Jason Nicolls represented Tyre Team for this exciting weekend.

Competitors start the race at Alice Springs on Saturday morning and race along the desert tack to Finke. They then camp out and fix vechiles over night then on Sudnay morning travel the same trip back. What would normally take the average 4wder 6 hours to navigate, these buggies, atv and motor bikes did the 200klm trip in 2 hours.

It was fast, dirty and exciting. Check out the offical website at www.finkedesertrace.com.au.

Thank you to Mickey Thompson Tires for their valued support.

For the right adivce on all Mickey Thompson Tires checkout Tyre Team at www.tyreteam.com.au or call 1300 558 559 for your nearest store.

Tyre pressure
Car tyres should not be over-inflated or deflated. Too much pressure can reduce the traction, while low pressure increases the fuel consumption. Ensuring the correct pressure in the car tyres will improve fuel efficiency and also a longer run for the tyres.

Insufficient Tyre Tread Depth
Tyres should have minimum 5mm tread depth; any change in this can cause the car to go out of balance. The vibrations felt through the steering wheel, the seat or the car floor is caused because of insufficient tyre tread depth.

Brake failure
The screeching sound of the brake should be a major cause of concern. A cars brake systems comprises of several components such as drums, brake pad, calipers etc and any one of them could be the cause for faulty brakes. Another reason for an unresponsive, wobbly and slow brake could be, low brake fluid in its reservoir.

Nonfunctional Air Conditioning
Absence of refrigerant in the system is the most common cause of a nonfunctional air conditioner. It can leak or seep out of the compressor, O-ring seal or the pinhole in the condenser or evaporator. Compressor failures also result in the loss of lubrication.

Clogged Air Filter
Air flow through the engine is essential to ensure engine and fuel efficiency. Air filters must be cleaned, maintained and replaced regularly.

Smoke in Exhaust
Smoke coming out of the exhaust, especially black or gray, is a signal of your car not functioning properly. Your engine could be burning oil, coolant or the fuel injector could be leaky. Repairs will have to be done, depending on the cause of the smoke.

Oil Pressure
Generally oil pressure warning light turns on, when oil pressure drops below the minimum desired level. Low levels may lead to overheating, leading to loss of lubrication and engine damage like broken connecting rods, damaged crankshaft journals, etc.

Constant Fused Bulbs
This is caused due to the high setting of the alternator voltage and should be checked immediately as the battery could give off explosive hydrogen gas when the car overcharges.

Worn-Out Windshield Wiper Blades
Damaged or chipped wiper blades can lead to accidents, as they damage and reduce the visibility of you car screen. They should be checked and replaced regularly.

Car Battery
The car’s battery can run down for a number reasons, namely,

• The battery is not recharging while the car is being driven.
• The lights or some other power-pulling accessory is left switched on.
• The battery is old and needs to be replaced.

Preventive care of the car can go a long way in its efficiency. One can keep track of its servicing, maintenance, and replacement requirements through the owners manual. Most importantly, always have your car serviced by a qualified and authorized mechanic.

• The jack in your car is there
• There is a properly inflated spare tyre
• You have a lug wrench that fits your wheel
• Lug bolts

Down to the basics
After you have parked your car safely, put a couple of bricks or stones beneath the tyres to make sure that it does not roll down. Bring your jack, spare wheel and lug wrench to the work area. Loosen the nuts without having jacked up the car, to prevent the wheel spin on you. Turn counterclockwise to loosen the nut until it comes off. Next jack up the car. Remove the old wheel now. After having taken out the lug nuts, pull the wheel with your weight forward to prevent from falling backward. Adjust well the spare wheel in the threaded shafts so that they fit. Then tighten the nuts in the proper order. Lower the jack so that the tyre rests on the ground. Replace the hubcap or the plate.
Voila! You are ready to drive again.