Thinking car safety? Think quality tyres…
PERHAPS you never noticed it before 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 is cited as one of the worst contributors to car accidents, which is why you need to take the maintenance and condition of tyres seriously. Tyres absorb the impact between you and the road surface and must be able to respond efficiently to steering, acceleration and braking. Faulty tyres jeopardise all of the essential elements of road safety. Here’s a few things to consider prior to paying a visit to a tyre specialist:
Pressure: Getting tyre pressure checked is an imperative as correct tyre pressure reduces the risk of losing control of a 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. Get a specialist to examine tyres at least once a month (depending on the amount of 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 why most drivers get complacent when it comes to tyre safety. Stay alert and don’t leave tyre safety hanging by a tread.