Tyre Safety for Cars or Vans
Tyres are the only part of a car or van which are in full contact with the road at any time.
Your vehicle performance in acceleration, braking, steering and cornering all depends on a relatively small area of road contact. The UK minimum legal tread depth is 1.6mm over the central three-quarters of the tread and around the whole circumference of the tyre.
Most Contract Hire Leasing companies will change your tyres (if part of your maintenance contract hire agreement) at a minimum of 2mm. However tyres wear out quickly after they get down to 3mm so do make regular checks on their condition.
If you have opted for non maintenance contract hire then tyre replacement or repair is your responsibility.
Did you also know that checking your tyre pressures regularly can also reduce your fuel consumption? Here is a link to Kwik-Fit who offer a useful online tyre pressure calculation service www.kwik-fit.com/tyre-pressure-search.asp
Here are some tips to ensure you look after the condition of your tyres on your cars or vans. Or visit the Tyre Industry Council at www.tyresafe.org where you will finds lots of other useful information and downloads.
A useful video is available at www.blackcircles.com/general/treadvideo which will help you determine your tread depth size. Or there is also another useful website at www.3minmax.com which aims to educate drivers on how to perform simple tyre checks and other guidance on safe motoring.
Types of tyres on cars and vans
- Radial ply tyres are the most common type of tyres, on cars and vans, in use on British roads representing circa 90%.
- Some radial tyres now have full run flat capability known as Self Supporting Run Flat Tyres (SST)
- Older diagonal cross ply tyres, are now not seen very often and are being replaced over time by Radial ply tyres.
10 Tips for looking after your car and van tyres
- Do not mix your tyre types unless on a temporary basis as it is illegal and very dangerous.
- Keep the tyre pressures correct at the car or van manufacturer recommended inflation pressures.
- Examine your tyres on a regular basis to remove stones, nails or other objects that might be embedded in the tread.
- Look for bulges, cuts and lumps and if you see any, have the tyre examined by a recommended tyre specialist.
- Watch your tread to ensure you are within the legal limit which is 1.6 mm in the United Kingdom. Most contract hire companies will change at 2.0 mm if you have opted for a maintenance contract hire arrangement.
- Remember in wet conditions, in the latter part of a tyre tread life, car and van stopping distances do deteriorate so take this into account when you are braking.
- If you have a Temporary Use Spare Tyre please follow the car or van manufacturer operating instructions and also do not exceed 50 mph.
- Wheels and rims must be the right size and specification for the tyres and must not be damaged as this could affect the stability of the vehicle.
- If a tyre needs removal or fitting please use a trained tyre specialist who has all the necessary equipment and expertise.
- Ensure you follow the tyre load and speed markings. These are usually moulded into the tyre sidewall.
If you are concerned at all about your car or van tyres then get them inspected by an approved tyre specialist. Some of the contract hire companies will offer a service where mobile tyre specialists can visit at your location (maintenance contract hire only) so do ask them.
Or try visiting www.tyresafe.org which is the site for the Tyre Industry Council. This is a non profit commercial organisation set up to raise the awareness of the dangers of defective or worn tyres. There are lots useful download documents at this site on a variety of vehicles and subjects.
Compare Contract hire Ltd cannot be held responsible in any way concerning the accuracy of the above information.