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The point is often made that four patches of rubber, each about the size of a human hand, is your only contact with the road when you are driving along – so your car tyres need to be up to the job in terms of safety and performance. Our rigorous tests look in detail at how tyres cope with both dry-road and wet-road conditions, with testers assessing directional stability, steering response and braking performance as well as providing independent ratings for fuel consumption and interior and exterior noise levels. We also evaluate how long a tyre will last by mounting tyres onto a weighted test rig, measuring the rate of wear after 5,000km and extrapolating the results to predict how far the tyres will be able to travel before tread depth falls below the legal limit of 1.6mm.

Regular tyre checks

Given that your tyres are the only point of contact between your car and the road, it is important that they are kept in tip-top condition to help ensure safe driving as well as to preserve quality and performance. According to experts, doing a regular safety check every two weeks takes a just few minutes and can even save you money by reducing fuel consumption.

1. First, perform a visual check, looking for anything unusual in the way of bulges, cuts, lodged debris, signs of age deterioration or other abnormalities, which, if not dealt with, could lead to lead to more serious problems whilst driving.
2. Next, check the tread depth of your tyres. As your tyre tread wears down, you have less control when driving and stopping in wet weather. The tread grooves disperse water from underneath your tyre, helping maintain control, and the more tread depth a tyre has, the more water it can disperse, reducing the risk of aquaplaning. Make sure to replace worn tyres before the tread depth reaches the minimum legal limit of 1.6mm, at which point tyres and brakes may only be 55% effective in the wet.
3. Lastly, it is important to check tyre pressure to make sure your tyres are not over- or under-inflated. Tyre pressures may vary depending on the vehicle model and the load being carried. Your car’s handbook will tell you how much air you should have in your tyres. Correct tyre pressure reduces the risk of losing control of your car and it even saves fuel. If the tyre pressure is too low, you will use more fuel and cause premature wear to the edges of the tyres, shortening their life. Over-inflating tyres, on the other hand, can lead to unpredictable handling and accelerate tread wear along the centre of the tyre.

In addition to these regular checks, the Road Safety Authority recommends that you ensure that your wheels are correctly aligned and balanced for the proper upkeep of your tyres and vehicle. Wheel alignment involves adjusting the angles of the wheels so that they are perpendicular to the ground and parallel with each other. This can help to maximise tyre life, reducing uneven or rapid tyre wear, and ensures that your car will drive straight and true on level surfaces. Wheel balancing allows the tyres and wheels to spin without causing any vibrations. A “scalloped” or “cupped” wear pattern on tyres indicates that the wheels are out of balance.

Part-worn tyres

Cash-strapped consumers may look to minimise their motoring costs by buying part-worn tyres instead of brand new products. Ireland’s Road Safety Authority (RSA) has some advice for those considering such a move to ensure that the second-hand products bought will be sufficiently safe and fit for purpose.

1. Check that the tyre has an E mark, as this is a requirement for the NCT.
2. Check the tread depth of the tyre. Your car’s safety and performance, particularly in wet conditions, are reduced as tyres wear. The minimum legal requirement is for a depth of 1.6mm but, for safety, tyres should have at least 3mm of tread depth. At the NCT, you will be informed if your tyres have a tread depth of less than 3mm and your car will receive a “pass advisory”, so it will not fail the NCT but you are advised that your tyres may soon need to be changed. You can measure the tread depth of a potential purchase using a tread depth gauge or the handy pop-out card that comes in the RSA leaflet entitled Your Guide to Tyre Safety, which you can pick up in a range of locations including NCT centres, NDLS centres, driving test centres, pharmacies, and social welfare offices. Tread depth should always be measured at the centre of the tyre and not at its edges.
3. Ask the seller to confirm that the tyre has been through a condition check to ensure that it satisfies the minimum legal requirements and that it has no defects – such as tears, lumps or bulges – either externally or internally. You will not be able to see any damage that has occurred on the inside of the tyre but the seller may be able to show that the tyre was x-rayed to prove there is no internal damage.
4. Make sure that the tyre is the correct size and design for your car and that it has the proper load and speed rating for its intended use. You can obtain information on the correct tyre for your particular vehicle from the manufacturer or from the owner’s handbook.
5. Ask the age of the tyre and ensure that it is no more than six years old. At the NCT, a six-year-old tyre is again a “pass advisory” item and you will be informed that the tyre will need replacing soon. The risk of tyre failure increases as tyres age and tyres may begin to exhibit signs of aging – such as crazing and cracking on the side wall – after they pass the six-year mark. The serial number on the sidewall of the tyre will indicate the year in which it was made. See the box below for what to look for.
6. Be sure that you are getting value for money by buying a part-worn tyre instead of a new tyre. Much will depend on how much tread depth you are getting for your money. As the RSA points out, if you buy a second-hand tyre with 3.6mm of tread depth for €30, it will provide 2mm of usable tread depth before reaching the minimum legal limit of 1.6mm and end up costing €15 per millimetre. In contrast, a brand new tyre costing €80 and typically offering 8mm of tread depth, has 6.4mm of usable tread depth and will ultimately cost €12.50 per millimetre. So in the RSA’s scenario, buying new represents better value.

Thus, there are a number of aspects to consider when buying part-worn tyres – so check them out carefully before handing over any cash and do your homework and some mental calculations to see if buying new would be a better deal in the long run.

How to tell the age of your tyre

Whether you are thinking of buying part-worn tyres or checking the existing tyres on your car, it is important to know when your tyres were manufactured and how far they are into their life cycle. Fortunately, the date of manufacture should be visible on the tyre itself. Among the many markings on a tyre sidewall is its serial number, the last four digits of which refer to the date the tyre was made, with the first two of these digits indicating the week of manufacture (from 01 to 52) and the final two digits indicating the year. So, if the production date code is 1512, that means the tyre was manufactured in the fifteenth week of 2012.

The point is often made that four patches of rubber, each about the size of a human hand, is your only contact with the road when you are driving along – so your car tyres need to be up to the job in terms of safety and performance. Our rigorous tests look in detail at how tyres cope with both dry-road and wet-road conditions, with testers assessing directional stability, steering response and braking performance as well as providing independent ratings for fuel consumption and interior and exterior noise levels. We also evaluate how long a tyre will last by mounting tyres onto a weighted test rig, measuring the rate of wear after 5,000km and extrapolating the results to predict how far the tyres will be able to travel before tread depth falls below the legal limit of 1.6mm.

