Breakdown cover provider Green Flag has looked into how many incidents are caused by tyre-related problems on UK roads, and discovered how many drivers don’t know the basics of tyre maintenance.
Green Flag has also released basic advice for how to inspect and treat tyres.
Tyre Safety Month aims to educate motorists on the importance of regular tyre checks, in order to reduce tyre-related incidents on Britain’s roads and improve road safety. Indeed, last year alone, there were 822,000 callouts on UK roads due to tyre-related incidents, hence Green Flag is encouraging drivers to examine the condition of their tyres.
Meanwhile, 1 in 5 (20 per cent) drivers don’t know how to check for tyre pressure or pump a tyre. Even more shockingly, one in 10 (11 per cent) Brits confess that besides checking for an MOT, they never check their tyre pressure at other times of the year.
Lucy Davies, at Green Flag commented: “Your tyres are your vehicle’s point of contact with the road so it is important they are in good order. Many tyre-related issues are due to worn, over-inflated or under-inflated tyres, so it’s essential that car owners take the proper time to inspect them.
“Green Flag would like to encourage all UK drivers not to underestimate the importance of tyre safety.”
Tyre Maintenance Tips
Check Tyre Tread: Tyres are designed to provide grip on the roads.
If the tread is worn, your vehicle may skid across the road surface. Although the legal minimum tread limit is 1.6mm, the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) recommends that tyres should be replaced as soon as the tread reaches 3mm. To do this, you can use a tyre tread depth gauge or inspect their built-in tread wear indicators.
Check Tyre Pressure: Tyres should be correctly inflated according to your vehicle’s handbook.
Remember that the pressure will need to be increased when the car’s fully laden. As well as affecting your car’s handling and braking performance, over- or under-inflated tyres will reduce their lifespan and can affect fuel efficiency. To do this, you can check at your garage when filling up petrol, or buy a tyre pressure gauge.
Choose the best replacement tyres: If you have to replace tyres, bear in mind it is illegal to put different types of tyres on the same axle as this will affect the vehicle’s safe road holding.
So stick to the same brand and do your homework before having them fitted.