Quality tyres are the most important aspect of car maintenance
PERHAPS you never really noticed it but those intricate, crisscross patterns you see on tyres are not for decorative purposes. These treads are the most important safety feature of any vehicle and tread patterns are designed to keep your vehicle safely in contact with the surface. Any variation in design significantly alters a vehicle’s ability to manoeuvre safely. In short: fail to look after your tyres, prepare for an increase in the chances of you having an accident.
Poor tyre quality was cited as the worst contributor to accidents in a report released in April 2016 which is why you need to take their condition seriously. This issue is neglected due to a lack of awareness which is down to a misunderstanding about safety as many motorists.
Tyres absorb impact between you and the surface and must be able to respond to driving inputs like steering, acceleration and braking. Faulty tyres jeopardise all of these essential elements of road safety. Here’s a few things to consider prior to paying a visit to a local tyre specialist:
Pressure: blood pressure is not the only thing that’s important! Getting your tyre pressure checked is also imperative as correct tyre pressure reduces the risk of losing control of your vehicle while also protecting tyres from premature wear and damage. Get them checked.
Balancing: is when the movement and distribution of weight is unevenly spread among all four tyres. Uneven and rapid tread wear causes vibration, stress to front/end parts causing tyres to prematurely wear. Get the balancing act right!
Wheel Alignment: we’ve all met with that pothole or kerb that feels as if your vehicle is about to fall apart such is the impact. This can be dangerous to wheel alignment and it’s no harm to have it checked out for peace of mind. Also, check your tyres for any signs of uneven wear. If so, go to a tyre specialist and have them thoroughly assessed.
Tyres are essential for safety and it’s wise that you get a specialist to give tyres the once over at least once a month - depending on the amount travel you do. It’s easy to forget about tyres given we spend most of our time in the car looking out (not underneath!). This is how most drivers get complacent with tyre safety. So stay alert and don’t leave tyre safety hanging by a tread.