit back, relax and simply read on:

1. The last thing you need now is to cause an accident, so make sure your car is not standing in the middle of the road; if you are alone, huffing and puffing to try and push your car to safety is bound to happen but try to get it on a flat surface. If you can’t move your car, you can always just put your emergency reflective triangle about 45 meters behind it and hope that the other drivers will see it in time to swerve and avoid you.

2. Gather yourself and make sure your handbrake is on, as well as your hazards; the constant flickering sound might drive you nuts but it is a legal requirement, so just do it. Try to find a small rock or a biggish stone to put behind the tyre diagonally opposite your flat tyre and take a deep breath – if you’re a female, you’re bound to break a nail in the near future, so it’s time to mentally prepare. You can do this.

3. Now that you’re totally amazed at how an entire tyre was so skillfully hidden in your boot and utterly relieved to find it, you can start loosening the studs on your flat tyre with the tyre iron which was also cleverly hidden; you’ll probably have to jump on the tyre iron just to loosen the studs, but it’s easier that trying to loosen them after jacking up the wheel, as it will just spin around while you get red in the face.

4. Now you have to figure out how the car jack works. Your car’s manual should be able to explain it and tell you where to place the jack so that you don’t break off a part of your car’s framework. Crank it up until it contacts the frame and catch your breath, because the hard part starts now.

5. You will have to put some elbow grease into cranking up the car because the suspension will make it seem like the tyre is never going to lift off of the ground, and remember that the spare tyre will be inflated, so you’ll have to jack the car up high enough to fit the spare. This is where parking your car on a level surface is vital, as you don’t want to roll it off of a cliff if you jack it up when it is already standing on a steep slope.

6. If you spin the flat tyre around and find a nail or random piece of sharp metal that caused it to pop, remove the object and proceed to throw it as far into the fields as possible whilst being highly annoyed. Then you can return to the flat tyre and begin taking out the studs. Turning them counterclockwise will loosen them, just remember; righty tighty – lefty loosey. Put them in your hubcap if you have one or somewhere where they won’t roll away and add to your frustration. Take the flat tyre off and hide it in the spot where you found your spare tyre after what seemed like hours of searching.

7. Put your spare tyre on and use a stud to align the holes, then hold on to the tyre and start tightening all the studs by hand first, then use the tyre iron whilst still holding on the tyre with your other hand. This is necessary to avoid the tyre from spinning, as previously stated, because this can be rather annoying when you’re already dripping with sweat and desperately thirsty.

8. Stay positive – you’re almost done. Lower the jack completely until the tyre is firmly back on the ground; if the tyre is noticeably skew you have a problem and will have to repeat steps 4 – 7, ensuring that the tyre is properly aligned and the studs are equally tight. If the tyre seems fairly straight, you are not a complete idiot and you can proceed to tighten the studs with the tyre iron; you want them to be really tight to avoid losing the wheel while driving.

9. If you have a wheel with 5 studs, the best way of tightening them would be to do it in a star formation; going in a clockwise direction, start with one then skip one and tighten the next, skip another and tighten the next one until all your studs are secure. If you have four studs, this method will result in you tightening the same two studs the whole time, so try changing it up a little, ok.

10. Now that your spare tyre is finally secured to your car, you can throw your tyre iron and jack back into the boot, ring out your shirt of all the sweat and pat yourself on the back – you did it! Get in the car, turn on the music and don’t forget to take your handbrake off before you drive off, slowly, because a spare tyre has a 60km/h limit. Turn the car back around and fetch the emergency triangle which you forgot next to the road. Now you’ll have to find a place that can fix or replace your flat tyre without leaving you broke for the rest of the year.

Luckily, for the average Joe, this experience will only happen once or twice in your lifetime, but when it does, you are now prepared to handle it. Making sure your tyre pressure is always at the recommended level and that your tyre tread is at least 1.6mm all round, you can avoid unnecessarily causing damage that can result in a flat tyre. Share this with all your friends to make sure that they will also be ready to change a tyre like a professional.

10 Tips on Changing a Tyre

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Easter driving tips for South Africans

Easter weekend falls right in the middle of our school holidays and for many families it’s a time to take a family vacation or visit relatives and friends in other provinces. Anyone who has travelled during the Easter season knows that the roads are extremely busy, with heavy motor vehicles being a constant sight.

