Do your bit for the environment – and give your wallet a break.
For every 100kg of weight in your trunk, fuel efficiency decreases up to 6% on a mid-size sedan. A vehicle’s fuel efficiency is also very sensitive to air friction. When you install a roof rack, fuel efficiency may decrease by up to 20%.
Gradual acceleration enhances fuel efficiency. Accelerating about 20km/h through five seconds enhances fuel efficiency by about 11%. Taking your feet off accelerator to slow down will enhance your fuel efficiency by 2%
If you're at a standstill for more than a couple of minutes, turn off the engine or shift the gear into neutral position while waiting. Idle with the engine running consumes more fuel than the car running. Even 15 seconds saves unnecessary fuel consumption
Use heating and air conditioning selectively to reduce the load on the engine. Be sure to switch it off when you’ve achieved the right temperature. Decreasing your usage of the air conditioner when temperatures are above 80 degrees can help you save 10-15 percent of fuel.
Keep tyres properly inflated to the recommended tyre pressure. This alone can reduce the average amount of fuel use by up to 6% in the city, and 4% on the highway. Under-inflated tyres increase rolling resistance and reduce fuel economy; they also wear more rapid.
Use quality tyres that is inherently designed to improve fuel efficiency. Check out for the Gremax and Suntek eco-friendly series.
Find out how to stay in control of your vehicle when driving in bad weather with our advice for driving in snow and driving on ice.
This practical guide will tell you about recommended vehicle accessories for winter and how to prepare your tyres for driving in snow.
Before setting off, always de-ice and scrape your windscreen to make sure that you have a good view of the road.When the temperature starts to fall below 7°C, we recommend using tyres marked with the 3PMSF symbol. You can use winter tyres (sometimes referred to as snow tyres) , or all season tyres from the Gremax or Suntek range.
As the temperature drops, so does your tyre pressure. So in winter, you should adjust your tyre pressure as properly inflated tyres are safer and more fuel efficient.
Driving in the snow can be stressful for drivers who are not used to it. You must stay in control of your vehicle, stay focused on the road at all times and hold the steering wheel with both hands.Don't use cruise control, as it is it not designed for driving on slippery ground and might make you lose control of your vehicle.
Start by reducing your speed and increasing stopping distances. Remember that your braking distance is four times longer in the snow, so keep your distance from the car in front - both uphill and downhill.
Front wheel driveRelease the accelerator and brake gently, approaching each bend as though it were much tighter than it seems, so that the tyres have a better chance of holding their grip when they are turned.When exiting the bend, reducing rpm will make for easier traction.Rear wheel driveWhen the back of the vehicle skids out of line, you have to gently use both the accelerator and the brake, continuing to look in the direction where you want to go and turning in this same direction.
On snowy roads, it is important to gently accelerate, gradually releasing the clutch in order to prevent the front wheels from skidding.4x4 vehicles4 wheel drive vehicles have more effective traction. In 90% of cases, these vehicles can handle hills even with summer tyres. But you can run into problems when driving downhill, as the weight of the vehicle is at the front. So it’s best to use winter tyres for driving in snow, even with a 4x4.
Driving in snow should be approached in different ways depending on whether you’re driving a manual or automatic vehicle. With a manual, use a higher gear to reduce the likelihood of wheel spin. Some automatics come with snow mode, a very useful feature. Look in your vehicle manufacturers handbook for advice on winter driving relating to your vehicle.
In rainy weather, driving conditions can become dangerous pretty quickly.
Fortunately, this can be prevented with a little preparation and smart thinking in the moment.
Make a habit of checking a few critical items before you start to drive
When the forecast calls for rain, it's important to confirm that a car's headlights, brake lights and windshield wipers are clean and functioning properly. Turn your headlights on in the rain to help other drivers see you. Also, replace windshield wipers that leave streaks or don't fully clear the windshield each swipe and fill the washer reservoir bottle with a washer solvent.
Before heading out, check your tyres by looking for proper tyre tread depth and tyre inflation.Optimal Tread depth: For safety reasons, we recommend a minimum tread depth of 3mm for summer tyres. Winter tyres should have a tread depth of at least 4mm. They need to be thicker to handle wet, icy, and snowy conditions. Ensure your vehicle is equipped with the correct winter, summer, or all-season tyres.
Before heading out, check your tyres by looking for proper tyre tread depth and tyre inflation.Tyre inflation: The vehicle manufacturer's recommendations for tyre pressure can be found on a label affixed to the driver's door or door jamb, or in the vehicle owner's manual. Remember that tyre pressure should be checked at least monthly when the tyres are "cold," which means when your car hasn't been driven for three hours or for less than a mile at moderate speed.
Using a rain repellent product on windows and mirrors helps water run off cleanly, improving visibility. Also, it's important to remember to clean the inside of your windows at least once a week.
If you're looking for options to help prepare yourself for driving in the rain, explore our popular all-season tyres.
The dynamics of driving change dramatically when the roads are wet, which means driving habits must change, too.
Dr iving more slowly reduces your risk of losing contact with the road and hydroplaning. Reduce your speed by 10 mph for each degree you increase your windshield wiper speed.
In wet weather, your brakes are not going to respond as quickly as they would in dry conditions. Try to look as far ahead on the road as possible, and slow down by taking your foot off the accelerator – rather than hitting the brakes. Avoid using your brakes unless needed. Braking suddenly on a wet road can cause your car to skid.
Keep your headlights on to increase your visibility and ensure your brake lights are functional. In many states, the use of headlights during rain is required by law. For optimal safety in the rain, turn yours on.
Turn off your cruise control in the rain. You need to be completely in control of your car.
Give other drivers more space. Double the distance between your vehicle and the one in front of you. Stopping distances are increased in wet conditions. This will also help you avoid spray from other (particularly larger) vehicles, which can inhibit visibility, too.
If the downpour or spray from other vehicles is too heavy, just stop driving. When visibility is so low that you can't see the edges of the road or the vehicles in front of you, pull off the road as far as possible, turn on your hazard lights and wait out the storm.
