First Stop Blog
June 30th, 2021
What you should check and be aware of when buying a second-hand car privately
The used car market in Ireland is thriving. Normally there are almost 2.5 used cars purchased for every new car, but anecdotal evidence indicates the marketplace is busier than ever.
June 16th, 2021
How has lockdown affected your car?
March last year saw people across the world, including here in Ireland, go into a lockdown so quickly that no one had time to prepare. Many got temporarily laid off from work or put on furlough, while others had to adapt quickly to the new norm of working from home, even if they had little to no previous experience of homeworking before. With people no longer leaving their homes like they used to, cars sat parked up, only being driven a fraction of what they were before.
April 19th, 2021
7 Things Every Car Owner Needs
Owning and driving a car also requires a lot of responsibility and maintenance.
Here is a list of seven car essentials we recommend to will keep your car running smoothly.
March 31st, 2021
When to Replace Your Tyres
It is your responsibility as a driver to keep your car in a roadworthy condition at all times. It is easy to look after your tyres with some effortless maintenance.
March 19th 2021
Questions You Need to Ask When Choosing a Car Mechanic
There's nothing worse than having car trouble. If you're a car owner, chances are you will eventually find yourself standing in a garage.
While the only thing on your mind could be how much this will cost, you should consider raising some other questions if you don't already have a dedicated and reliable car mechanic who knows your car inside out.
February 19th, 2021
Benefits of Owning a 4x4 Vehicle
Whether you like off-roading or need an all-purpose workhorse, 4x4s are among the most versatile and reliable types of vehicles one can buy, no matter the time of year. They will respond to all your driving needs by offering superior traction in challenging on-road and off-road conditions such as mud, snow, ice, sand, rocks, steep, and uneven surfaces.
A 4WD will allow you to conquer any terrain with confidence.
February 8th, 2021
The Side Effects of Driving Fast
The pandemic has changed the world of commuting.
Before the pandemic, thousands of Irish would sit in their cars and commute to their workplace. During that journey, some would drive faster than others. As roads empty in the wake of COVID-19, one question remains – are the drivers who remained slowing down?
January 18th, 2021
Winter Driving Safety Tips
Cold weather, slippery roads, and reduced daylight make driving during the winter season more challenging than at any other time of the year. Here at First Stop Tyres and Car Services Ireland, we pulled together a list of driving tips to keep you safe on Irish roads this winter.
January 14th, 2021
Take Care of Your Tyres This Winter
Different weather conditions require your tyres to work in different ways.
Winter tyres can help get a vehicle through the snow but are they necessary in Ireland where occasionally the temperature drops below freezing, and there are brief periods of cold weather?
December 18th, 2020
Heading Home in Rain, Ice or Wind? Here's How to Arrive Safely
Winter months mean we deal with various weather conditions– from wind, rain and ice to driving in the dark.
If you find yourself on the road where you have to tackle adverse weather conditions, such as heavy rain or strong crosswinds, here is what to do to stay safe and to arrive at your destination safely.
December 7th, 2020
CLEAN YOUR CAR INTERIOR LIKE A PRO
With lots of nooks and crannies where dust and dirt can hide, cleaning the interior of your car should be on your to-do list, even if you aren’t driving far in the current climate.
Follow our simple five steps and detail a car interior like a pro!
It will only take a couple of hours, and you will save time and money by doing it yourself.
November 27th, 2020
Bad Driving Habits And How To Break Them
Whether you want to admit it or not, you too probably, have some bad driving habits. Most likely, you are not even aware of them!
Do you accelerate through amber lights?
Are you failing to indicate?
Roundabouts aren’t your strongest forte?
November 16th, 2020
Things You Risk by Skimping on Car Service
Maintenance
Just because you don't notice a problem while driving doesn't mean there isn't one. That's why regular car service is so important.
Having your vehicle checked and serviced could be the difference between a minor repair job and a serious and expensive repair.
October 26th, 2020
Top 5 Tips for Safe Driving in Autumn
Driving
It's Autumn again, the nights are drawing in, and the leaves are turning red and gold. Unfortunately, when those leaves wind up on often wet roads, that's a slippery combination - something no driver is looking forward to.
Avoid potential Autumn hazards and stay safe on the road with these five tips.
October 16th, 2020
Pre NCT Check - All You Need to Know
Maintenance
The National Car Test (NCT) is a compulsory vehicle inspection programme in Ireland. It is a check of basic requirements that are visible and accessible at the time of the test.
Make sure you know what to expect with this Pre-NCT Check guide.
April 6th, 2020
Brakes - Everything You Need To Know
Maintenance
When driving and approaching a stop sign, you simply press your foot on the brakes and the car stops.
Without the brakes, this wouldn’t be possible, and the outcome could be fatal.
The standard of braking systems fitted to vehicles is a key safety issue and a braking capability is one of the most important qualities a vehicle must have.
