Modern Tyres acquires BestDrive

Continental Tyres have announced the signing of an agreement for the acquisition of BestDrive Ireland, a leading Irish tyre specialist and vehicle maintenance company, by Modern Tyres, writes Brian Byrne.

Modern Tyres, a family-owned business with more than 60 years of experience, operates an extensive network in the Republic of Ireland. The acquisition of BestDrive Ireland significantly expands its reach across the country, offering customers a wider footprint and even more choice in products and services.

BestDrive Ireland has been part of Continental Tyres for over three decades and is one of Ireland’s most respected aftermarket automotive networks with a reputation for quality, reliability and customer trust.

Concern about vans tyre test failures

More than 50,000 vans and commercial vehicles failed the Commercial Vehicle Roadworthiness Tests (CVRT) last year because issues with wheels and tyres, writes Brian Byrne. According to the RSA, that category is consistently in the top five reasons for failure of the test.

Compared to the other areas of most failure — suspension, mechanical and operating condition, and chassis — the tyres issue is the easiest to get right, according to Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres Ireland. "If in any doubt about the tyres on a van, get them checked out by a tyre dealer who will be able to quickly diagnose any issues," he says. "Most good tyre dealers will carry out a tyre check for free.”

He also noted that the risk posed by a fully laden van in the case of a tyre failure is greater compared to a much lighter car. "The extra weight of a commercial vehicle means it will travel a good distance further before it can come to a safe stop.” 

A tyre check that focuses on key elements, such as tread depth, pressure, and signs of bumps or uneven wear can be carried out in a matter of minutes. 

Increase in NCT failures due to faulty tyres

Eighty-five thousand cars failed their NCT in 2024 because of defective tyres, writes Brian Byrne. That was one in ten of the 856,000 cars that wee failed during the year.

The biggest reason for failure was faults in the steering and suspension, at 14.9pc of the total. Lighting and Electrical came next (14.1pc), followed by the 'side slip test' which measures how a car can maintain a straight line when driven without the steering wheel (12.2pc).

Tom Dennigan, head of premium German tyre manufacturer, Continental Tyres Ireland, commended the NCT service for excellent work to help keep dangerous cars off the road. "However, it is hard not to be alarmed at that growth in test failures that are attributed to defective tyres, an increase of 10,000 from last year," he said.  Tyres are the easiest element of the test to get right — a driver can easily check and see if a car’s tyres are fit for purpose."

He added that many local tyre services will provide a car owner with a free professional check of their tyres. 

Neglected tyres can invalidate insurance

Motorists who don't make sure their tyres are fit for safe use could have their insurance policy invalidated, writes Brian Byrne. The stark warning was given to mark Tyre Safety Day on 7 October.

Premium tyre manufacturer Continental, highlighting policy clauses that requires insured drivers to maintain their vehicle in a roadworthy condition at all times, says that if the roadworthiness of a car is deemed to contribute to a road accident, an insurance company can claim that a failure to properly keep up maintenance renders the policy invalid.

Tyres have such an important effect on the overall roadworthiness of a vehicle that drivers should regularly check them, according to head of Continental Tyres Ireland Tom Dennigan. Reinforcing the message, motor engineer and independent insurance assessor David Geary says faulty brakes and worn and defective tyres are generally the most common technical elements cited as key contributory factors in collisions. "The onus is very much on drivers to keep their cars in a roadworthy condition," he says.

Safety organisations and many tyre manufacturers recommend that motorists should think of changing their tyres when the tread depth goes below 3mm as the tyre’s braking ability can be seriously compromised the closer it gets to the legal limit of 1.6mm.

'Vantastic Family' new camper shod by Continental

A 'home on wheels' converted by an Irish family who enjoy camper van holidays is now shod with appropriate Continental tyres, thanks to a hookup with Continental Tyres Ireland, writes Brian Byrne.

The Keenaghans are parents Lisa and Oliver and their children Chloe (9), Charlotte (6), and Frankie (5), who share their 'van life' adventured as the 'Vantastic Family' on social media to a wide audience of fellow enthusiasts ... and those who wish to emulate them.

