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”.

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”

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.

Check tyres with a 20p coin

TyreSafe has warned that many company car drivers are not making enough safety checks on their tyres and are risking serious injury. They conducted a survey and found that 25 percent of company car drivers had never checked the depth of their tyre tread and 41 percent had not checked them in the last six months.

To simply check your tyre tread depth, Tyresafe is recommending the “lifesaver in your pocket” campaign using a 20p piece. By checking your tyres once a month you can ensure your tyres are still roadworthy and legal for driving. There is also a video on the Tyresafe website @ www.tyresafe.org to explain the dangers of driving with illegal tyres and tyre safety.

TyreSafe’s tips for checking tyre tread depths

1. Ideally, tyre tread depth should be checked at least once a month at the same time that you check your tyre pressure.
2. If you do not have a calibrated tread depth gauge a 20p coin provides a useful guide.
3. Insert the 20p coin into the main tyre grooves at several places around the circumference of the tyre and across its width.
4. If the outer band of the 20p coin is visible whenever you check the tread, your tread depth may be illegal and you should have them checked by a qualified tyre specialist.
5. When checking your tread depth, give the rest of the tyres a visual inspection for any cuts or bulges and remove any stones or objects embedded in the tread.

TyreSafe, the non-profit organisation dedicated to raising awareness of the dangers of defective and worn tyres, has launched a new truck specific section to its website. MoT failures for HGV’s was recorded at 36.5 per cent in 2007/8, as reported by VOSA, with failure due to defective tyres being the second most common defect.

The new web pages are located at www.tyresafe.org and includes guidance and advice on the importance of tyre pressure, tread depth, wheel alignment, regrooving and tyre disposal, together with details of the common causes of tyre damage and wear. A free truck safety handout can also be downloaded off the site with top tips for correct tyre truck maintenance.

Since the Health and Safety Offences Act came into force in January 2009, UK courts how have much greater authority to prosecute businesses for committing offences such as fitting illegal tyres and the maximum penalty is a £20,000 fine. Drivers are also under pressure from VOSA, to ensure they are driving with legal tyres, with drivers risking roadside fines of up to £200 per offence.

Tyre safety is an important factor for any company running a fleet of vehicles, whether you run cars, vans, buses, trucks or other HGV’s.