Defective tyres?

TyreSafe, the organisation dedicated to raising tyre safety awareness, has just released data (obtained from the Ministry of Justice and the Home Office) showing that court convictions for defective tyres in England and Wales are at a four year high. In 2010, 10,475 motorists were convicted of driving with illegal tyres, which is almost 1,000 more than the previous year.

The current UK law requires car drivers to have a minimum of 1.6mm of tread depth  across the central three quarters of a tyre, around its entire circumference. If you fail to comply with these regulations you run the risk of a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre.

October is tyre safety month and TyreSafe is running its campaign alongside tyre retailers and garages across the UK. If you visit a participating tyre dealer or garage you can get a thorough visual tyre inspection to ensure your tyres are safe to use and also legal to drive.

If you also visit the TyreSafe website you can also get a host of tyre safety information, advice,maintenance tips and how you can check your tyres yourself using the 20p coin test. There is also an online animation covering three areas – Air pressure, Condition and Tread Depth (ACT).

TyreSafe

TyreSafe, the non-profit organisation dedicated to raising awareness about tyre safety, is holding its first ever quarterly communications session on the 7th September, at the Ardencote Manor hotel in Warwick. The session has been designed for TyreSafe members, road safety professionals, fleet managers and HR managers.

TyreSafe will be presenting its plans for the forthcoming year on tyre safety, including the October tyre safety month, so fleet managers can dovetail their own internal tyre safety campaigns to their company car fleet drivers, and employees using their own cars for company business. In addition the Highways Agency will be presenting on their new safety framework, plus a second presentation from Tyresure, who will provide a briefing about impending legislative changes regarding tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS).

Attendance at the event is free and you can get further information and registration details by calling TyreSafe on 01787 226995.

Skoda

The weather forecasters are already saying that the winter this year will be as treacherous as last year’s and Skoda is advising all drivers that they should check their tyres to ensure they are safe and in a legal condition for UK roads.

John Bower, Head of Aftersales at Skoda, explains,”As part of the ongoing maintenance of a car, drivers should keep a close eye on their tyre tread depth. A simple way to establish if your tyre is safe or not is to place a twenty pence piece inside the tread. If the tread is deeper than the rim of the coin in various positions around the tyre then it is safe. If however, the tyre is worn more than this, or if it is worn more on one side than the other, then go to your retailer or tyre dealership and get them checked out and/or changed”.

The UK legal limit for tyre safety is 1.6mm tread depth across the central three quarters of the entire circumference. As well as being essential for your safety, you can risk a fine of up to £2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre so it is worth doing the test. Skoda is offering their customers a free tyre check at their local retailer if you are concerned and you can read more about the tyre 20p coin test here.

Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe has also explained why it is essential that tyres are regularly checked,”You should check your tyres at least once a month for tread depth, as well as correct pressure and any cracks, bulges or uneven wear. At this time of year and as we move into winter, the weather can cause roads to become wet, icy and snowy and these conditions mean that your stopping distances will be increased”.

TyreSafe iPhone app

TyreSafe, the not-for-profit organisation dedicated to raising awareness about tyre safety, has just launched a new iPhone app. The new app allows you to input your vehicle registration number and then details the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended tyre pressure settings, in both psi and bar.

The new app has been launched as part of October’s tyre safety month and having the correct tyre pressure in your vehicles’s tyres is important to stability, safety of the vehicle and improves fuel economy.

Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe commented,”Many drivers tell us that they don’t check their tyre pressures because they are unsure of the correct settings. The new TyreSafe iPhone app completely removes this problem and instantly provides drivers with their car’s tyre pressure information”.

October sees the arrival of tyre safety month, with the backing of Motor Codes (the motor industry consumer champion) and its nationwide network of 6,500 garages. In 2009/10, Department for Transport figures revealed that 2.3 million vehicles failed their MOT test due to poor tyre condition and Motor Codes has offered the following tyre safety tips;

• Check your tyre pressures and the tread every month.
• Don’t forget to check the condition and tyre pressure of the spare tyre.
• Make sure there is no uneven wear across the tyre tread.
• Make sure the tyre speed rating is suitable for the vehicle.
• And in doubt, contact a Motor Codes tyre specialist for advice.

Tyre blow out

Protyre, one of the UK’s leading tyre retailers, has advised that as the holiday season approaches and many motorists head off on their summer holiday, it is even more important to check the tyre pressures of your car (or van). They are also offering a free five-point tyre safety check at each of its 49 retail outlets in the UK.

However if you can’t get to one of their outlets here is the advice from Protyre.

