October 1st – 31st is National Tyre Safety Month, so we are here to spread awareness and emphasise the importance of checking our tyres regularly. It is normal for tyres to wear over time so people will often have to replace them. Checking tyres might be a gray area for some people, so we have listed anything you may need to know about tyres.
The company Tyre Safe have organised Tyre Safety Month which aims to keep motorists safe, save money and reduce any risks.
Driving with bad tyres can cause many problems such as:
- Risk of hydroplaning
- Overheating
- Loss of grip in extreme weather e.g. snow
- Likely to puncture
- Longer braking times
Essential tyre checks:
1.) Tyre Pressure
Tyre pressure should be checked once a month and it is important to check all four tyres on your car, as the pressure in each tyre varies.
- Ensure the pressure gauge uses the same unit of measurement as the pressure guidelines given for your car and then remove the cap from the tyre valve and place the pressure gauge on.
- Press down the gauge and check the reading on the pressure gauge to determine if you’ll need to deflate or inflate your tyres.
- Use the correct pump for inflating and add small amounts at a time to avoid over-inflating the tyres.
- Use the tip of a flat-head screwdriver to push on the metal pin on the valve stem to release air for de-flating.
2.) Tyre Condition
- Checking for any obvious damage, such as rips and tears.
- Check for any objects stuck in the tyre that can lead to a slow puncture.
- Clean off any large amounts of dirt that could impact your tyre.
3.) Tread Wear
- If your vehicle has a low tread depth, then there is a chance you will lose grip on the road. All tyres should have a tread depth within the legal limit of 1.66mm or you can receive a fine of up to £2,500 and 3 penalty points per tyre.
- We would suggest you use a tread depth indicator to measure these values which will make you aware of when you need to get your tyres replaced.
- You can also try and use the 20p coin trick, which is to place a coin into the tread grooves. If the outer band of the coin is obscured, then it is above the legal limit. However, if the outer band of the coin is visible, then your tyres may need changing as they may be unsafe and even illegal.
It is important to remember that regular tyre safety checks can reduce the risk of an incident on the roads, so we urge you to check your tyres and spread awareness to others, especially during this Tyre Safety Month!