Their latest camper was converted by themselves from a secondhand VW Crafter van bought in February. Named 'Mack', it replaced their previous converted Renault camper van, in which they have travelled all around Ireland and many parts of Europe. It took them just three months to convert the Crafter, designing it and doing the work as a family.

Continental Tyres Ireland have provided their their luxury home away from home with a set of Vanco Contact All Season tyres, specially developed to provide the best performance on wet or dry roads in a temperate climate where rain is never too far away. "We are delighted to partner with them to ensure Mack is well prepared for clocking up the kilometres," says Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres Ireland. 

Call for better enforcement on dangerous tyres

A call for full enforcement of penalty points for dangerous tyres has been made by the boss of Continental Tyres Ireland, Tom Dennigan, writes Brian Byrne. He says the current level of enforcement in this area is way below that for other offences.

"Has any motorist in Ireland ever seen a roadside Garda checkpoint assessing the state of tyres on vehicles?" he asks. "A cursory look at the penalty point offences statistics will show that while many of the offences have been attributed to thousands or hundreds of thousands of licence holders, in particular, for speeding or mobile phone use, those for tyre related penalty points are barely in the hundreds.”

Dennigan commends the introduction of various tyre safety regulations over the last ten years. These have included the tyre-related penalty points in 2016, and more recently the National Car Test (NCT) dangerous fault classification targeting any vehicle that is presented with dangerously worn or defective tyres. But he says surveys at tyre depots across the country have shown that in some cases, cars on extremely worn and dangerously defective tyres made up more than 50 percent of customers pulling in to have their tyres checked or replaced. 

“Seeing with my own eyes the state of tyres on cars that five minutes earlier were on roads and motorways across the country, I have no doubt that damaged or dangerously worn tyres are a key factor in many road traffic collisions on Irish roads," he says.

Dennigan is also calling on motorists in Ireland to get more proactive about looking after their tyres, their vehicle’s only contact with the road. "Like any piece of high tech equipment, they are subject to wear and tear and need to be replaced when they become damaged or overly worn. A very high number of motorists in Ireland do not give their tyres a second thought."

A tyre check can be carried out in a matter of minutes: make sure the tyre is inflated to the correct level, then examine for any cuts or abrasions and finally check the tread depth. If the tyre is any way badly worn or in poor condition, get along to your local tyre dealer to have them properly checked. 

Tyres and wheels figure strongly in NCT test failures

Problems with tyres or wheels were contributory reasons for 75,000 failures in the National Car Test in 2023, or 10pc of the total fails, writes Brian Byrne.

The total number of fails last year numbered 747,820, with main reasons for failure amongst the 1.5 million cars tested being steering and suspension, lighting and electrical, the ‘side slip test’ which measures how a car can maintain a straight line when driven without steering wheel input, and tyres and wheels.

Tyre conditions are the easiest for a car owner to check says Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres Ireland, as regular visual inspections can show excessive wear, cuts, and bulges due to carcass failure.

Figures from NCT show that the three main categories for tyres-related failures are tread depth below the legal 1.6mm limit, dangerous level of damage to a tyre, and mis-matched tyres on the same axle. 

Irish motorists 'neglect tyre care'

A worrying level of neglect for tyre care in Ireland has been revealed in a survey carried out for premium tyre manufacturer Continental Tyres, writes Brian Byrne.

Carried out in advance of Tyre Safety Day (Monday October 2) and Road Safety Week in Ireland (Oct 2-8), the survey results suggest 29pc of car owners only check their tyres at intervals of between six months and a year. A smaller percentage, around 6pc, admitted to never checking their tyres.

Motorists are recommended to carry out a quick check of their tyres at least every week or so and a more detailed check at least once a month.

On every car, as tyres rack up the kilometres, the tread depth reduces.  Once it gets below 3mm, the performance and stopping ability of the tyre is seriously impacted. The legal tread depth limit is 1.6mm. Below that the owner is liable for up to four penalty points and a fine of €80.

According to Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres in Ireland, driving on tyres close to the legal limit is 'playing Russian roulette', as a car on the tread limit can take double the distance to stop in an emergency — equivalent to eight car lengths more. "In many cases that extra distance could be the difference between life and death,” he says. 

