Tyre Safety Month – tips feature

Living in a modern society where we rely on all kinds of technology to keep us safe on the road, from lane departure warning and anti-lock braking to tyre pressure monitoring systems – you’d be forgiven for getting complacent when it comes to manually checking basic elements of your car regularly, including tyres.

Tyre manufacturers spend years in the tyre development process at leading engineering facilities before we see them travelling at speed on a motorway, but motorists still need to complete tyre health checks regularly throughout the tyres’ lifetime to ensure they are safe and legally compliant.

So, this Tyre Safety Month, leading mid-range tyre brand, Davanti Tyres, is offering simple steps, whereby UK motorists can keep their tyres in tip-top condition, providing peace of mind that their tyres will get them from A to B, safely.

Three top tips

1.         Check for damage, unusual wear and tear, and pressures

Once a month, motorists should check tyre pressures - tyres can quickly become deflated if they aren't checked regularly and this can result in excessive and uneven wearing of the tread.

It’s also important to do a visual tyre inspection, checking for cracks, cuts, or gouges, as well as nails, screws, glass, or stones stuck in the tread or sidewall. Any visible perforation, cut or deformation has the potential to render the tyre unsafe to use. If you have any concerns about your tyres, it’s crucial you consult an expert at your local garage.

 2.        Tread depth

In the UK, the legal minimum tyre tread depth for cars is 1.6 millimetres and the 20p test is a simple way for drivers to check tyre tread.

If you can't see the outer band on the 20p coin when inserted into the tread grooves, the tyres are above the legal limit.

 3.        Be mindful when mounting the kerb

It’s important to remind yourself that you can easily knock wheels out of alignment by bumping into a kerb or hitting a pothole. Incorrectly aligned tyres can result in uneven wear, which can weaken them and make them more prone to damage. It can also reduce the driver’s control over the car and increase fuel consumption.

Peter Cross, CEO at Davanti Tyres, added: “Tyres are the only element connecting your car to the road, so it’s vital they are of a high quality and well looked after. Our winter and all-season ranges provide fleet managers and motorists with reliable, trustworthy options, as they plan ahead and look at tyre requirements for the upcoming winter period.”