Regular tyre checks

Given that your tyres are the only point of contact between your car and the road, it is important that they are kept in tip-top condition to help ensure safe driving as well as to preserve quality and performance. According to experts, doing a regular safety check every two weeks takes a just few minutes and can even save you money by reducing fuel consumption.

1. First, perform a visual check, looking for anything unusual in the way of bulges, cuts, lodged debris, signs of age deterioration or other abnormalities, which, if not dealt with, could lead to lead to more serious problems whilst driving.
2. Next, check the tread depth of your tyres. As your tyre tread wears down, you have less control when driving and stopping in wet weather. The tread grooves disperse water from underneath your tyre, helping maintain control, and the more tread depth a tyre has, the more water it can disperse, reducing the risk of aquaplaning. Make sure to replace worn tyres before the tread depth reaches the minimum legal limit of 1.6mm, at which point tyres and brakes may only be 55% effective in the wet.
3. Lastly, it is important to check tyre pressure to make sure your tyres are not over- or under-inflated. Tyre pressures may vary depending on the vehicle model and the load being carried. Your car’s handbook will tell you how much air you should have in your tyres. Correct tyre pressure reduces the risk of losing control of your car and it even saves fuel. If the tyre pressure is too low, you will use more fuel and cause premature wear to the edges of the tyres, shortening their life. Over-inflating tyres, on the other hand, can lead to unpredictable handling and accelerate tread wear along the centre of the tyre.

In addition to these regular checks, the Road Safety Authority recommends that you ensure that your wheels are correctly aligned and balanced for the proper upkeep of your tyres and vehicle. Wheel alignment involves adjusting the angles of the wheels so that they are perpendicular to the ground and parallel with each other. This can help to maximise tyre life, reducing uneven or rapid tyre wear, and ensures that your car will drive straight and true on level surfaces. Wheel balancing allows the tyres and wheels to spin without causing any vibrations. A “scalloped” or “cupped” wear pattern on tyres indicates that the wheels are out of balance.

Part-worn tyres

Cash-strapped consumers may look to minimise their motoring costs by buying part-worn tyres instead of brand new products. Ireland’s Road Safety Authority (RSA) has some advice for those considering such a move to ensure that the second-hand products bought will be sufficiently safe and fit for purpose.

1. Check that the tyre has an E mark, as this is a requirement for the NCT.
2. Check the tread depth of the tyre. Your car’s safety and performance, particularly in wet conditions, are reduced as tyres wear. The minimum legal requirement is for a depth of 1.6mm but, for safety, tyres should have at least 3mm of tread depth. At the NCT, you will be informed if your tyres have a tread depth of less than 3mm and your car will receive a “pass advisory”, so it will not fail the NCT but you are advised that your tyres may soon need to be changed. You can measure the tread depth of a potential purchase using a tread depth gauge or the handy pop-out card that comes in the RSA leaflet entitled Your Guide to Tyre Safety, which you can pick up in a range of locations including NCT centres, NDLS centres, driving test centres, pharmacies, and social welfare offices. Tread depth should always be measured at the centre of the tyre and not at its edges.
3. Ask the seller to confirm that the tyre has been through a condition check to ensure that it satisfies the minimum legal requirements and that it has no defects – such as tears, lumps or bulges – either externally or internally. You will not be able to see any damage that has occurred on the inside of the tyre but the seller may be able to show that the tyre was x-rayed to prove there is no internal damage.
5. Make sure that the tyre is the correct size and design for your car and that it has the proper load and speed rating for its intended use. You can obtain information on the correct tyre for your particular vehicle from the manufacturer or from the owner’s handbook.
6. Ask the age of the tyre and ensure that it is no more than six years old. At the NCT, a six-year-old tyre is again a “pass advisory” item and you will be informed that the tyre will need replacing soon. The risk of tyre failure increases as tyres age and tyres may begin to exhibit signs of aging – such as crazing and cracking on the side wall – after they pass the six-year mark. The serial number on the sidewall of the tyre will indicate the year in which it was made. See the box below for what to look for.
7. Be sure that you are getting value for money by buying a part-worn tyre instead of a new tyre. Much will depend on how much tread depth you are getting for your money. As the RSA points out, if you buy a second-hand tyre with 3.6mm of tread depth for €30, it will provide 2mm of usable tread depth before reaching the minimum legal limit of 1.6mm and end up costing €15 per millimetre. In contrast, a brand new tyre costing €80 and typically offering 8mm of tread depth, has 6.4mm of usable tread depth and will ultimately cost €12.50 per millimetre. So in the RSA’s scenario, buying new represents better value.

Thus, there are a number of aspects to consider when buying part-worn tyres – so check them out carefully before handing over any cash and do your homework and some mental calculations to see if buying new would be a better deal in the long run.

How to tell the age of your tyre

Whether you are thinking of buying part-worn tyres or checking the existing tyres on your car, it is important to know when your tyres were manufactured and how far they are into their life cycle. Fortunately, the date of manufacture should be visible on the tyre itself. Among the many markings on a tyre sidewall is its serial number, the last four digits of which refer to the date the tyre was made, with the first two of these digits indicating the week of manufacture (from 01 to 52) and the final two digits indicating the year. So, if the production date code is 1512, that means the tyre was manufactured in the fifteenth week of 2012.

The point is often made that four patches of rubber, each about the size of a human hand, is your only contact with the road when you are driving along – so your car tyres need to be up to the job in terms of safety and performance. Our rigorous tests look in detail at how tyres cope with both dry-road and wet-road conditions, with testers assessing directional stability, steering response and braking performance as well as providing independent ratings for fuel consumption and interior and exterior noise levels. We also evaluate how long a tyre will last by mounting tyres onto a weighted test rig, measuring the rate of wear after 5,000km and extrapolating the results to predict how far the tyres will be able to travel before tread depth falls below the legal limit of 1.6mm.

Regular tyre checks

Given that your tyres are the only point of contact between your car and the road, it is important that they are kept in tip-top condition to help ensure safe driving as well as to preserve quality and performance. According to experts, doing a regular safety check every two weeks takes a just few minutes and can even save you money by reducing fuel consumption.

