According to latest figures winter tyres are in short supply with stockists not expecting deliveries until January.

Christmas journeys will be made even more hazardous for those hoping to swap their car tyres to winter ones to enable their car to handle better in freezing conditions.

What Car? revealed more than 87 percent of stockists do not expect to have any more winter car tyres until the New Year.

Some outlets claimed the bad weather was slowing their deliveries and were hoping to have tyres by the end of the week.

“If climate change is going to bring us much colder winters, we believe the Government should look at making a tyre change compulsory in winter,” said Steve Fowler, What Car? Editor-in-Chief.

“It would help to ensure that the country keeps moving safely and that motorists have more grip and confidence behind the wheel.”

Research by the AA also showed the regions in the UK where motorists were more or less likely to fit winter tyres.

Twelve percent of drivers in Scotland, nine percent in the North East, nine percent in Wales, and nine percent in Yorkshire and Humberside were likely to have bought winter or all season tyres this year.

Motorists in Northern Ireland were found to be the least likely to put a shovel in their car in preparation of getting stuck in snow, 26 percent, while 49 percent in Scotland were likely to have done this.

Those the least prepared were Londoners with 53 percent admitting to have done nothing while those in Scotland were the least likely to have done nothing at 35 percent.

Buy Car Tyres Online

If you were considering buying winter tyres, or need to change existing ones due to wear and tear you should consider looking online.

As snow and ice grips Britain’s roads new research shows 4×4 cars are growing in popularity to make driving in these conditions easier to handle.

Auction specialists British Car Auctions (BCA) found the early onset of winter has had a knock on effect on the number of 4×4 cars sold at auction centres around the UK.

They say a 4×4 is becoming a necessity with their specific car parts able to grip roads such especially those in rural or remote areas.

In November the company reported values for these types of cars climbed by around five percent compared to similar vehicles bought in the previous month when the weather was less severe.

“As the temperature drops, we have seen 4×4 values rise quite sharply,” said Tim Naylor, BCA spokesman.

“Nothing makes a four-wheel drive more attractive than a dusting of snow.”

4×4 Car Parts

While a 4×4 car will be able to handle driving in the snow better than other two wheel drives, it is not always practical for a motorist to go out and buy a new car when the snow starts coming down.

There are ways you can make your current car better at manoeuvring in these conditions and preventing breakdowns mid journey.

Try applying tyre chains to give your tyres extra grip on icy roads, also make sure to check your tyres’ pressure and tread depth.

While a 4×4 is higher off the ground and less likely to get stuck in deep snow, if you carry a shovel around in your boot you can always dig your way out if you are unable to move forward after stopping.

It is essential to check all the important car parts on your vehicle regularly so you are not caught out mid journey, if your engine does not sound healthy, or your wiper blades are squeaking, now is the time to get them changed.

Many classic cars will be getting ready for their winter hibernation to ensure the harsh cold British climate does not ruin important car parts.

“I’ve come across countless examples of vehicles that have deteriorated more through improper storage than if they’d been driven through a damp British winter on salt-covered roads,” said Mike Williams from Beaufort Restoration Service.

Owners are urged to plan ahead and take the following steps to ensure their motor is fit for driving the next time it hits the roads.

How to Look After Your Car During the Winter

When a car is unused for a number of months certain car parts may become damaged and be less likely to work the next time you want to drive it.

Before you start the engine for the first time after a period of rest take a look at the general condition of the car and any signs of rust or leaks from certain car parts.

While you are inspecting the car you can charge up the battery and clean out battery posts to get rid of any dust or dirt that has accumulated.

Make sure you leave about a quarter of a tank of petrol in the car and not to leave it empty as this may cause rust to form.  It is not recommended to fill up too much however, as petrol deteriorates as it evaporates which it may do over a long period where it is not used.

You should check the oil levels and fill up if necessary, it is also possible oil may have leaked through to the engine cylinders – you may be required to give these a clean before starting the engine.

Take the time to treat the interior upholstery if you have leather seats as it is best to have them prepared for summer when they may become cracked due to the heat.

Lastly, when you start the engine walk around the car and look closely for any leaks and listen to the sound of the engine and how healthy it sounds.  It is important to take the time to do these maintenance checks before you start to drive again to ensure all car parts are working to a high standard for safe driving.

When it comes to selling your current car it is important to ensure it is viewed in its best possible condition in order to get the most money from a sale.

A report by Manheim Auctions recently showed that one in 10 drivers fail to repair small damages on certain car parts to their vehicles before a sale, such as dents and scratches, resulting in a smaller resale price.

A loss of up to £500 is at stake as damage to alloy wheels could reduce the value by £50 to £150 per wheel and cracked headlights by £75 to £150.

A damaged windscreen could devalue a car by £100-300, carpets and front seat material in poor condition can affect it by £100-350, and minor accident damage to panels by up to £250 per body part.