Many drivers get anxious when they have to deal with heavy traffic, bored kids in the car and concentrating on the road itself for many hours. At Skankane Transport we would like to give you a few tips that can not only help you travel safely this Easter holiday but to also help you to be a better driver.

1. Always obey the rules of the road including the passing of vehicles (pass right keep left) and driving within the e.

2. Make sure that you have your driver’s license with you at all times and that it hasn’t expired. Also make sure your car license is up to date and that it’s not expiring during your holiday. This will help you to avoid getting an unwanted traffic fine for such offenses.

3. Do a vehicle check a few days before you leave for your holiday. Check that all the lights (head, mist, reverse and back lights) are in a working condition. Ensure that your indicators and hazard lights are in working as well. Replace your wind screen wipers if they are older than 6 months. Check your brakes, tires (including your spare tire), steering and exhaust system. Check the oil and water as well.

4. When you pack don’t overload your car, this can cause extra weight and increase your fuel consumption drastically. You should always have a clear view of the back window so that you can see any vehicles driving behind you. Passengers in the back must be able to buckle up so make sure that there are seat belts available.

5. Try not to drive in the dark especially in the early and late evening. Driving in the dark can make you sleepy very quickly even if you think you are awake and alert. It is best to drive during the day from around dawn.

6. If you are the driver make sure you get a good night’s rest the night before you hit the road. Pre-pack the car so that you don’t have to get up too early. A good night’s rest will help you to concentrate for longer.

7. Buckle up! Everyone in the car should buckle up including children. Use baby seats and booster seats for children under the age of 6. Make sure that your buckle clicks when you put it on.

8. For every 200 km or 2 hours of driving take a rest break. Stretch your legs and arms, walk around, go to the rest rooms and have a cold drink. This will help you to stay focused and it is good for both the driver and the passengers.

9. Whatever you do don’t drink alcohol and drive. Don’t use medicine that will make you drowsy and drive either. You are not only putting yourself at risk but you are also putting every road user around you at risk as well.

10. Keep a clear head and plan the road ahead. If you see potentially dangerous drivers and/or pedestrians alongside the roaddrive slower and keep clear of them.

11. If you are driving in the dark make sure you have dipped your head lights down from bright when an oncoming vehicle approaches. Being temporary blinded by bright lights can cause accidents.

12. Always focus on driving safely, don’t become a rage driver. Your mind functions better with one thought at a time than with multiple thoughts while driving.

13. Speed kills. When in an accident the total weight of each person and the vehicle is multiplied by 7. Don’t become a statistic. Respect the speed limits at all times. Driving faster will not make you arrive quicker at your destination but it could cause an accident or high levels of unnecessary stress.

14. Overtaking another vehicle should only be attempted when it is safe to do so. Most highways have 2 to 3 lanes to make overtaking easier. If you are driving on single lanes make sure not to overtake on a solid line, corner or blind raise. Listen to your instincts, if you are in doubt don’t overtake a car. Don’t flash your lightsat a slower car to make them go over onto the shoulder of the road and let you pass as there might be hazards up front.

15. Avoid your cellphone while driving. Texting while driving can cause serious car accidents. If you need to answer your phone rather stop at a safe spot alongside the road, or ask your passenger to answer it for you. Don’t check your emails or social media either.

16. Remember the 3 second following distance rule, this will help you stop in time should the vehicle in front of you suddenly stop. In the dark or in rainy or misty weather make the length longer.

17. Plan your trip ahead by checking on social media for any protest actions, accidents, road closures or road works. Social media accounts like @TRACN4, @ArriveAlive and @N3Route give hourly if not minute by minute updates about what is happening on the roads. Ask your passenger to check for any updates while you are driving.

18. If you are pulled over by a traffic official remain calm and follow his/her instructions. Many road blocks are held over the Easter period to check for any drivers driving under the influence, road worthiness of vehicles and valid licenses.

19. Remember to switch on your head lights during rainy and/or misty weather. Drive slower if your vision is minimal. Remember to watch out for warning signs for any sudden weather changes.

20. If you do have a breakdown next to the road try to pull off the road completely, switch on your hazards and make sure your passengers stay out of the road. Contact your insurance company or reliable towing company if you need help. You can also contact the TRAC or SANRAL toll free numbers to assist you.

We would like to wish our readers, clients and staff a wonderful Easter holiday. Please drive safe if you are travelling and we hope to see you soon.