1. First, perform a visual check, looking for anything unusual in the way of bulges, cuts, lodged debris, signs of age deterioration or other abnormalities, which, if not dealt with, could lead to lead to more serious problems whilst driving.
2. Next, check the tread depth of your tyres. As your tyre tread wears down, you have less control when driving and stopping in wet weather. The tread grooves disperse water from underneath your tyre, helping maintain control, and the more tread depth a tyre has, the more water it can disperse, reducing the risk of aquaplaning. Make sure to replace worn tyres before the tread depth reaches the minimum legal limit of 1.6mm, at which point tyres and brakes may only be 55% effective in the wet.
3. Lastly, it is important to check tyre pressure to make sure your tyres are not over- or under-inflated. Tyre pressures may vary depending on the vehicle model and the load being carried. Your car’s handbook will tell you how much air you should have in your tyres. Correct tyre pressure reduces the risk of losing control of your car and it even saves fuel. If the tyre pressure is too low, you will use more fuel and cause premature wear to the edges of the tyres, shortening their life. Over-inflating tyres, on the other hand, can lead to unpredictable handling and accelerate tread wear along the centre of the tyre.

In addition to these regular checks, the Road Safety Authority recommends that you ensure that your wheels are correctly aligned and balanced for the proper upkeep of your tyres and vehicle. Wheel alignment involves adjusting the angles of the wheels so that they are perpendicular to the ground and parallel with each other. This can help to maximise tyre life, reducing uneven or rapid tyre wear, and ensures that your car will drive straight and true on level surfaces. Wheel balancing allows the tyres and wheels to spin without causing any vibrations. A “scalloped” or “cupped” wear pattern on tyres indicates that the wheels are out of balance.

Part-worn tyres

Cash-strapped consumers may look to minimise their motoring costs by buying part-worn tyres instead of brand new products. Ireland’s Road Safety Authority (RSA) has some advice for those considering such a move to ensure that the second-hand products bought will be sufficiently safe and fit for purpose.

1. Check that the tyre has an E mark, as this is a requirement for the NCT.
2. Check the tread depth of the tyre. Your car’s safety and performance, particularly in wet conditions, are reduced as tyres wear. The minimum legal requirement is for a depth of 1.6mm but, for safety, tyres should have at least 3mm of tread depth. At the NCT, you will be informed if your tyres have a tread depth of less than 3mm and your car will receive a “pass advisory”, so it will not fail the NCT but you are advised that your tyres may soon need to be changed. You can measure the tread depth of a potential purchase using a tread depth gauge or the handy pop-out card that comes in the RSA leaflet entitled Your Guide to Tyre Safety, which you can pick up in a range of locations including NCT centres, NDLS centres, driving test centres, pharmacies, and social welfare offices. Tread depth should always be measured at the centre of the tyre and not at its edges.
3. Ask the seller to confirm that the tyre has been through a condition check to ensure that it satisfies the minimum legal requirements and that it has no defects – such as tears, lumps or bulges – either externally or internally. You will not be able to see any damage that has occurred on the inside of the tyre but the seller may be able to show that the tyre was x-rayed to prove there is no internal damage.
4. Make sure that the tyre is the correct size and design for your car and that it has the proper load and speed rating for its intended use. You can obtain information on the correct tyre for your particular vehicle from the manufacturer or from the owner’s handbook.
5. Ask the age of the tyre and ensure that it is no more than six years old. At the NCT, a six-year-old tyre is again a “pass advisory” item and you will be informed that the tyre will need replacing soon. The risk of tyre failure increases as tyres age and tyres may begin to exhibit signs of aging – such as crazing and cracking on the side wall – after they pass the six-year mark. The serial number on the sidewall of the tyre will indicate the year in which it was made. See the box below for what to look for.
6. Be sure that you are getting value for money by buying a part-worn tyre instead of a new tyre. Much will depend on how much tread depth you are getting for your money. As the RSA points out, if you buy a second-hand tyre with 3.6mm of tread depth for €30, it will provide 2mm of usable tread depth before reaching the minimum legal limit of 1.6mm and end up costing €15 per millimetre. In contrast, a brand new tyre costing €80 and typically offering 8mm of tread depth, has 6.4mm of usable tread depth and will ultimately cost €12.50 per millimetre. So in the RSA’s scenario, buying new represents better value.

Thus, there are a number of aspects to consider when buying part-worn tyres – so check them out carefully before handing over any cash and do your homework and some mental calculations to see if buying new would be a better deal in the long run.

How to tell the age of your tyre

Whether you are thinking of buying part-worn tyres or checking the existing tyres on your car, it is important to know when your tyres were manufactured and how far they are into their life cycle. Fortunately, the date of manufacture should be visible on the tyre itself. Among the many markings on a tyre sidewall is its serial number, the last four digits of which refer to the date the tyre was made, with the first two of these digits indicating the week of manufacture (from 01 to 52) and the final two digits indicating the year. So, if the production date code is 1512, that means the tyre was manufactured in the fifteenth week of 2012.

The point is often made that four patches of rubber, each about the size of a human hand, is your only contact with the road when you are driving along – so your car tyres need to be up to the job in terms of safety and performance. Our rigorous tests look in detail at how tyres cope with both dry-road and wet-road conditions, with testers assessing directional stability, steering response and braking performance as well as providing independent ratings for fuel consumption and interior and exterior noise levels. We also evaluate how long a tyre will last by mounting tyres onto a weighted test rig, measuring the rate of wear after 5,000km and extrapolating the results to predict how far the tyres will be able to travel before tread depth falls below the legal limit of 1.6mm.

Regular tyre checks

Given that your tyres are the only point of contact between your car and the road, it is important that they are kept in tip-top condition to help ensure safe driving as well as to preserve quality and performance. According to experts, doing a regular safety check every two weeks takes a just few minutes and can even save you money by reducing fuel consumption.

