Pay More Attention to the Tyres on your Motor Vehicle
Tyre safety is the number one priority when owning a motor vehicle and you need to inspect and check tyres regularly to prevent a fatal accident.
28/12/2021
I recently heard details about someone driving on the highway and suffering a blown tyre that resulted in the death of one of the passengers. Apparently, the tyres had been over-inflated and on one tyre the tread had worn thin as a result of imbalance. The Automobile Association (AA) and motor vehicle safety organisations cite tyre safety as the main cause of thousands of accidents that occur every year on our roads and that many of these could have been prevented if a regular inspection was done on tyres.
Do regular wheel alignment and balancing
Regular inspection of a motor vehicle's tyres will alert you to any irregularities such as wearing tread and bald spots. A good preventative is to occasionally have wheel alignment and balancing done on the motor vehicle to ensure that tyres do not wear in certain spots.
Driving over potholes, of which we have many on our roads, can easily put out wheel alignment and speed up tyre wear and bald spots, so arrange a check-up if you encounter large potholes on the road.
Purchase the correct tyres
Should the tyres on your motor vehicle need to be replaced, it is always recommended that you approach a reputable tyre supplier and installer. They will be able to advise on the correct tyres for your particular model or type of vehicle and also inform you as to the required air pressure for maximum efficiency of the tyres. DO make a note of the recommended tyre pressure so that this information is available when you need it.
Have your vehicle's tyres balanced and aligned after hitting any potholes in a road.
You need to be aware that tyres fitted to your motor vehicle should match all round. That means that the tread pattern, size and cross-ply or radial be correct for the type of motor vehicle. Only an authorised or reputable tyre dealer will offer the best advice on the correct tyres for your vehicle.
Check air pressure regularly
Checking your tyre pressure must be done at least once a week and preferably in the morning before undertaking any travel. Also, make sure that the spare tyre is fully inflated should this be needed in case of an emergency. While your local garage most probably offers a tyre inflation device, check that the unit is working correctly before use.
The motor vehicle instruction manual should inform on the correct tyre pressure for front and rear tyres. If not, ask a tyre fitment centre what they advise for the tyres fitted to your vehicle.
Where tyres are under or over-inflated you leave yourself open to the risk of a blowout or serious accident. Tyres are an important element when braking and under or over-inflated tyres will result in the car weaving or fishtailing where the vehicle's movement becomes unpredictable and uncontrollable.
Attend to wear on tyres immediately
Any wear on the tread or around the edge of the tyres, even if only on one or more of the tyres, should be attended to immediately. Make an appointment at a tyre fitment centre or alignment station to have balance and alignment undertaken on the tyres to correct any imbalance and take immediate measures to replace any worn or damaged tyres immediately.