1. Check and adjust your tyre pressures as recommended in the vehicle handbook. The tyre pressures for your vehicle can also be found sometimes inside the fuel filler cap, or on the inside of your driver’s door sill. Driving with the correct pressures reduces stopping distances, increases the level of grip on the road, reduces fuel consumption and reduces your CO2 emissions.
2. Change your tyre when it is worn. The EU legal limit is 1.6mm however Protyre suggest changing tyres between 2.5mm and 3.0mm. Insufficient tread greatly increases stopping distances and the fine for driving with an illegal tyre could mean a fine of £2,500 and three points on your licence. Check with your vehicle leasing company on this one as they will all work to different rules (if you are on a maintenance contract hire arrangement).
3. Check for uneven wear and also the ensure your wheel alignment and balance are correct. You can usually tell if there is a problem with your alignment or balance,  as you will feel a vibration through the steering wheel.
4. Check for the general tyre condition and remove stones and other objects (nails for example) from the tread. Check the valves are clean and free of dirt. Foreign objects stuck in the tread can reduce braking distances and the handling of your vehicle.
5. Finally check the age of your tyre. If the tyre is more than 8-10 years old it should be replaced because they are more susceptible to punctures.

Michelin Fill Up With Air Team

Michelin, the tyre manufacturer, has undertaken some research that shows that motorists are wasting circa £440 million pounds by not keeping their tyres pumped up to the correct tyre pressure, which is around 370 million litres of fuel  annually. This wastage also pumps an extra 1 million tonnes of CO2 into the atmosphere.

Following the research, Michelin is launching a new Michelin Fill Up with Air Roadshow, that is set to tour the country from May to October, to offer free tyre checks to help improve safety and reduce vehicle emissions, while also helping to save cash. Under-inflated tyres also wear out more quickly so it is important to keep those tyre pressures at the right level for tyre safety. If you also want to find out the pressures for your car or van, you can search using the following link to the Kwik-Fit tyre pressure search facility www.kwik-fit.com/tyre-pressure-search.asp . All you do is enter your vehicle registration number and the correct pressures will be displayed by relevant tyre category.

TyreSafe, the non profit tyre safety organisation, has undertaken some recent research and has found that as many as one in six drivers had bought part worn tyres for their car at some point. It was also found that younger drivers are much more likely to compromise their safety than older drivers.

In 2008, illegal and under-inflated or defective tyres contributed towards the deaths of 34 drivers and 900 injuries of other drivers, showing this to be a worrying concern.

Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe, said “Tyres play a critical role in vehicle safety and consequently, some very strict requirements exist regarding the sale of part worn tyres. If part worn tyres are bought from an unreliable source or do not meet the required standards, drivers could be placing themselves and other road users in significant danger”

DEKRA, the respected German safety and testing organisation, has found that holiding a high pressure washer too close to the sidewall of the tyre can cause damage in as little as five seconds. Even if the tyre appears unaffected the high pressure washer may have caused microscopic perforations which can weaken the tyre sidewall and cause deflation or even a blow-out. 

mytyres.co.uk, one of Europe’s largest web-based tyre retailers, is warning drivers to take care when cleaning their tyres and has offered the following tips;

1. If possible, use a light to medium duty pressure washer (110 bar or less).
2. Keep the washer nozzle at least 20cm from the surface of the tyre.
3. Always use a fan nozzle to clean tyres, rather the a circular nozzle.
4. Try and avoid prolonged jet washing of any one area on the tyre.
5. They also recommend not aiming the water at the join between the tyre and the wheel rim.

There are also other factors that can cause damage to your tyres, accoring to mytyres.co.uk, and some soaps and detergents can also remove the protective chemicals that are embedded in the sidewall. This can be evident if there are brown watermarks on your tyre. Tyre safety is important when travelling and motorists should always visit an approved tyre retailer if they have any concerns at all about the condition of their tyres.

Tyresafe, the non-profit organisation dedicated to raising awareness of defective or worn tyres, is reminding drivers of the need to check their car and van tyre pressures when carrying heavy loads.

With increased passengers, extra luggage and all those Christmas presents being transported to family or friend’s houses, many vehicles will need to have their tyre pressures inflated to a higher pressure to stay safe.

Here are Tyresafe’s tips to avoid a tyre related breakdown.

1 ) Check your tyre pressures at least once a month or before setting off on a long  journey.

2 ) Check your tyre pressure against the manufacturer’s recommended level. This can be found in the vehicle handbook and on a plate which is often located inside the fuel filler cap or on the driver’s door sill.

3 ) Make sure you check the tyre pressures when the tyres are cold.

4 ) If you are carrying a full load or towing a trailer or caravan, pressures should be increased as per the manufacturer’s handbook.

5 ) Make sure you are using a reliable and accurate tyre pressure gauge.

6 ) Check the pressure in all four tyres including your spare as well.

7 ) When checking your tyre pressures, check the tyre for any visual bumps, bulges or tears and remove any stones that may be embedded in the tread.

8 ) If you are not sure about any of the points above then visit an approved tyre fitting centre and speak to the experts.

Tyre safety is an important aspect when driving on UK roads and following the above advice should ensure you have a safer journey. If you are not sure about your tyres pressures Kwik-Fit also offer a useful tyre pressure search. All you need to do is insert your vehicle registration number.