1. First, perform a visual check, looking for anything unusual in the way of bulges, cuts, lodged debris, signs of age deterioration or other abnormalities, which, if not dealt with, could lead to lead to more serious problems whilst driving.
2. Next, check the tread depth of your tyres. As your tyre tread wears down, you have less control when driving and stopping in wet weather. The tread grooves disperse water from underneath your tyre, helping maintain control, and the more tread depth a tyre has, the more water it can disperse, reducing the risk of aquaplaning. Make sure to replace worn tyres before the tread depth reaches the minimum legal limit of 1.6mm, at which point tyres and brakes may only be 55% effective in the wet.
3. Lastly, it is important to check tyre pressure to make sure your tyres are not over- or under-inflated. Tyre pressures may vary depending on the vehicle model and the load being carried. Your car’s handbook will tell you how much air you should have in your tyres. Correct tyre pressure reduces the risk of losing control of your car and it even saves fuel. If the tyre pressure is too low, you will use more fuel and cause premature wear to the edges of the tyres, shortening their life. Over-inflating tyres, on the other hand, can lead to unpredictable handling and accelerate tread wear along the centre of the tyre.

In addition to these regular checks, the Road Safety Authority recommends that you ensure that your wheels are correctly aligned and balanced for the proper upkeep of your tyres and vehicle. Wheel alignment involves adjusting the angles of the wheels so that they are perpendicular to the ground and parallel with each other. This can help to maximise tyre life, reducing uneven or rapid tyre wear, and ensures that your car will drive straight and true on level surfaces. Wheel balancing allows the tyres and wheels to spin without causing any vibrations. A “scalloped” or “cupped” wear pattern on tyres indicates that the wheels are out of balance.

Part-worn tyres

Cash-strapped consumers may look to minimise their motoring costs by buying part-worn tyres instead of brand new products. Ireland’s Road Safety Authority (RSA) has some advice for those considering such a move to ensure that the second-hand products bought will be sufficiently safe and fit for purpose.

1. Check that the tyre has an E mark, as this is a requirement for the NCT.
2. Check the tread depth of the tyre. Your car’s safety and performance, particularly in wet conditions, are reduced as tyres wear. The minimum legal requirement is for a depth of 1.6mm but, for safety, tyres should have at least 3mm of tread depth. At the NCT, you will be informed if your tyres have a tread depth of less than 3mm and your car will receive a “pass advisory”, so it will not fail the NCT but you are advised that your tyres may soon need to be changed. You can measure the tread depth of a potential purchase using a tread depth gauge or the handy pop-out card that comes in the RSA leaflet entitled Your Guide to Tyre Safety, which you can pick up in a range of locations including NCT centres, NDLS centres, driving test centres, pharmacies, and social welfare offices. Tread depth should always be measured at the centre of the tyre and not at its edges.
3. Ask the seller to confirm that the tyre has been through a condition check to ensure that it satisfies the minimum legal requirements and that it has no defects – such as tears, lumps or bulges – either externally or internally. You will not be able to see any damage that has occurred on the inside of the tyre but the seller may be able to show that the tyre was x-rayed to prove there is no internal damage.
4. Make sure that the tyre is the correct size and design for your car and that it has the proper load and speed rating for its intended use. You can obtain information on the correct tyre for your particular vehicle from the manufacturer or from the owner’s handbook.
5. Ask the age of the tyre and ensure that it is no more than six years old. At the NCT, a six-year-old tyre is again a “pass advisory” item and you will be informed that the tyre will need replacing soon. The risk of tyre failure increases as tyres age and tyres may begin to exhibit signs of aging – such as crazing and cracking on the side wall – after they pass the six-year mark. The serial number on the sidewall of the tyre will indicate the year in which it was made. See the box below for what to look for.
6. Be sure that you are getting value for money by buying a part-worn tyre instead of a new tyre. Much will depend on how much tread depth you are getting for your money. As the RSA points out, if you buy a second-hand tyre with 3.6mm of tread depth for €30, it will provide 2mm of usable tread depth before reaching the minimum legal limit of 1.6mm and end up costing €15 per millimetre. In contrast, a brand new tyre costing €80 and typically offering 8mm of tread depth, has 6.4mm of usable tread depth and will ultimately cost €12.50 per millimetre. So in the RSA’s scenario, buying new represents better value.

Thus, there are a number of aspects to consider when buying part-worn tyres – so check them out carefully before handing over any cash and do your homework and some mental calculations to see if buying new would be a better deal in the long run.

How to tell the age of your tyre

Whether you are thinking of buying part-worn tyres or checking the existing tyres on your car, it is important to know when your tyres were manufactured and how far they are into their life cycle. Fortunately, the date of manufacture should be visible on the tyre itself. Among the many markings on a tyre sidewall is its serial number, the last four digits of which refer to the date the tyre was made, with the first two of these digits indicating the week of manufacture (from 01 to 52) and the final two digits indicating the year. So, if the production date code is 1512, that means the tyre was manufactured in the fifteenth week of 2012.

Introduced in the 1930s, men’s electric shavers are certainly a convenient alternative to blade shaving, which requires hot water, lather, and a fair bit of patience. In contrast, if you are stuck for time and have no access to warm water or shaving cream, an electric shaver is a useful, portable option that will leave you stubble-free in a matter of minutes. And if you don’t want to be completely stubble-free, many electric shavers have the ability to control how close a shave you achieve. Electric shavers with built-in trimmers are great at administering an even length of facial hair, letting you sport that stubbly look.
Waterproofing on electric shavers is becoming increasingly common, so many models can now also facilitate wet shaving using gel or foam and can even be taken into the shower for a spot of multitasking. Of course, the initial investment involved in buying an electric shaver is significantly higher compared to a hand razor, and the heads will need replacing approximately every two years. In addition, many men believe that a wet razor blade delivers a closer shave than an electric model can manage. However, if you are looking for an electric shaver, here is what you need to know and we have some Choice Buys for you to consider.