Warning to motorists on tyre deflation attacks

Motorists whose tyres have been targeted by so-called 'tyre extinguisher' activists are being strongly advised not to drive their vehicles until the tyres are checked, writes Brian Byrne. Continental Tyres say that the method used of deflating the tyres means that the attack may not be immediately noticeable.

Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres Ireland says the first sign for a motorist that something is amiss will be a warning light on the vehicle’s Tyre Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) — which has been mandatory on new cars sold in Europe since 2014.

"Depending on the level of deflation, you risk damaging the tyre to the point where it may need to be replaced," he says. "The best approach would be to seek help from a breakdown service or mobile tyre repair unit who will be able to re-inflate the tyre to the proper tyre pressure level."  Alternatively, if the motorist can change the tyre by putting on a spare or ‘skinny’ temporary replacement wheel, they should do that and then take the original tyre to a garage and have it inflated again to the correct pressure level. 

Mr Dennigan warns that apart from potential damage to the tyres by driving them under-inflated, there are safety consequences for braking and stopping distance and overall manoeuvrability. He also noted that driving on under-inflated tyres is a penalty points offence.

New tyre from Continental 'ideal for mild Irish climate'

A new all-season tyre from Continental will be available here from July, writes Brian Byrne.

The Continental AllSeasonContact 2 represents an ideal tyre for Irish conditions, which can range through sun, drizzle, heavy rain and back to sun ... all in one summer's day.

And in winter, as Ireland's climate is less severe than in many of our neighbours on the continent, the AllSeasonContact 2 is still amply capable for safe and anxiety-free motoring for all kinds of cars, but especially those in constant use for ferrying families about their various interests and destinations. Mud and snow are well dealt with by what Continental describe as their 'most technologically advanced yet'.

New materials in the tyre’s construction and innovations in the tread pattern and compound have resulted in a six per cent reduction in rolling resistance compared to the tyre’s predecessor and have increased mileage by 15 per cent, without compromising on safety.

According to Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres Ireland, "they really are the ideal choice for our mild Irish climate.” 

Agricultural waste and recycled plastic bottles could be in coming tyres

In a bid to achieve a 100pc sustainable materials production of their tyres by 2050, Continental Tyres are looking into agricultural waste to source alternative filling materials, and weeds for substitution of natural rubber, writes Brian Byrne.

Up to 100 different materials go into the construction of a modern tyre, with natural rubber being anything between 10pc and 40pc of the weight of the tyre.

Agricultural waste materials like the ash of rice husks, and recycled plastic bottles, are among the materials being tested by the company, the latter can be turned into polyester yarn for tyre casings.

Specially cultivated dandelions are being tested as alternatives to natural rubber.

Along with these ideas, tyre makers are increasing the amount of recycle  activity to separate rubber, steel, and textile from old tyres, as well as the very important carbon black using a process called pyrolysis.

Appeal to use correct tyres for driving needs

The boss of Continental Tyres Ireland has appealed to motorists to make sure they use the correct tyres for the kind of driving they do, especially if they drive SUVs, writes Brian Byrne.

Noting that SUV-type cars have come to dominate the motoring market over the last decade and more, Tom Dennigan said owners need to pay special attention when replacing their tyres on vehicles that are generally heavier than saloon or hatchback vehicles.

He says that most small and medium SUV type cars will come originally with summer tyres because their owners are driving all the time on standard tarmac roads. "Larger SUVs and 4x4s may well come with tyres that have a degree of off-road and/or all-season capability," he adds. "If you regularly use off-road tyres on tarmac, you might be in for a hard, noisy ride. And vice versa – use on-road tyres on irregular terrain, and you’re likely to struggle for grip. Get it right though, and you’ll enjoy the best experience at the wheel of your SUV."

Continental has put together a checklist to run through when you’re thinking about tyres for your SUV.

* Is it electric, hybrid or does it have a traditional combustion engine?

* How powerful is it?

* How large and heavy is it?

* Do you often tow heavy loads?

* Is it an AWD (all-wheel drive), 4WD (four-wheel drive/4X4/four-by-four) or 2WD (two-wheel drive)?

* Do you often face tough conditions like gravel, mud, snow, and steep inclines?

