Taking a trip in the car this summer? Make sure your tyres are safe!
UK road safety charity, TyreSafe, has issued a stark warning to motorists to help keep them safe on the roads this summer.
According to the charity, there are more reported tyre-related incidents in summer than any other time of the year. With cars taking longer journeys with extra loads, defective tyres can result in catastrophic failures.
To stay safe, TyreSafe is urging motorists to ACT (air pressure, condition, tread):
Air pressure – The air pressure of each tyre should also be checked using an accurate gauge. Typically, car manufacturers recommend two different tyre pressures, one for light loads and another for when the vehicle is full. It’s essential that drivers adjust the pressures to accommodate the load they are carrying. These settings can be found in the vehicle handbook, on reputable internet tyre pressure charts such as the one at tyresafe.org, and often in the vehicle’s fuel filler cap or door sill.
Condition – with a visual check, looking at the overall condition of each tyre to see if anything might have penetrated the tread, such as nails or other objects. If any of these objects, cracks or bulges are present, the driver should immediately seek professional advice.
Tread – drivers should check the tread of their tyres to ensure they are above the UK legal tread depth minimum of 1.6mm. Ideally an accurate tread depth gauge should be used but if this is not available, a 20p coin can be used as a guide. Insert the 20p into the main sections of the tyre and at various points around the circumference – should you see the outer rim at any point, you need to have the tread depth checked as it may be illegal.
Stuart Lovatt, TyreSafe Chair, said: “This summer could see the busiest roads yet, with current austerity causing more Brits to enjoy their well-earned summer break in the UK. Which means more cars on the road that are likely to be on longer journeys with heavier than normal loads – more passengers and more luggage. TyreSafe’s summer campaign takes a light hearted approach that conveys a very serious message. We want people to have an incredible summer holiday, being spared the distress and interruption a tyre related incident could cause.
“It only takes a few minutes to perform simple tyre checks that could save you hassle and at worse, a catastrophe. What’s more, driving on correctly inflated tyres on longer journeys could save money on fuel bills and decrease the rate of wear on your tyres.”
Cllr Tony Brennan, Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development, said: “With more and more of us choosing to stay in the UK for our holidays, it is important that we ensure our cars are safe and ready for potentially long journeys on the road. This advice from TyreSafe is simple but following it can help you avoid a collision this summer.”
TyreSafe’s Guide to Summer Motoring is available at www.tyresafe.org