As a car owner, you know that regular vehicle maintenance helps extend its lifespan and optimise its performance and safety. With Singapore’s bustling roads and harsh weather taking a toll on our vehicles, routine maintenance and smart upgrades have become even more critical. To ensure a smooth driving experience, avoid expensive repairs, and protect your car’s future resale value, stay on top of regular maintenance tasks and upgrade sensibly.
When cared for properly, a car does not have to have a breakdown, can run for many years, and give you and your passengers a safe and comfortable ride. We hope this guide will help you see the benefits of regular servicing and timely repairs like enhanced engine performance, added safety features, and most importantly, increased longevity. Plus, a well-maintained car with an accurate service record will fetch a better resale price when it’s time for you to upgrade your car.
Tyre Maintenance and Upgrades
Importance of Selecting the Right Tyres for Your Vehicle
Whether you opt for new or second-hand tyres, you must consider your driving habits, road conditions, and vehicle specifications. Arrow Tyres offers high-quality options from trusted brands like Dunlop, Goodyear, Michelin, Bridgestone and Radar Dimax tyres.
Tread depth is another important aspect of tyre maintenance. Tread depth allows the tyre to disperse water and provide excellent grip, handling, and braking, especially during wet conditions. New tyres usually come with ‘wear bars’ integrated within them. These wear bars are raised bumps on the tyre that level off when the tyre becomes critically worn to a depth of usually around 1.6mm. We advise that tyre tread depth be checked frequently and replaced on schedule to ensure optimum safety and performance.
Mobile or Onsite Tyre Repair and Replacement Services in Singapore
Tyre issues can be very annoying, not least because they can be time-consuming. We understand this fully at Arrow Tyres, so we offer onsite tyre replacement and mobile tyre repair in Singapore for your convenience. Our convenient mobile service comes directly to where you need us; your residence, your office, or on the roadside. We’ll assess the problem and sort it out immediately – by repairing or replacing your tyre.
With our onsite tyre replacement service, you’ll enjoy the added benefit of having your new tyres professionally fitted at a location of your choice, be it your residence, your office, or another convenient place. Hence, you’ll save valuable time and trouble.
Wheel Alignment and Balancing
Wheel alignment ensures that your car’s suspension is adjusted so your tyres point in the right direction and sit in the correct positions. This helps to stop the tyres from wearing down unevenly and the car from pulling or drifting. Wheel balancing is necessary because different tyres (and wheels) have different masses. Since all tyres can’t be the exact same weight, the car technician needs to add weights where necessary to make sure that the weight of the wheel and tyre is perfectly matched to the car and the road.
Battery Maintenance and Upgrades
Different Types of Car Batteries
Some of the most sought-after alternatives in the market are Enhanced Flooded Battery (EFB battery) and Absorbent Glass Mat Battery (AGM battery). EFB batteries typically last longer when dealing with the increased demands and stresses of modern vehicles that employ start-stop technology and numerous high-power electronics. They benefit from improved cyclic stability and charge acceptance over standard lead-acid batteries. AGM car batteries are the top-rated choice for demanding electrical loads and extreme climates. They are completely spill-proof and vibration-resistant and provide extremely reliable, long-lasting service.
Car Battery Replacement Service
These car batteries are available in different variants, each with specific capabilities. The variants include EFB and AGM car batteries. The enhanced flooded batteries are used to meet the requirements of new vehicles that contain start-stop technology and other power-related features. They come with unparalleled cyclic stability and charge acceptance that is not present in regular lead-acid batteries. Absorbed glass mat batteries are an engineering masterpiece that can efficiently handle demanding electrical loads in extreme weather conditions.
Choosing the Best Battery for Your Vehicle
While selecting a battery for your vehicle, particular consideration needs to be given to the make and model of the vehicle, the specific electrical system requirement, and your driving pattern. Arrow Tyres deals in most of the popular brands of car batteries, and the batteries we carry on our shelves are from manufacturers like Varta and Amaron. Both have a reputation and a standard of performance and durability that are very difficult to beat.
Mobile Battery Replacement Services in Singapore
Battery problems can be a sudden surprise but can be inconvenient and sometimes dangerous. Therefore, we offer mobile battery replacements throughout Singapore. Whether at home, in an office building, or stuck in a parking lot, our mobile technician will visit you, perform the necessary test, and replace the battery.
Our mobile battery replacement service makes replacing your car or bike battery easier, removing the hassle of going to a workshop and/or waiting for a tow truck. We will equip your vehicle with a good-quality battery from the best manufacturers, like Varta and Amaron.
Wheel and Rim Upgrades
Customising Your Car’s Appearance with Aftermarket Wheels and Rims
Wheels are central to your car’s design, so upgrading to aftermarket wheels and rims can enhance your vehicle’s exterior look. We understand how wheels reflect your personality and sense of style, so we offer the largest possible selection of wheels.
Whether you prefer a sophisticated and smooth aesthetic with your luxury ride or enjoy a sporty and bold loom with your weekend cruises, we have the perfect selection of aftermarket wheels and rims to help you define your look. From classic elegance with stylings such as the Japan made SSR GTX01 to raw, rugged good looks that jump right off the sidewalk and into your heart with classic off-road-inspired designs, we have the right wheel setups to help you get noticed.