* And will you use it in the city or suburban areas?

Continental has developed tyres to suit each of those conditions, and also where there's a mix of driving conditions. When it comes to changing your tyres, especially now with winter here, do discuss with and take the advice of an expert, your dedicated tyre dealer. 

Continental Tyres is Pakman Tyre Champion

Bill Collins, CEO of Circol ELT, presents the Pakman Tyre Champion Award to Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres Ireland.

Continental Tyres won the Tyre Champion award for 2022 at the recent Pakman national environmental and sustainability awards, writes Brian Byrne. The awards, organised by Repak, recognise excellence in recycling and waste management among businesses, organisations, community groups and initiatives in Ireland.

Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres Ireland expressed his delight at the winning of the award, saying it is a great recognition of the strides that the company has made in integrating sustainability as a key driver across all the levels of their organisation.

The citation noted how, in the past year, the company has achieved top performance in the International Sustainability Rating, with Carbon Disclosure Project (CDP) honouring their efforts in climate change mitigation for the fourth year in a row. Also instrumental in Continental’s win was the fact that the company already consumes 55 percent less water and 17 percent less energy than the industry average per metric ton of tyres produced. 

Continental Tyres Ireland prepared a detailed submission for the Pakman award that listed a range of sustainability-focussed initiatives which the company has implemented across Europe. An example is the company’s new ground-breaking ContiRe.Tex technology which makes Continental the first tyre manufacturer in the world to launch volume production of recycled polyester yarn obtained from polyethylene terephthalate (PET) plastic bottles into passenger car tyres. 

Continental is a title sponsor of the all-electric Extreme E racing series, and for the championship's second season, which opened in February 2022, Continental has developed a tyre for participating vehicles which uses ContiRe.Tex. A third of this new tyre is now made from recycled and renewable raw materials, including silica obtained from the ashes of rice husks — a waste product from agriculture — alongside reprocessed steel and carbon black. The support vehicles for this year’s Tour de France were also equipped exclusively with ContiRe.Tex tyres. 

Continental doing the business with e-vehicle makers

Continental is now the leading original equipment supplier of tyres to the world's electric vehicles manufacturers, writes Brian Byrne.

Seven of the ten highest-volume electric carmakers specify Continental tyres for their products. They include Tesla, Porsche and Mercedes-Benz, as well as Kia and Ford.

Continental’s research has shown that tyres are responsible for up to 20pc of a vehicle's total resistance and therefore have a significant impact on energy efficiency. Reduced rolling resistance has a clearly measurable positive effect on the environment, as well as ensuring maximum mileage per charge.

County Meath native David O'Donnell (pictured above), who leads the original equipment business at Continental Tyres, says the fact that so many manufacturers around the world are equipping their vehicles with the company's premium tyres is proof of Continental's development expertise and the premium quality of their products.

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All-season tyres show big growth in Ireland

All-season tyres have registered a 'huge' growth in the Irish market over the last two years, according to Continental Tyres Irish boss Tom Dennigan, writes Brian Byrne.

Speaking at a media briefing to Irish journalists, he noted a 158pc increase in all-season sales in passenger cars, and a 448pc rise in the van segment. "All-season tyres are a good option for our mild climate," Mr Dennigan said, noting that we rarely see the levels of extreme cold or hot weather as experienced in continental Europe.

Overall tyre sales in Ireland have rebounded from the 12pc 'covid drop' of 2020, and during 2021 are up 124pc compared to sales in 2019. Tom Dennigan said much of this is due to increased sales of tyres for vans, reflecting the big increase in deliveries due to online sales.

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Free tyre checks this week

The Irish Tyre Industry Association (ITIA) has teamed up with the Road Safety Authority (RSA) and An Garda Siochána to promote the importance of safety on the roads during Irish Road Safety Week 2021, from 4th to 10th October, writes Brian Byrne.

Wednesday 6th October is designated ‘Tyre Safety Day’ to remind all road users to check their tyres for tread depth, correct pressure and for defects. Garda checkpoints will focus on tyre safety during the period. All ITIA members www.itia.ie are participating in Road Safety week by offering FREE tyre checks on all cars, vans and HMVs for the duration of the week.

