Car Maintenance

Here and Now WITH JOHN BOWE

JB’S TYRE TIP OF THE MONTH
brought to you by GOODYEAR AND DUNLOP
The Christmas/New Year period is a notoriously dangerous time on our roads with many people packing their cars and heading on holidays. Before you leave, you should make sure your tyres are in the best possible condition. A few holiday tyre safety tips to follow are:

• Visually examine your tyres to ensure they have sufficient tread. 1.6mm all around is the minimum, I would replace my tyres though if it were less than 2mm
• Check the air pressures in the tyres to ensure they are at the recommended levels. This is usually printed on the pillar of either front door or in the owner’s manual
• Check the side walls of all tyres for cuts, abrasions, any embedded foreign objects and bulges
• Ensure each tyre has a valve cap for protection against dust and water
• If you haven’t had your wheels balanced and aligned in the last 6 months, go and get this done
• Make sure you check the spare tyre as well!

At the Telstra 500 grand final race meeting in Sydney recently, I received a big surprise. And I don’t mean winning the Touring Car Masters Series either, although that was a nice team moment! What I am referring to is a special presentation I received for my 40th year in motorsport.

I can’t believe it’s been 40 years since I first had my backside in a race car! I was a young wide-eyed boy, full of enthusiasm and passion, which luckily I still have to this day. In fact I still feel young and wide-eyed, although the mirror tells a different tale.

Way back then my very first sponsor was the local Dunlop tyre dealer in Devonport in Tassie where I grew up. I think my relationship with the Dunlop brand and team was pre-ordained. We have chased and won championships together and developed some awesome products together. Dunlop has always been at the very top of the tyre world and I feel extremely grateful for their involvement in my career. Virtually all the success I have had has been on Dunlop race tyres and it is a relationship that I hold very close to my heart.

I have raced so many different types of cars in those 40 years that I have trouble remembering them all. The common denominator in all my 40 race years though has been Dunlop. My aim is to race for another 40 years I guess, although that’s not very likely. But seriously, I have no intention of giving up the sport I love and I am sure Dunlop will be there for the rest of the journey.

To all my friends in the Goodyear and Dunlop world, and to all those that read my “Here and Now” column, I wish you the very happiest of festive seasons and please drive careful.

Cheers and Merry Christmas!

Until next time,
drive safely.