{"id":1141,"date":"2018-12-06T09:28:44","date_gmt":"2018-12-06T09:28:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.asdatyres.co.uk\/blog\/?p=1141"},"modified":"2019-05-08T07:16:10","modified_gmt":"2019-05-08T07:16:10","slug":"checking-your-tyres-will-help-make-your-christmas-travels-safer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.asdatyres.co.uk\/blog\/checking-your-tyres-will-help-make-your-christmas-travels-safer\/","title":{"rendered":"Checking your tyres will help make your Christmas travels safer"},"content":{"rendered":"

With the long, dark cold nights truly upon us and Christmas rapidly approaching, the time is right to be reminded of the importance of making time to check your tyres. We appreciate that you\u2019re probably busy out and about buying presents, meeting up with friends, and generally getting into the festive spirit, but giving your tyres a good once over makes a lot of sense. After all, if your tyres aren\u2019t at their best, and you\u2019re unable to drive, how are you and your loved ones going get around this Christmas?<\/p>\n

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Here are some top tips to help ensure you stay safer on the road this festive period.<\/p>\n

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Having good tread depth provides you with better grip<\/h2>\n

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Many tyre professionals, including the team at Asda Tyres, and leading premium tyre manufacturer, Continental<\/a><\/strong>, recommend that the tyres fitted to your car have at least 3mm of tread depth. Why? Because the more you have, the better your grip will be, especially in the wet weather conditions we typically experience in the UK at Christmas time. It\u2019s these vital tread depth grooves that expel water from between your tyres and the road surface, delivering the grip you need to keep you safer. The more you have, the shorter your stopping distances<\/a><\/strong> will be \u2013 even more essential at this time of year.<\/p>\n

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If your tyres don\u2019t have at least 3mm, remember that the UK road legal minimum is 1.6mm of tread depth. If they don\u2019t have this minimal level, they\u2019re illegal. Don\u2019t forget, at this time of year there\u2019s an increased police presence on the roads, as they step up their hunt for drink driving offences. If they pull you over and you\u2019re driving with illegal tyres, you\u2019ll incur a fine of \u00a32,500, and three points on your licence for each offending tyre.<\/p>\n

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You can avoid this possibility by ensuring your tyre tread depth<\/a><\/strong> is legal very easily. Either get a tread depth gauge or do the \u201c20p test\u201d<\/a><\/strong>. All you have to do is place the coin in your tyre tread at multiple points along its length. If the outer band of the coin is visible at any point within the grooves, it means the tread isn\u2019t deep enough, and in all likelihood illegal. Alternatively, fit Continental premium tyres, all of which come with TWIs \u2013 tread wear indicators \u2013 at both 3mm and 1.6mm (series 5 tyres and above).<\/p>\n

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Be sure to check your tyre pressures<\/h2>\n

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Your tyre pressures are essential for safer driving, especially during the cold, wet weather we typically get in December. And like tread depth, if your pressures aren\u2019t correct, your tyres won\u2019t be at their optimum, and you\u2019ll be more likely to have an accident \u2013 and nobody wants that at Christmas time, do they? Having the right pressures helps ensure an optimal contact between your tyres and the road, and that means better grip. If your tyres are incorrectly inflated \u2013 either under or over \u2013 they simply won\u2019t be able to perform as well.<\/p>\n

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Checking your tyre pressures is easy. You can do so yourself at a local garage, as well as service stations, for a small fee. Alternatively, you can get your local tyre fitting centre<\/a> <\/strong>to take a look \u2013 they\u2019re happy to help and can offer you experienced, impartial tyre advice.<\/p>\n

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If checking pressures<\/a> <\/strong>yourself, simply remove the dust cover from the valve and attach the air hose nozzle to your tyre. Then, top up or release air as appropriate, until the pressures are correct for all wheels. You\u2019ll typically find the correct tyre pressure values for your vehicle either printed on the inside of the driver door or printed on the inside of the fuel cap.<\/p>\n

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Inspect for signs of tyre damage<\/h2>\n

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It\u2019s worth remembering that many retailers \u2013 including those that sell tyres \u2013 will probably be closed for part or all of the festive period. It\u2019s should come as no surprise since, like you, their employees want time off to celebrate with their friends and family, too. As such, if you find yourself urgently needing a replacement tyre in this period, you may well struggle to get one.<\/p>\n

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As a result, your travels plans could be thrown into chaos. The thought of missing family gatherings, and the ensuing fallout \u2013 screaming kids, angry partner, general disappointment \u2013 doesn\u2019t bear thinking about, right? How best to avoid this unnecessary risk? Simple \u2013 regularly check your tyres for any signs of damage<\/a>,<\/strong> and minimise the risk of sustaining a slow puncture, rip, tear or blowout.<\/p>\n

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There\u2019s also the very real danger of experiencing an accident if you drive on damaged tyres. Cold, wet, often slippy roads only exacerbate your chances. By checking your tyres for signs of damage, you increase your chances of nipping potential problems in the bud, before they become serious \u2013 and life threatening.<\/p>\n

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