“It’s imperative that motorists do everything they can to maximise what their car is worth,” said Craig Mailey, Manheim Auctions’ client service and marketing director.

“Ensuring a car is clean and in the best condition possible will go a long way to getting the best resale price.”

How Can I Revamp my Car?

The amount of work you invest in sprucing up your motor is entirely up to you but there are some cheap ways of making it look more expensive.

Giving the car a good clean inside and out is an essential start, after this you will be able to identify any dents or scratches in the body work more easily.

A good lick of paint may be sufficient to cover this however if it is still obvious you may consider replacing that door or particular body panel.

To make a good investment with the car you will want to keep the cost of new car parts to a minimum and so motorists are advised to look online to get good deals.

Many online stockists have large supplies of car parts suitable for every type of motor including tyres, windscreen spares and interior necessities such as carpets and replacement seats.

With VAT hikes looming and fuel costs at an all time high, one of the best ways to cut the cost of motoring is to look online for cheap car parts.

Drivers are optimistic about the impact the recent government cuts will have on their motoring habits, research by Manheim Auctions showed.

While 62 percent of drivers thought this way, a huge 72 percent were also seriously considering exchanging their car for a more environmentally friendly alternative.

These cars offer cheaper road tax, lower carbon emissions and reduced premiums on car insurance policies while also meaning the driver does not have to refuel as often so saving on petrol costs.

“Ensuring your next car is fuel efficient will save you money in the long run, especially with the benefits of lower road tax and cheaper insurance,” said Craig Mailey, Manheim Auctions’ marketing director.

Cheap Car Parts Online

While many people are taking motoring costs in their stride, those who do not have the funds to replace their car with an economically friendly version should look online for cheap car parts to repair their current car.

If a car part is worn out or damaged it often puts more pressure on other parts of the vehicle which could mean they will also need replacing sooner.

For example, if your engine is lacking brake fluid this could put more pressure on the brake pads making them wear out quicker, and a damaged engine or faulty gears could mean you are using more petrol than you would normally.

Replacing car parts may seem like a huge expense but it is worthwhile doing it sooner rather than later to prevent the damage becoming unfixable or causing costs to increase the more work it may then require.

Spare tyres, engines, exhausts and suspension parts can all be order online at discounted prices.

More car buyers are relying on new and used car finance to buy cars, new figures show, despite a 19 percent fall in the total number of private new car sales in September.

The figures from the Finance & Leasing Association have shown that new cars sold on finance to consumers were up by five percent annually and used cars by six percent in September.

The percentage of new cars sold to consumers on dealer finance over the last year rose from 47.5 percent in August to 49.6 percent in September.

“The rise in the use of motor finances is great news for dealers, coming as it does in such an uncertain and volatile economic climate,” said Paul Harrison, head of motor finance.

A Pulse analysis for British Car Auctions (BCA) however showed that the average used car value fell by £146 in October, which the company puts down to continuing economic uncertainty affecting consumer confidence, especially when it comes to bigger transactions such as cars.

Volumes of used car sales were down by five percent in October compared to September and while demand levels continue to be high the value of second hand cars is set to remain relatively stable in the coming months, according the BCA.

The value of an average used car in October was £5,792, which is £1,000 more than it was two years ago.

Car Parts for Used Motors

Keeping repair costs to a minimum is vital if you have borrowed money to purchase a car recently, so investigate prices before you start so you can work out a budget. You could benefit from purchasing discount car parts online.

247 Spares is the largest online stockist of car parts, selling everything your motor may require from tyres, engine coils, gearboxes, steering wheels and exhausts.

The average price of a second hand car fell by £146 in October, a new report shows. Looking to buy a second hand car? Follow these tips for buying a used car and relevant car parts.

The fall in second hand car prices, revealed by BCA’s latest Pulse analysis, is thought to be due to continuing economic uncertainty.

The average used car value fell to £5,792 in October, from £5,938 in September.

“October has heralded the typical slowing in demand that the market usually experiences in the run-up to the Christmas period,” said Tony Gannon, BCA’s communications director.

“Used cars continue to be the battleground for dealer profitability and this will remain the case while new car retail sales continue to be slow.”

The fleet & Lease sector saw the largest falls of £292, down by 3.8 percent, with nearly-new values losing £95.  However, part-exchange values fell by only £5 over the month – highlighting the continued demand for budget cars.

The values recorded remain ahead of figures in October two years ago by £1,000.

Tips for Buying a Used Car

The second-hand car market in the UK is very strong. However, car buyers should be on the lookout for faults which could significantly add to the price of the car for repair work.

Make a vigilant assessment of the car you are considering, and look out for signs of rust.  Some cars will have had a cheap lick of paint to cover the rust so it may not always be obvious.