Shaver types

When it comes to electric shavers, the main choice to be made is between a foil system or a rotary system. Foil shavers have straight floating heads designed to glide over facial contours, with oscillating blades behind a fine perforated foil to cut hair. In contrast, rotary shavers have usually three circular floating heads that again glide over the face’s curves, with blades that spin behind a fine grid to lift and then cut stubble. Each type has its fans, and the decision here is largely a matter of preference as they both do a good job, with examples of each among our Choice Buys. In terms of powering electric shavers, some basic models are corded and need to be plugged into the mains in order to work, but more common are models that give you the option of being used either cordless or connected to the mains. This gives you the best of both worlds, as you have the freedom to be able to move around as you shave but you can plug the device in if you have forgotten to charge it and are in a hurry. Cordless-only models will need to be charged before you can use them so you will need to think ahead – though, if you have run out of charge, many provide a quick-charge option that will give you sufficient power for an emergency shave in just a few minutes. All “Wet and Dry” models are cordless-only to ensure that you won’t be tempted to plug them in while you are in the shower.

Features to look for

When choosing an electric shaver, here are some features you might like to consider before you buy:

Battery life – cordless shavers are very popular due to the freedom to move around that they offer but there are significant differences in the number of shaves a fully charged battery will deliver. For example, among our Choice Buys, testers found that the Philips Senseo Touch 3D RQ12150/17 was good for nine shaves, whereas the Braun Series 5 5030 delivered an impressive 26 shaves – this could be the difference between having to pack your charger when going on a two-week holiday or being able to leave the charger at home and just popping your fully charged shaver into your luggage.
Battery indicator – Some shavers have a warning light to let you know when the battery is running low so you can take action and recharge it before you get caught short.
Quick-charge option– If you do find yourself with an uncharged shaver, many models have a quick-charge feature that will power up the device in three-to-five minutes and provide enough energy for one good shave.
Pop-up trimmer – Some shavers incorporate a pop-up trimmer that is useful for tidying up sideburns and other facial hair. Because this is integrated into the shaver, you don’t have to keep swapping gadgets as you get ready in the morning. However, it is useful if the trimmer can lock into position as otherwise it can pop down again once pressure is applied, making grooming a bit awkward.
Cleaning stations – Like most devices, shavers need a bit of maintenance in order to keep them in tip-top condition, and this involves regularly cleaning the heads to remove cut hair and skin particles. Some pricier models come supplied with cleaning stations that users can pop their shaver into after use and a sanitising liquid is pumped through the cutters. Although undoubtedly a convenient option, cleaning stations push up the shaver’s purchase price and may require proprietary cleaning solutions and cartridges that will add further expense. For a cheaper option that requires only a small amount of effort, you can usually clean the shaver’s head yourself by rinsing it under the tap.

Samsung continues to refine its flagship smartphone with the Galaxy S5, which sports a stunning screen, superfast performance, and some innovative and, more importantly, useful new features. This sturdy, hard-wearing model is dust and water resistant and will keep running for an impressively long time on its enormous battery, with a power saving mode to eke out the last of the charge when power runs low. It scored highly across all tests in our independent labs, though its cousin, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, remains at the top of our smartphone leaderboard.

Beautiful on the inside

Not the most stylish model around, the Samsung Galaxy S5 emphasizes function over form. It is generally accepted that design has not been the strong point of Samsung products, with their plastic casing lacking the premium finish of the recent sleek, metal-backed offerings from Apple, HTC and Sony. The new phone has a more solid feel than its predecessor, the Galaxy S4, with a wider back and a dimpled faux-leather covering that makes it easier to grip but that has somewhat unkindly been likened to a sticking plaster. However, inside the plastic casing, there is much to admire, with very high specifications all round.
The Samsung Galaxy S5 has a 2.5GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 801 processor, the fastest processor to appear on an Android phone yet, making for super-speedy and very smooth performance when surfing the Web, accessing multiple apps and switching between programmes.
It has a whopping 2800mAh removable battery that delivers a plentiful supply of power, with a fully charged phone enabling up to 21 hours of call time – more than double that of the Apple iPhone 5s, for example. And when power is running low, users can activate the Ultra Power Saving mode that will extend battery life by switching the screen to black and white and closing down all unnecessary features, providing up to a day’s worth of extra standby power.
Internal storage capacity is a relatively modest 16GB but, of this, a very healthy 11.7GB is available for users. In addition, memory capacity can be significantly expanded through the micro SD memory card slot by up to 128GB. Samsung’s newest smartphone runs Android 4.4.2, the latest version of the operating system, providing access to great Google apps like Google Maps as well as the extensive offerings of the Google Play Store.

Screen and camera

With a 5.1-inch screen, this is a large phone, which won’t suit everybody, but it does leave plenty of room to show off its stunning 1080 x 1920 Super AMOLED display. As well as being slightly bigger than the screen on the Galaxy S4, it is also brighter and more vibrant, with an Adapt Mode that constantly alters the display colour to deliver maximum readability, helping to deal effectively with challenging outdoor viewing conditions. The Galaxy S5 has a great 16-MP camera with a powerful sensor and swift autofocus as well as an effective HDR mode to make photos brighter and more vivid in strong sunlight. The camera also offers selective focus – or background defocus – where the subject remains in focus and the background or foreground is blurred for a professional effect. Many high-end smartphone manufacturers have started introducing this capability but other phones, such as the HTC One, deliver better in this area than the Galaxy S5, which can be a bit hit and miss. Video capabilities are impressive on the new Samsung phone, which can even capture footage in ultra-HD – or 4K resolution – though this option will take up a huge amount of storage space.

What else?

The Galaxy S5 offers plenty of advanced features with one much discussed offering being the heart rate monitor positioned on the rear of the device underneath the camera. By simply placing your finger on the sensor, you can measure your heart rate whenever you fancy it – though it is questionable how useful this feature really is beyond the initial novelty value. Another much talked-about element is the fingerprint scanner for unlocking the phone and authorising PayPal transactions. Although not matching the accuracy of Apple’s TouchID on its iPhone 5s, Samsung’s fingerprint scanner works pretty well as a security feature. This phone can access faster 4G for those to whom it is available and the Download Booster option can use both 4G and wi-fi simultaneously for super-speedy downloading of files larger than 30MB. The Galaxy S5 also offers an improved S Health app with fitness-tracking features that include a pedometer and a calorie counter.

There are a large number of good-to-excellent high-end smartphones already on the market competing for consumers’ attention. The Samsung Galaxy S5 certainly holds its own and although it did not quite outperform the manufacturer’s Galaxy Note 3, many will prefer the lighter, less unwieldy S5 with its range of functional features and improved camera capabilities.
As well as the more standard black and white versions, this Samsung phone is available in blue and gold colours and is priced at around €620.

