The annual reminder for Tyre Safety Month has arrived, and this is a good time for everyone to make sure they’re continuing with their regular tyre checks. To reduce any accidents on the roads and to keep yourself and others safe, you must maintain regular tyre safety checks.
A startling statistic is that one-in-five drivers have never checked the tread on their tyres, which then rises to one in three among young drivers.
Checking your tyres isn’t just beneficial when it comes to safety, it also helps reduce the cost of motoring. If you check and maintain your tyres regularly then you’re less likely to suffer from underinflated tyres that will wear quicker and cause your vehicle to use more fuel.
It’s important that drivers are educated on the importance and benefits of tyre safety, so they understand the potential consequences of driving on defective tyres.
Tyre Safety Month is a key reminder to drivers that tyres are the only point of contact between the road and the vehicle, making it extremely important that we take good care of our tyres. This is crucial for the safety of yourself and others around you, so it’s important to take care when you’re braking and cornering.
A powerful acronym was created to help imprint the three elements of basic tyre safety checks, the acronym is A.C.T:
Air Pressure – you can find the recommended tyre pressure for your vehicle printed either on the sill of the driver’s door or on the inside of the fuel tank cap. Your vehicle handbook will also have the correct tyre pressures for your vehicle as well. Always check with your vehicle manufacturer in regards to your front and rear tyres as they may suggest different tyre pressures.
Condition – if there are any stones or objects stuck between the grooves within the tread that can be easily removed, then motorists are encouraged to do so. If you notice any bulges, cracks, cuts or embedded objects in your tyres then these can be a cause for concern and should be checked by a professional.
Tread – if you don’t have access to an accurate tread depth gauge then you can use a 20p to check whether your tyre tread depth is approaching the 1.6mm minimum limit. Simply insert the 20p at several points across and around each tyre. If the coin’s outer rim is visible at any point then the tyre may be illegal and you should get this checked by a professional.
Tyre Safety Month is extremely important and sends a powerful message to road users about the real risks and potential consequences of not regularly checking your tyres.
For more information in regards to your tyres and general tyre safety, visit our help and advice section at Asda Tyres.