When travelling in your car, one must remember that your only contact with the road are your tyres – so tyres are really important. The contact patch of your car’s tyres on the road surface is about the size of a postcard. Think about it – your car can have the fanciest braking system, and a powerful engine, but they become meaningless without good tyres. A chain is only as strong as its weakest link, they say. Thus, if tyres are that important, doesn’t it make sense to look after them?
TAKE CARE – THERE MAY BE CONSEQUENCES
If you, as the owner of your car, choose to neglect such vital items as tyres, you may be placing yourself, your passengers and other motorists in great danger. Not only that, but neglecting tyres may also have a serious impact on your car’s performance, which may result in expensive repairs.
REGULARLY MONITOR TYRE PRESSURES
It is important that tyre pressures are checked frequently, such as at least once a month. Tyres must be cold when being checked, and don’t forget the spare wheel. Always ask the garage attendant when checking tyre pressures if any particular tyre is showing a strikingly low pressure. If so, monitor that tyre, as it could mean a slow leak. Incorrect tyres pressures can affect the steering of your car, its handling and braking. Fuel consumption may also increase.
DON’T DRIVE WITH UNDERINFLATED OR OVERINFLATED TYRES
Driving with underinflated tyres will cause greater friction on the road, resulting in tyres overheating, which, in turn, could lead to a blowout. Such tyres will wear out more on the edges.
Overinflated tyres result in a smaller contact patch touching the road, and hence, greatest wear occurs in the middle of the tyre.
ENSURE TYRE PRESURES ARE CORRECT FOR LONG JOURNEYS
Before driving off on that long holiday trip, check in the manual what the tyres’ pressures should be when travelling long distances. In addition, extra passengers and suitcases may mean tyre pressures have to be adjusted accordingly.
LOOK FOR SIGNIFICANT WEAR AND TEAR AND ANY DAMAGE
It will mean you will have to go down on your knees and regularly inspect your tyres for any significant wear and tear or damage. Look out for any cuts, nails, and bulges. A tyre with a nail in its sidewall may well have to be replaced, as the sidewall’s structural integrity could be compromised. Seek professional advice from a tyre dealer if you are unsure.
WHEN YOU HAVE A PUNCTURE ON THE ROAD
When you have replaced the punctured tyre with the spare tyre, don’t forget to replace the spare tyre with the repaired one as soon as possible, as the spare tyre should only be used temporarily.
DO YOU WANT TO RISK HAVING YOUR ACCIDENT CLAIM REJECTED?
To have an accident claim rejected by an insurer can be financially devastating news to most of us. This can happen if your car is declared non-roadworthy, because the tyre tread depth was less than the legal depth 1.6 mm.Keep an eye on the treads and buy new tyres when the tread depth has reached 1.6 mm. It’s also dangerous to travel with an illegal tyre tread as the tyres’ grip on the road surface is compromised. Your car may start skidding in wet weather, and your stopping distance may become longer.
AVOID OVERLOADING YOUR CAR
An overloaded car is basically non-roadworthy and illegal as several of the roadworthy specifications may be compromised. Overloading your car has serious consequences, such as possible damage to the suspension, overstressing brakes, and overheating tyres with possible blowouts. In addition, the front wheels may want to lift off the ground at times, which means the driver is unable to steer properly. Tyres today display on their sidewall a load index number, which is the maximum load a particular tyre can handle. Check your manual or a placard on the door frame to avoid overloading your car.
HAVE YOU CHECKED THE WHEEL ALIGNMENT RECENTLY?
Wheels out of alignment can cause uneven wear in tyres, thus damaging them. The driver also has less control over the car, and fuel consumption can increase. Next time you are at a tyre dealership, have the wheel alignment checked.
AVOID GETTING TOO CLOSE TO A CURB
When parking your car, avoid scraping the sidewall of your tyres against the kerb, as this could either pinch a tyre or cause unusual wear. This may affect the structural integrity of the tyre itself. If you have to climb a kerb, do so slowly and at an acute angle to prevent any damage to your tyres.
HOW WELL DO YOU DRIVE?
If you wish to keep your tyres in an excellent condition, you need to drive calmly and responsibly. Excessive braking and accelerating will wear out your tyres a lot quicker. Driving at a steady pace and not speeding will cause your tyres to last for a long time.
AVOID POTHOLES AND TAKE CARE WITH SPEED HUMPS
It’s not easy to avoid potholes, especially at night or after it has rained. Go over speed humps slowly to avoid banging your tyres out of alignment.
By now you will have realised how critically important tyres are and how they should be carefully looked after for your own safety, and that of others. Remember to make sure your car is also adequately insured. Why not contact PMD for affordable car insurance?
Disclaimer:
This article was prepared by Eric Sandmann in his personal capacity. The views and opinions expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not reflect the views and opinions of Prime Meridian Direct (Pty) Ltd, FSP41040.The views and opinions in the article should not be attributed to anyone but the author unless expressly stated. Nothing in this article should be relied upon as advice, this publication is presented for informational purposes only. No person should act or refrain from acting in reliance on any information found in this article, without first obtaining proper financial advice from the appropriate professional. The author makes no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, or completeness, of any information linked from, referred to, or contained in this article. The author reserves the right, to edit and change the content of this article.
Road Safety & Tyre Safety – Let the contact between your vehicle and the road be safe!! http://t.co/OgZKiW9cgz pic.twitter.com/HT8dw61Y4B
— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) December 5, 2014
Also view the following sections:
- Road Safety and Tyre Safety
- Tyre Maintenance and Road Safety
- Wheel Balance, Wheel Alignment and Safe Driving
- Tyre Expiry
- Nitrogen in Tyres and Road Safety
- Run Flat Tyre Technology and Road Safety
- Changing the Tyre Safely next to the Road
- Tyre Safety, Fitment and Road Safety
- Tyre Selection and Safety Tips