March 30th, 2020
I Have A Puncture, What Should I Do?
Tyres
It is important to get a punctured tyre repaired or replaced as soon as possible. Driving with a punctured tyre can be dangerous and possibly lead to loss of control of your vehicle or driving with low pressure within the tyre can mean that a puncture may not be repairable as the integrity of the tyre could be compromised by driving with it.
March 11th, 2020
The Most Popular Car Songs of All Time
Driving
Studies have shown that most drivers prefer music rather than silence. They become more relaxed and their enjoyment increases. Some say that music helps keep them be more alert on longer journeys.
There are a ridiculous number of car songs out there but fear not because we gathered the top 20 most iconic car songs of all time!
Leave the fear that’s holding you back and sing your heart out to all these songs you secretly love.
February 28th, 2020
5 Tips To Get Your Car Ready for Spring
Maintenance
As spring is finally here, you might feel it’s time to give your car a proper wash and the shine it deserves.
Our spring car cleaning tips will ensure your car is working and looking its best throughout the spring and well beyond.
February 14th, 2020
Treat Your Car This Valentine’s Day
Treat your car
Valentine’s Day is celebrated annually on February 14th, and it’s about romantic love, friendship and admiration.
Your car serves you every day, whether it be for work or leisure.
Why not return the favour and show your car some love?
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January 27th, 2020
New Year's Resolutions For Your Car
Maintenance
Make yourself a better car owner and keep your car in the best condition with these 5 new year’s resolutions every car owner should have for 2020.
December 23rd, 2019
6 Driving Tips For This Holiday Season
Driving
The holidays are one of the best times of the year! We at First Stop Car and Tyre Services want you to get to your destination safely and that’s why we prepared 6 handy driving tips for this holiday season.
December 16th, 2019
Christmas Gifts You Can Give To Your Car
Buying
When handing out holiday gifts, don’t forget yourself, and more importantly – don’t forget about your car!
Have a look at some of our ideas for this holiday season.
November 22nd, 2019
10 Driving Tips To Help You Become A Better Driver
Driving
After months of studying the rules of the road and reversing around every corner, you finally got your full driving license. The roads are yours to conquer. The learning days are behind you.
But, are they really?
Here at First Stop Ireland, we gathered 10 Driving tips to help you become a better driver.
November 13th, 2019
5 Tips to Help Extend A Car Battery’s Life
Maintenance
Car batteries are an essential part of a vehicle, that’s why properly taking care of the car battery can help keep it running.
Here are our 5 tips to help extend your car battery’s life.
September 30th, 2019
Three Road Hazards To Look Out For In Autumn
Driving
Autumn is the season of sunny and dry weather, with pleasant temperatures. It’s famous for its changing colours and the change in landscape.
Weather and road conditions change with the season. To avoid Autumn road hazards – get to know the risk and prepare.
September 30th, 2019
Driving Tips For Wet Roads In Ireland
Driving
“I’ll just leave a few minutes early, be grand”, is not going to cut it every single time.
We gathered simple, yet effective tips for safe wet-weather driving in Ireland.
September 2nd, 2019
Free Tyre Safety Check
Tyres
Knowing your tyres are in good condition is vital to keeping yourself, your vehicle passengers and other road users safe when in your car.
Why not take advantage of our FREE tyre safety check!
September 2nd, 2019
Reduce Your Carbon Footprint In A Car
Driving
Better driving can not only reduce a negative impact on climate change by reducing CO2, but it can also save you a good deal of money by saving fuel.
Here at First Stop Tyre and Car Services we want to help you in becoming a ‘greener’ driver.
August 14th, 2019
The Most Valuable Safety Feature On Your Vehicle
Tyres
As Ireland’s leading tyre experts, First Stop Tyres and Car Service Ireland have unrivalled experience of keeping the nation’s motorists safe on the road.
Tyres keep you on the road, prevent your vehicle from sliding in the rain, allow you to slow down and stop quickly.
Tyres matter.
August 14th, 2019
Basic Vehicle Safety Checklist
Maintenance
“The little things mean the most. We pick up on the little things as soon as the drivers drive in. These are the small yet important things that the drivers might not notice themselves”
June 27th, 2019
Don't Let A Flat Tyre Stop You From Summer Adventures
Maintenance
8 Reasons your tyres go flat and how to avoid the worst-case scenarios.
June 18th, 2019
10 Summer Driving Tips
Driving
Here are our 10 most important driving tips this summer.
May your journeys be safe and fun!
June 13th, 2019
Every Vehicle Needs Safe Tyres
Tyres
There are many hidden dangers of cheap and part worn tyres. We at First Stop want to help you to make an informed decision when purchasing tyres. In this blog post we discuss the benefits of premium and mid-range, over cheap and part-worn tyres.