Announced on 9th September 2014, the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus were in Irish shops approximately a month later and have undergone rigorous testing in our independent labs to emerge with high scores all round. For years, Apple has steadfastly stuck by its 3.5- and 4-inch screens despite the ever-increasing display size provided by many major rivals, but with its latest offerings the Cupertino manufacturer has embraced the larger smartphone with the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and has entered “phablet” territory with the massive 5.5-inch iPhone 6 Plus. Other changes may be less striking – such as higher resolution, swifter processing and an enhanced camera – but they all go to make two outstanding new smartphones from Apple.

The redesign

Available in “space grey”, silver and gold and with an aluminium frame, these new devices have curved corners rather than the square look normally associated with Apple’s phones and are even slimmer than the iPhone 5s. Compared with a thickness of 7.6mm on the 5s, the iPhone 6 Plus is just 7.1mm and the 6 is even thinner at just 6.9mm. The increased screen size on the new iPhones delivers a clear advantage when it comes to typing emails, watching videos, viewing maps, playing games and so on, but one-handed operation can be tricky with bigger phones and some may find them uncomfortably large, with the very sizeable dimensions of the 6 Plus posing a particular challenge. To help longtime Apple users adjust to the larger screen and facilitate one-handed use, a “reachability” feature may be used to slide the phone desktop down to the middle of the screen, bringing the top apps and controls closer to your thumb. Available on both the new phones, this feature makes most sense on the larger screen of the 6 Plus but even here some testers have found it cumbersome to use.

Improvements

The new devices are the first Apple phones to sport the manufacturer’s Retina HD display, providing bright, detailed images with great colour representation and excellent viewing angles. Whereas the iPhone 6 has a resolution of 1334 x 750, the 6 Plus sports 1920 x 1080 resolution – neither of which are equal to the resolution of some top-of-the-range Android rivals but still make for a very satisfying viewing experience. And with the introduction of a new polarised layer in the glass, readability in bright sunlight is much improved.

The new Apple phones have swapped the A7 chip of the 5s for a 64-bit A8 chip with the aim to further increase already-very-fast speeds and indeed the 6 and 6 Plus handle heavy loads with ease, multitasking effortlessly and providing smooth and swift operation when surfing the web and loading and playing games.

Camera function

Compared with many other smartphone cameras, the resolution on both the new iPhones’ rear-facing cameras is a fairly modest 8MP, equal to that of the 5s, but the new devices also come with several enhancements – such as higher video frame rates, quicker focusing and an improved sensor – to deliver even better quality images than their predecessor. The image quality competes well with other top models and these phones deliver excellent video and sound recording. In addition, on the 6 Plus, the introduction of an optical image stabiliser should minimise the problem of camera shake and produces great results in low-light conditions. One thing to watch out for is that the camera lens sticks out a bit from the chassis on the back, though the sapphire glass that covers the lens should keep it safe from scratches. If you are a fan of taking selfies and making video calls, the 1.2MP camera on the front of these phones will do a good job even in less-than-ideal lighting conditions.

Bending…the truth

One issue that has received much publicity online and elsewhere is that these very thin devices reportedly were bending when kept in the back pockets of tight jeans. Our sister consumer organisation in the US, Consumer Reports, decided to put this aspect of the iPhone 6 and 6 Plus through its own tests and found that these devices are not as bendy as had been suggested. The new phones underwent a stress test known as a “three-point flexural test” that involved supporting the devices at either end and applying an increasingly strong force to a third point on the top. For comparison purposes, Consumer Reports also tested the LG G3, the Samsung Galaxy Note 3, the HTC One (M8) and the iPhone 5. All the phones on test were found to be fairly tough and both Apple phones outperformed the sturdy HTC One, with the iPhone 6 withstanding 70 pounds of force before bending and the 6 Plus able to take up to 90 pounds. The other phones showed themselves to be even more robust but the Consumer Reports results indicate that despite their slimline design, the new iPhones should have no problem standing up to typical use.

What else?

Both phones were tested with iOS 8, which experienced some initial teething problems that the iOS 8.0.2 update aims to fix. The test results below are for the 16GB versions of these phones but Apple also offers 64GB and 128GB models for those who need the extra storage.
The iPhone 6 Plus has a bigger battery than its smaller sibling, which translates into longer battery life – in our tests, the iPhone 6 managed a very decent 14 hours permanent call time in 3G whereas the Plus delivered an impressive 24 hours.
Like the 5s, the iPhone 6 and the 6 Plus have a fingerprint identity sensor built into the Home button for fast and secure access. These iPhones are touted as coming with NFC (near field communication) but its use will be limited to the new mobile payment service known as Apple Pay. This contactless payment service became available to US iPhone 6 and 6 Plus owners in October 2014 but will not reach this side of the Atlantic for some time, making the NFC capability somewhat redundant here for a while.

Big or bigger?

If you love your iPhone but have been looking enviously at the generous-sized screens of many Android smartphones, the iPhone 6 could be ideal. Most people find it comfortable enough to hold in one hand but it is a major leap up in terms of size so it is important to get your hands on a model before you buy to make sure it will suit you. The 6 Plus is a very large phone and is difficult to use one-handed, so it will not appeal to everyone. However, you will get a more iPad-like user experience with the 6 Plus on a device that is significantly smaller than a tablet and that will still – just about – fit in a pocket. The longer battery life of the 6 Plus also could sway it for you and the bigger phone’s camera is better with optical image stabilisation, if you are planning to take lots of snaps. These are both excellent phones, depending on what you are looking for, but, as ever with Apple products, they come with very substantial price tags – from €650 for the iPhone 6 and from €750 for the 6 Plus for the 16GB versions on prepay – so be sure you like the feel of them before opting to go large.

A great jug blender can be an excellent addition in your kitchen’s arsenal. Jug blenders can come in handy if you are entertaining – by whipping up the odd cocktail, for example – but they can also be great in everyday use for those focused on healthier living and eating. Getting your required “five-a-day” becomes a breeze when you can quickly and easily blend berries and fruits for a nutritious breakfast smoothie and whizz vegetables galore into nourishing and low-calorie soups that make for light lunches and simple starters.