Easter driving tips for South Africans

Common driving mistakes made by South Africans

Driving on our South African roads can be a frightening experience especially when you see how other drivers constantly put not only their own lives in danger but also those of their passengers and fellow road users. Most of us have forgotten the driving lessons we received when we first got our drivers license while others have the attitude of ‘the rules don’t apply to me’.

But what if we are made aware of the mistakes that we make on the roads on a daily basis? What if we start to teach our children what the different road signs mean and the basic rules of the road? We will create a new generation of better drivers.

Here are the top 6 most common driving mistakes made in South Africa:

Keep left, pass right

It’s such a simple rule yet there are so many that don’t obey to it. The basis is you (the driver) have to stayas far left as you can, to only move onto the right hand side when overtaking another and then returning to the left. If a faster car does happen to come up behind you then the best is to let the faster car through by moving to the left, but only if it’s safe to do so. Don’t drive on the middle line either,aim to rather drive in the middle of the lane which you are in by keeping between the two lines.

Only pass when it’s safe to do so. Trying to pass a slower vehicle or truck on a blind rise, blind corner or double solid line can be dangerous. Most of our national roads and highways are built with passing lanes which can create a safe pass way option for all. Don’t take a chance, rather play it safe.

The use of a traffic circle

How many times have you come to a traffic circle and only to find that at least 2 drivers don’t know how to use it? The traffic circle is not rocket science and it’s truly easy to use and follow. Plan ahead when you arrive at a traffic circle, use the correct lane and indicate your direction.

If you want to drive around the traffic circle in order to go to another street always follow the inside lane. If you want to go straight ahead at the traffic circle then go on the outside lane. The idea of a traffic circle is you shouldn’t come to a complete stop once you are in it. Indicate your directions at all times to let other drivers know where you are going.

The solid line

Many drivers have been using the solid line as a mere decoration on the road. It’s there for reason – your safety on the road. The mistake most of us are guilty of is entering the freeway / highway / roadway by crossing the solid line before it ends, just to jump the queue. All that you are doing is holding up the traffic that has already been waiting patiently while you are backing up the line. Be considerate and be courteous.

The same goes for driving on the highway, do not take over on a solid line. As it’s mentioned above, it’s there for a reason – your safety.

Flashing red light – load shedding

At some point we are all affected by load shedding, even at the busy intersections of our towns and cities. When you see the traffic light is out of order or is flashing red, treat the intersection as a 4 way stop. How it works, just to refresh the memory, is the first vehicle to arrive at the 4-way stop has right of way, don’t cross the intersection following the car in front of you, it’s an offense. If you arrive at the same time as someone else you can either take the initiative and go first or let the other driver go through safely.

If you want to turn at an intersection use your indicators to show the other drivers where you are heading so that you can make a safe pass through the intersection. If a points man (or woman) or traffic official is directing road users at the intersection, always obey their instructions.

Don’t be a tailgater

Arrive Alive states that the reaction time in humans to recognize a potential hazard is 0.75 seconds. It takes another 0.75 seconds to react to that hazard and to brake, the vehicle takes 0.05 seconds to come to a stop. When you are not leaving enough space between you and the vehicle in front of you, you have less time to react quickly and prevent a car accident.

Be patient no matter where you are driving, always apply the two-to-three second rule by watching what the driver ahead of you is doing. If you want to work it out, select a road sign when they pass it and count off 3 seconds.

Cellphone use is a no-no

We have all heard it at least a hundred times over and we will continue to hear it a lot more. Our addiction to be in constant contact with the world has caused us to text and make calls while we are driving. It takes the average person 20 – 30 seconds to send a text message (SMS, Whatsapp, Facebook etc.) while just one second can cost you your life and the lives of those around you.

Some believe that when you are at traffic light you can quickly send a text because you are standing still, however your attention is still diverted from the road and you might put not only your life but that of others in danger by sending the text. You might be texting on your phone and in the mean while the red light turned green, the drivers behind you honk and you suddenly put down the phone and accelerate only to find a pedestrian has stepped off the curve thinking you are giving way to them. The result is a split second devastating chain reaction.

There are wonderful hands free kits available on the market these days that can be easily installed into your vehicle. If you are a person who makes a lot of phone calls it is best to invest in a hands free kit however you still shouldn’t speak too long on the phone. Your concentration is still not 100% on the road. Rather wait for your next rest stop or wait until you reach your destination to reply to all your messages and missed calls.

We are not prefect but if we all concentrate, be patient, be considerate and stick to rules we can all become better drivers.

Common driving mistakes made by South Africans