ITIA Chief Executive, Sue O’Neill noted that tyres are the only point of contact between your vehicle and the road, yet the importance of tyres to vehicle safety is often neglected. “Our message is: Don’t chance it – Check your tyres and it could save your life”.

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New SportContact 7 tyre from Conti

Continental Tyres have launched their latest ultra-high performance tyre, the SportContact 7. On the racetrack, mileage is up 10pc over the previous model and wet braking distances are reduced by 8pc.

The new SportContact is also 6pc better for dry braking, and service life is 17pc longer. The adaptive tread design adjusts to dry and wet roads, offering maximum driving pleasure for every vehicle, and the BlackChili rubber compound has been precisely adapted to the tread design for maximum grip.

Models applications include the Alfa Romeo Giulia Quadrifoglio as well as the RS series from Audi and M series from BMW, as well as compact cars such as the Ford Focus III RS and the Mini Cooper S Clubman.

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Poor knowledge of EU tyre label amongst buyers

Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres and the new label.

A new tyre label produced by the EU since 1 May gives essential information about the product's performance in a simplified way, writes Brian Byrne ... but not many Irish motorists know much about tyre labels at all.

The new label replaces one introduced in 2012. However, according to research carried out by Continental Tyres in Ireland, more than two-thirds of respondents said they had never heard of such a label.

The latest label includes detail on fuel efficiency, wet braking and noise performance for all tyres on sale across the EU. Where applicable, there is also information as to capability on snow and ice. It also includes a QR code which gives the consumer access to an EU database that gives more detail on an individual tyre.

Also in the survey, almost two thirds of respondents said price was the determining factor when looking for replacement tyres, with safety coming second or third in most cases.

Welcoming the arrival of the new label, Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres Ireland said any move towards providing motorists with more information on tyres is 'a very positive step'. “But, the EU, national governments, road safety bodies and indeed, the tyre industry itself, all need to do a better job in informing consumers," he warned.

"Some tyre retailers are very good at providing consumers with all of the detail they need when making a tyre purchasing choice, including showing the EU tyre label for the tyres that are available, but it is clear that many tyre retailers are not fulfilling their responsibility in this regard."

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Continental expands its EV original equipment portfolio

A decade-long programme of development by Continental Tyres has resulted in the company’s products being the original equipment choice by six in ten of the world’s most successful makers of electric vehicles, writes Brian Byrne. They include Tesla, Volkswagen, and one of the largest Chinese makers, BYD. 

In addition to developing tyres specifically for EVs, Continental has spent significant resources adapting its existing portfolio of tyres so that they meet the requirements of all electric vehicles, because fully-electric vehicles are now available in all segments. “They meet the requirements of all electric vehicles and, at the same time, are able to sustainably reduce emissions from combustion vehicles as well,” says Andreas Schlenke, tyre developer at Continental. “Meanwhile, almost our entire range of tyres is optimised for all drive types and the majority of our products can be found on electric vehicles today.” Continental now also has the equivalent summer, winter or all-season tyre in its portfolio for almost every EV model. 

Tyres account for almost a fifth of the total resistance faced by a vehicle on the move, according to Continental research, so developing low rolling resistance reduces this very significantly. When developing its EcoContact 6 tyre, special compound of natural rubber and other component enabled the company to improve rolling resistance by 15pc over its predecessor. 

Because EVs are more silent than ICE cars, road noise can become more apparent, so Continental’s engineers have also developed a new foam technology to cut down on road vibration noise.

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Call for tyre pressure checks as lockdown eases

The Irish Tyre Industry Association is urging motorists to regularly check their tyre pressures, especially after their cars may have been little used during lockdown, writes Brian Byrne.

The Association says that defective tyres are the most significant contributor (66pc) to a collision and the cause of up to as many as 14 deaths each year. A survey carried out by ITIA member Continental Tyres found that only one in ten female motorists regularly check their tyres, while the figure for male drivers was 'a slightly more respectable' 23 percent — however both figures show the vast majority of motorists pay scant regard to their tyres.

Incorrect inflation of tyres leads to instability and greater wear. To drive a vehicle with defective or worn tyres is an offence that will attract an automatic fine of €80, plus two penalty points.

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