Blenders on test

Often, blenders are left on display, making a stylish statement on the countertop, but appearance is not everything. If you are looking for a blender to deliver vitamin-rich smoothies to get your day off to an energizing start and to help produce a seasonal soup to warm you up after a hard day at work, you will need an appliance that quickly and efficiently blends to the desired consistency, that is easy to use and clean, and that preferably doesn’t make a loud and unpleasant noise while operating. Our test results below reveal how ten jug blenders fared in these areas when assessed in our labs. All the jug blenders on test are able to crush ice for those who want to use their appliance to mix drinks. However, performance here varied considerably and, generally speaking, only the more expensive appliances had sufficient oomph to score highly in our ice-crushing tests. Though our safety tests do not form part of the overall score, all the blenders tested have good safety features in place.

Choosing a blender

Beyond performance, ease of use and noise, here are some other aspects you might like to consider when shopping for a blender:

Base – A solid, heavy base with non-slip feet or suction grip holds the blender steady on the bench when it is in operation.

Controls – Sealed controls or touchpad controls are easiest to clean as food cannot become trapped in crevices.

Wattage – The blenders on test range in terms of wattage from 400W to 1200W but the higher power does not necessarily translate into improved performance.

Jug – A blender’s jug can be made out of glass or plastic. Glass jugs are heavier and very likely to break if dropped but they tend to be easier to clean. Plastic jugs are lighter but they can become stained with certain foods and can absorb the smell of whatever is inside.

Markings – Clear markings on the jug with easy-to-read numbers and maximum and minimum levels help you measure more accurately.

Chute – A good-sized chute enables you to add ingredients to the mixture without spills while the blender is working.

Pulse function – This feature provides a short burst of power and helps to fine-tune blending to your specific requirements as there is no lag time between when you push the button and when the blender starts or stops.

Lid – It is worth checking that the lid is easy to take off as the suction on some lids can make removal tricky.

Blades – Attached blades make cleaning awkward so a removable blade makes life much easier when it comes to washing the appliance after use.

Since 1997, Euro NCAP has been organising crash tests and offering motorists an independent assessment of the safety performance of the best-selling cars in Europe. Euro NCAP is made up of seven European governments and motoring and consumer organisations in every European country, including International Consumer Research and Testing (ICRT) to which the Consumers’ Association of Ireland is affiliated. The aim is two-fold – as well as making independent information about a car’s comparative safety available to consumers, Euro NCAP results incentivise manufacturers to improve the safety of their cars. Evidence shows that advances in vehicle safety have led to the greatest reduction in road accident casualties. Legislation sets minimum safety standards that all cars must meet in order to be put on sale in Europe but Euro NCAP seeks to encourage manufacturers to exceed these safety standards and its tests are far more rigorous, highlighting the differences between cars’ safety performance. To achieve a five-star Euro NCAP rating, a car must far exceed the minimum safety standards required by law. Safety is a key element in the decision to purchase a car, and consumers who want the highest level of safety should look for vehicles that have garnered five stars in Euro NCAP’s rating scheme. Tests carried out in 2014 have yielded a large number of five-star ratings and 14 Choice Buys.

Euro NCAP Advanced

In addition to Euro NCAP’s star rating system, Euro NCAP Advanced was introduced in 2010 to reward and recognise car manufacturers that provide new technologies that demonstrate a scientifically proven safety benefit for consumers and society. New and advanced technologies – such as autonomous emergency braking, speed alert systems and automatic emergency call – are significantly expanding the automotive safety landscape and by rewarding such technologies, Euro NCAP encourages and motivates manufacturers to accelerate the standard fitment of important safety equipment across their model ranges. Euro NCAP rewards also offer consumers clear guidance about the safety benefits offered by these new advancements. For each technology nominated by a car manufacturer, Euro NCAP assigns a panel of objective experts who analyse the way in which the technology has been developed, tested and validated and determine the system’s performance and expected effectiveness. Where the analysis reveals very positive results, Euro NCAP rewards the technology and highlights the findings on its website, www.euroncap.com. In 2014, two technologies received the Euro NCAP Advanced rewards:

Opel Side Blind Spot Alert

The Opel Side Blind Spot Alert (SBSA) system is designed to help a driver to avoid dangerous situations or collisions with other road users when changing lanes. Ultrasonic sensors are used to scan the area to the side and diagonally to the rear of the car, and the system alerts the driver if there is another vehicle in the driver’s “blind spot”. An indicator light in the door mirror lets the driver know if a vehicle might be in the blind spot on that side and if the driver uses a direction indicator when another vehicle is within the danger zone, the warning indicator will begin to flash. The system monitors both sides of the vehicle, so that it can assist drivers when they are planning to overtake as well as when they are being overtaken, to ensure that the car can be safely returned to its lane. The system works at speeds up to 140km/h and can operate in almost all weather conditions, detecting all kinds of vehicles, including motorbikes.

According to Opel, close to 10% of all accidents are between vehicles driving in the same direction, and the Opel SBSA system has the potential to help avoid approximately 10% of such collisions. Given the nature of these accidents, the system delivers a greater safety benefit at high speeds and helps particularly to reduce severe and fatal accidents. The system has been extensively tested and a survey has demonstrated a high level of satisfaction among users, which is a key factor in ensuring its continued use. Euro NCAP has rewarded the Opel SBSA for its availability on the Opel Corsa – which achieved a five-star rating in the 2014 tests – as well as on the Opel Zafira, Astra, ADAM and Insignia. The system is offered either as an option or standard, depending on grade and market, and the availability of optional equipment may vary between countries, so interested consumers should check with their dealer if the system is available to them.

BMW Pedestrian Warning with City Braking Activation

BMW’s Pedestrian Warning with City Braking Activation system seeks to help avoid or mitigate pedestrian accidents at lower speeds. The system is designed to warn the driver and prompt him or her to take action if there is an imminent risk of colliding with a pedestrian. Using a camera in the base of the rear-view mirror, the system emits a warning from speeds of 10 km/h up to 60 km/h when a collision with a pedestrian is imminent and simultaneously preconditions the brakes for a quicker response in case the driver applies them. As a last resort, the car will autonomously apply the brakes shortly before the collision in the event that the driver does not respond to the warning.

