One of the country’s leading breakdown services is urging motorists not to get “tyred out” when it comes to carrying out basic safety checks on their car.
Autonational Rescue marketing manager Ronan Hart emphasises: “Tyres appear to be one of the most neglected areas of the vehicle but they can be either a life saver or killer in the wintry conditions we experience at this time of year.
“They should be checked regularly for damage or any signs of wear and tear. It’s not sufficient to give them an occasional kick to check pressure or a cursory glance at the tread.”
A home check can be carried out on newer tyres by inspecting the wear strip moulded into the grooves of the tyre. If the tyre has worn down to the level of the strip the tyre has reached its legal limit.
Autonational’s advice is to check pressures regularly at a garage forecourt and if in doubt about tread depth visit a reputable tyre centre.
It’s been estimated that as many as 90% of tyres are wrongly inflated and up to 10% of cars have tyres either damaged or below the minimum 1.6 mm tread.
Stark statistics are that stopping distances at 50 mph with the tread at 1.6mm are 39.5 metres, shortening to 31.7 metres with a 3mm tread.
Under or over inflation of tyres can result in even greater stopping distances.
Motorists can find their recommended tyre pressures in their vehicle’s handbook and should remember to check their tyres when they are cold before a journey.
You can buy pressure gauges cheaply at any car accessories stockists.
Added Autonational’s marketing manager: “Just imagine the devastation that can be caused with every extra metre it takes to stop a vehicle.
“Faulty tyres can lead to fines of up to £2,500 and three points on the licence. They are one of the easiest components of a vehicle to check, so you should do it for yours and other road users’ safety.”
And, besides the tyres, don’t forget to check oil levels, especially before and after any long journeys, check your lights, brake lights, indicators, check the battery's condition and radiator and windscreen water levels.
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