Different Types of Wheels and Rims
There is a wide selection of aftermarket wheels and rims, surrounded by various styles, builds, and fitments. Lightweight alloy wheels are still the most prominent alloy, intended to improve performance and fuel efficiency, compared to steel wheels. However, they have various discriminating attributes and characteristics, from clean, classic 5-spoke to elaborate multi-spoke finishes.
Today, there are also options to customize fully forged wheels to your required design, colour, finishing and fitment offset for the perfect fit for your ride. The downside is the waiting time for the factory to fabricate plus shipping, which will usually take 60-90 days. Fully forged wheels will also be lighter than its equivalent size wheels that are made of cast alloy or flow formed.
How to Care For and Repair Alloy Wheels and Rims
We recommend giving your wheels a routine monthly cleaning with light soap or detergent and a soft brush to remove the surface-level build-up of brake dust, road grime, and other contaminants that can cause the finish to look dull over time.
If your wheels are damaged by curb rash, potholes, or other road hazards, a reliable tyre and wheel shop should be consulted to examine the extent of the damage. For safety reasons, any wheels that are cracked, warped or dented should be replaced immediately. We offer repair services for cosmetic damage such as paint peel, curb rash or scratches. Keeping your rims looking new and fresh also enhances the look of your car.
For wheels with special finishing like chrome or extremely bright colours like pink, gold and white, take precautions when washing the wheels as certain products might cause the colour of the wheels to fade. Brake dust that has stuck to the paint for a long time can also lead to stains that will not be able to be removed without causing damage to the wheel paintwork. Therefore, we recommend regular washing of your car and wheels to prevent buildup of dirt that can cause permanent damage.
Regular Maintenance Checklist
Oil Changes and Filter Replacements
The most important aspect of regular car maintenance is ensuring that your engine oil and filters get changed at the proper intervals. We recommend following your vehicle manufacturer’s guidelines for oil and filter changes, generally on a schedule between 5,000 and 10,000 kilometres or six months, whichever comes first.
Brake System Maintenance
Your car’s most important safety component is the braking system, so routine brake maintenance is crucial. We recommend a brake pad replacement if wear or damage has been identified. This is important to improve your braking performance and keep you safe. Our range of modern brake pads includes viable alternatives to proprietary brake pads from premium manufacturers—all of them will do their job with high quality and reliability.
Cooling System Maintenance
An overheated engine can result in serious damage and expensive repairs, so your engine’s temperature must stay normal. Our technicians will visually check your coolant level and fluid condition. If your machine’s coolant is dirty, old, or low, we suggest flushing it, replacing it, and adding a corrosion inhibitor to protect your system from corrosion and overheating.
Properly maintaining the cooling system with regular coolant flushes and part checks can keep your engine running strong for a long time, thus saving you money on costly repairs later in life.
Tips to Finding Reliable Service Providers in Singapore
Research and Read Reviews
You must do your homework and check reviews from previous customers. Research the service company’s website, social media profiles, and online review sites. View photos of past jobs done and read comments from former clients before deciding. It’s best to invest in a service company that receives positive reviews and is known for providing services in the industry.
Ask for Recommendations
Then, contact friends, relatives, or colleagues via telephone, text, or email and request referrals to service providers of your choice. Their feedback and in-depth experiences with a particular provider can be useful as they help you eliminate providers who are not up to the mark due to substandard job performance, below-par customer service, or other relevant factors.
Verify Certifications and Expertise
When you entrust your vehicle to a provider, you want to select one with the proper training, experience, and equipment for what you need. Ask your provider to have a trained, experienced workforce that attends training classes to keep up to date with the latest automotive technologies and repair procedures. The provider should also use the latest tools, equipment, and the highest-quality replacement parts.
DIY Maintenance Tips
Checking and topping off levels of engine oil, coolant, brake, and washer fluids is one of the easier DIY maintenance tasks. Check your tyre pressure regularly and top it off to the manufacturer’s recommended pounds per square inch (PSI) posted in your vehicle’s owner’s manual or on a sticker on your driver’s side door jamb. Checking your tyre pressure once every two weeks will ensure optimal performance and effective tyre wear on all your tyres. Worn or ineffective windshield wipers can be a simple fix for you to replace yourself to enhance your visibility and safety on the road. You’ll need a few basic tools and low-cost equipment to perform these routine maintenance tasks. A tyre pressure gauge helps you check and correct the inflation of your tyres, while some clean rags and a funnel for topping up your various fluids will be useful.
Despite the rewarding factors involved in the do-it-yourself maintenance and upgrade tasks, it is imperative to consider your limitations during certain tasks. There are particular maintenance and upgrade tasks that require ‘tools, knowledge and skills’ and when you come across such tasks, you shouldn’t hesitate a bit straight away to delegate the responsibility to the service professionals like Arrow Tyres who have the knowledge, tools and skills to perform all the major and minor maintenance and upgrade tasks with full flexibility.
Navigating the Road to Optimal Car Care with Arrow Tyres
Regular maintenance, clever upgrades, and a mix of DIY tasks and professional service will ensure you feel safer, drive smoother, and even save money whenever you get behind the wheel. When it comes to advanced maintenance tasks or premium-quality parts and upgrades, you can trust the experienced team at Arrow Tyres to get the job done. Thanks to our professional service staff, the most cutting-edge tools, and a vast inventory of top-of-the-line components from well-known brands, we can help you with all your car care needs including car battery service.