Safety announcement

Locally a 458 Spider has just recently slid off the road, tragically killing both occupants. The ambient temperature at the time was only 4 degrees and the car appeared to be using previousgeneration tyres, likely aged out at this point. The car was recently purchased.

I’d like to make a public service announcement for all prospective and current supercar owners, as it seems most supercar accidents are easily avoidable and attributable to the same factors over and over again.

1) Tyres need to warm up before they grip properly. Ensure they are up to temperature before driving spiritedly.

2) Never fully disengage traction or stability control. Leave that for the pros.

3) Grip levels of UHP tyres drop exponentially below 7dec C. Do not drive spiritedly below this temperature and/or when it’s wet.

4) Do not use tyres that are more than six years old. Even if there is plenty of tread, the compound hardens over time, losing its grip capability. Tyre age is printed on the side of the tyre.

5) Never exceed your personal limits, regardless of external pressure or expectations. Always be in full control.

Nick Elworthy