Take a look at any dents in the body panels of the car you want to buy, too, as these may need  replacing; look for inconsistencies in the paint work and for in-conspicuous ones.

Lastly, check the car for any leaks inside the vehicle as this will also give you an indication of the quality of the car.

Mechanical labour costs have risen again according to a new survey as some motorists claim to have been charged up to £190 an hour.

While labour costs are high for mechanical repair work, motorists can save money by acquiring cheap car parts online to help reduce the overall bill.

The national average cost of garage labour has risen by 5.81 percent to cost on average £74.82 over the past year the annual Warranty Direct Labour Rates Survey revealed.

Franchised dealers were also found to be nearly 40 percent more expensive than their independent competitors.

Independent mechanics now charge on average £55.90 compared to £52.69 in 2009 while the labour rate for franchised dealers rose from £87.19 to £90.59.

“The once relentless upward march of labour rates appears to have started again after a slight dip last year,” said Duncan McClure Fisher, Warranty Direct spokesperson.

“To avoid paying above paying above inflationary rises, motorists need to shop around, and not be afraid to push their preferred repairer to charge them less.”

However, despite the national rise some regions have experienced falls as prices of mechanical work has fallen by 2.5 percent while the north showed the biggest drops.

Northumberland and Lanarkshire mechanics were found to have reduced their hourly rate by 12.7 percent and 12.6 percent respectively.

Surrey meanwhile is the most expensive place to get repair work done on your vehicle in the UK as the average cost per hour equated to £87.59, while the highest hourly rate was found in a franchised dealer in Hertfordshire where they charged £190.35.

Cheap Car Parts

If you require repair work on your car, van or motorbike and are worried about the labour costs you could save money by ordering the new parts online at 247 Spares.

We have the largest online stock of quality car parts all available at discounted prices and can be delivered straight to your door.

Drivers are urged to ensure their tyres are in good condition before roads become icy with winter frost or snow.

Rather than wait until the surface water turns Britain’s roads into a skid pan the Institute of Advanced Motorists (IAM) are urging drivers to check their tyres are in top condition.

The vehicles of drivers at fault in high-speed accidents were found to be six times more likely to have worn tyres, and although tyres may be classed as legal they may not be at an optimum for braking safely in all conditions.

The current legal minimum tyre tread in the UK is 1.6mm, but if the depth is below 3mm it is recommended to look for replacement car parts.  Research has found tyres with less than 1mm of tread have one third the braking friction of one at the bare legal minimum of 1.6mm.

“Under-inflation causes excessive tyre-wear, with every ten percent under the recommended optimum decreasing tyre life by ten percent,” warned Peter Rodger, IAM chief examiner.

“Keeping your tyres maintained is an important part of car-care, not only for safety but also for fuel-economy; under-inflated tyres will increase fuel consumption.”

When checking the condition of tyres drivers are advised to look first for any cuts and bumps and uneven wear.  It is then important to check they are correctly inflated, ideally when they are cold, and the recommended pressure is listed in the car’s handbook.

Buy Cheap Car Tyres Online

It is important to ensure your car is in optimum condition for winter driving as minimal changes in tyre tread could mean the difference between stopping in time to prevent an accident, or not.

At 247 Spares we have the largest stock online of quality car tyres including a large range of tyres at discount prices for any vehicle.

Ecological plastic car parts are to be used on forthcoming Toyota models, claiming to be tougher and more durable than previous bio-plastics.

Marking the world’s first use of bio-PET which blends material derived from sugar cane, the new plastic aimed to be made into highly resistant car parts intends to contribute to lower full-life vehicle carbon emissions.

The reduced need of petroleum-based products in manufacturing of the plastic also make it environmentally friendly and Toyota plan to use it for the first time to make loadspace liner for the new Lexus CT 200h.

The plastic will make it suitable for a variety of car parts including vehicle liners, carpeting, seats and other internal surfaces. While it is initially going to be used for the luggage compartment liner in the Lexus CT 200h and Toyota aims to cover the vehicle’s interior with 80 percent of the plastic.

Toyota has successfully been developing bio-plastics for the last 10 years, and produced the world’s first use of a material made with polyactic acid in 2003.

Entering production at the end of the year motorists will be able to purchase the Lexus CT 200h by early 2011 and its aim is to be environmentally sensitive without compromising refinement and driving pleasure.

It will be the only full hybrid vehicle representing the synthesis of five key Lexus attributes – a unique driving character, the dynamic styling, attention to detail, and customer service.

Toyota Car Parts

While new materials are being used on the latest car models in a bid to make them more environmentally friendly, this should not affect the stocking of Toyota spare car parts.

At 247 Spares we are able to find a spare car part to suit any model even if it is a spare plastic bonnet, and most of our items are offered at discounted prices.