According to the manufacturer, 20-30% of all serious accidents in cities involve vulnerable road users and approximately 10% of these accidents could potentially be avoided through the autonomous brake function alone. The expected benefit of the system is increased when the driver responds to the warning in due time. BMW has conducted extensive tests on the system, including simulations using different driver/pedestrian models, and Euro NCAP has carried out its own independent assessments that verify the manufacturer’s claims. Euro NCAP has rewarded BMW’s pedestrian warning system for its availability on the BMWi3 and on the BMW 2-Series, which garnered a five-star rating in the 2014 tests. The system is also offered as an option on the Mini One, but optional safety equipment may not be available in all countries and consumers are advised to check with their dealer.

Best-in-class cars of 2014

The best performers in their size categories in Euro NCAP’s 2014 tests were as follows:

• Supermini: Skoda Fabia
• Small Family Car: Nissan Qashqai
• Large Family Car: Mercedes-Benz C-Class
• Small Off-road 4×4: Land Rover Discovery Sport
• Small MPV (multipurpose vehicle): VW Golf Sportsvan

These cars all received five-star ratings and the highest overall scores in their respective categories last year. In 2014, Euro NCAP assessments featured new requirements for autonomous emergency braking (AEB) and also placed increased emphasis on “Safety Assist” – technologies that aid safe driving and help drivers to avoid a crash. The results reveal an emerging divide between small, price-competitive cars and larger vehicles. In the Large Family Car category, all vehicles tested garnered a five-star rating whereas the only car in the Supermini category to achieve five stars was the Skoda Fabia. This indicates that manufacturers continue to struggle to provide driver assist technology in market segments where every cent counts.

2014 testing changes

In the 2014 tests, crash avoidance systems are incorporated into the star rating. Assessments of autonomous emergency braking (AEB) systems are included, with low-speed whiplash protection systems included under Adult Occupant Protection scores and high-speed systems included under the Safety Assist score, which also incorporates lane support systems. Euro NCAP no longer tests electronic stability control (ESC) – which improves a vehicle’s dynamic stability by detecting loss and supporting the regain of control of the vehicle – but points are awarded for compliance with EU legislation. From 2014, pedestrian testing involves more detailed analysis of the bumper and front edge of the bonnet and greater weighting is given to Safety Assist in the calculation of the overall score, whereas the weighting afforded to Adult Occupant Protection is reduced. The star ratings from the 2014 tests contain more technical content than those from previous years so direct comparisons are not possible.

The smaller tablet has some clear advantages over its larger counterparts. With screen sizes of around seven or eight inches, measured diagonally – compared with the nine- and ten-inch screens of full-sized models – these devices offer greater portability and are lighter and more comfortable to hold for long periods of time. Crucially, they are also generally less expensive and this affordability particularly comes into play when parents are looking for a less costly alternative to a full-sized tablet or smartphone to give to children clamouring for a device of their own. Small tablets start at around the €100 mark and there some very worthy models available for €250 or less, comparing favourably to the cost of most full-sized tables and mid-range or high-end smartphones, which typically cost several hundred euro more. The chief drawback to seven- and eight-inch tablets is that the display might be a bit small for some content and the onscreen keyboard is tricky to use if you have lots of typing to do. However, for those who use their tablet for primarily entertainment purposes and who are prepared to compromise on the size of display, these devices are ideal.

Large phone vs. small tablet.

In recent times, manufacturers have been cranking out smaller tablets at a great rate, with numerous offerings on the market. Even Apple, having criticised the very idea of a small tablet, capitulated in 2012 and introduced the iPad mini. But as the number of small tablets on the market has been increasing, so has the number of large smartphones and commentators have noted that the growth of the larger phone could mean the decline of the smaller tablet in the future.
Take, for example, the latest product launches by Apple. The manufacturer again has yielded to popular opinion and, having for years stuck with phone screens that did not exceed four inches, it recently introduced both the 4.7-inch iPhone 6 and the 5.5 inch iPhone 6 Plus. However, now that there is an Apple device with a 5.5-inch screen, many may decide to opt for the manufacturer’s “phablet” rather than its 7.9-inch iPad mini 3 – the major difference between the two devices being that you can make phone calls on one and not on the other. Experts have questioned whether consumers who own a large smartphone will really feel the need to also own a small tablet and many think that there may well be a swing back towards full-sized tablets in the future as the substantially bigger screen real-estate offered by the larger devices will be seen as making the purchase of a second device a worthwhile investment.
Despite this, the growing interest in larger phones is unlikely to kill off all demand for smaller tablets as not everyone will want to carry around a phablet and will still see the need for a tablet at home. And as noted above, the family market may also keep small tablets from dying out as parents seek out small and less expensive devices for their children.

Tablets on test.

Time will tell how the future of the small tablet will pan out but, for the moment, there is certainly a wide range of devices to choose from. All the products in our reports are assessed by expert, independent laboratories and our test programmes evolve to take account of new developments in any given product area. We are always trying to improve our tests in order to offer the best possible advice to consumers and, to better reflect the shifting usage of tablet pcs, we have introduced some changes to the way we test these devices. In addition, given the growing capabilities of this product category, our tests have become ever-more stringent and rigorous. For this reason, there are some changes in terms of the scores achieved by older products when we retested them to directly compare them to newer models.

The prolific Samsung has produced an excellent small tablet that has managed to oust Apple from the top spot in this category, which successive iPad minis have enjoyed since they first made an appearance in late 2012. With its stunning 2560 x 1600 resolution screen and superfast processing within a very slim and ultralight frame, the Samsung Galaxy Tab S 8.4 has outperformed Apple’s just-launched iPad mini 3. From our test results, you can see how these high-end, newer devices measure up against less expensive alternatives and older models.

When displaying prices we do not show reduced prices or special offers as these may no longer be available by the time you read this. As some of the tablets on test have been around for a while, retailers may be offering them at sale prices and it is worth shopping around to find the best value you can. You may well be able to find many of the tablets on test at a significantly lower price than quoted here.

It should also be noted that test results are for the lowest-specification version available. If there are larger memory options or 3G/4G connectivity available, the versions of the tablets with these additions scored slightly higher than their lowest-specification versions. They will also be more expensive, sometimes significantly so.