Let’s imagine for a moment that you’re a professional runner - now we know that this job involves running but stay with us on this... Would you wear a pair of running shoes that had no grip, that felt flimsy and whose soles had no strength, or weren’t a snug fit?
The Importance of Good Tyre Health: If you see the link between having a pair of running shoes that are fit for purpose and the need to ensure that the tyres on your vehicle are in good condition then that’s a good, good thing. It’s also kind of obvious. The fact is that your tyres are your first link to the road, and if the road surface is wet, icy or slushy with melted ice, you’re going to want to know that your tyres are cut out and capable for the conditions you’re expecting them to drive in - and will therefore keep you (and other road users) safe. To put this into perspective, we did some research...consider these statistics which we sourced from Tyresafe.org -
4,596 - the total number of casualties from tyre related incidents in the past five years.
159 - the average number people are killed or seriously injured from defective tyre related accidents every year.
15,ooo+ - the number of tyre-related convictions in the past three years.
The sobering fact is that driving a vehicle with below par tyres, be they under inflated, worn or defective, has the potential to cause either serious injury or worse, death. But the good news is that by carrying out some simple, periodic checks which we’ll go through a little later, you can minimise the risk of endangering yourself or anyone else from harm or worse.
Buying Part Worn Tyres - why it’s a false economy
We’ve all been there - you need a quick replacement to get you through the day and you go to the garage just up from the depot. There’s a pile of part worn tyres and they look so tempting as they’re so much cheaper than a new tyre. But consider this...when inspecting the part worn tyres being sold by 261 garages, TyreSafe.org found that a staggering 94% of all those inspected to be on the market illegally. Of those, 63% were unsafe to return to the road, and if you look back on the figures above, you’ll see the correlation between the two sets of statistics. The fact is that you have no way of knowing what stress a second-hand tyre has been through, the side walls may well be weaker, and you won’t know if it’s been repaired properly - or how old it is. The risks here are that a tyre that is structurally weak (be it down to an over-worn side wall, or cracking) could cause a blow-out - a terrifying prospect if travelling at speed in a laden van. A worn and cracked tyre is potentially prone to the same occurrence. As it is, in their study Tyresafe.org found that 18% of such tyres hadn’t been repaired correctly...not a good statistic and a reflection of what to expect at any establishment that sells second hand tyres. Basically, buying used tyres is a bit like playing Russian Roulette - how many rolls of each wheel before one blows...
You could be risking a prohibition
Another aspect to bare in mind is that should your vehicle be pulled over and your tyres are found to be at fault - the police and the DVSA - the Driver and Vehicle Standards Authority - have the power to instruct a vehicle to pull over that is either being driven in a dangerous manner or that they suspect is un-roadworthy) you can be issued a ‘prohibition’ which will disrupt your business as the vehicle will not be allowed to be used until the vehicle has been re-inspected to ensure that the tyre has been replaced with a new tyre that is legal. Of the 15,600 light goods vehicles that are stopped on average each year, 26.2% are tyre related.
Here are some simple, but essential checks that you should do once a month, plus some mindful aspects to note...!
Check the tyre pressure: Use a tyre pressure gauge to measure the air pressure in each tyre. Ensure that the pressure is at the recommended level stated in the vehicle owner's manual or on the tyre itself
Make sure they’re properly inflated - an under-inflated tyre makes your vehicle more expensive to run...and also improves your vehicles handling, making it safer.
Check the tyre tread depth: Use a tread depth gauge to measure the depth of the tread on each tyre. The legal minimum tread depth is usually 1.6mm, but it is recommended to replace your tires when the tread depth reaches 3mm. If the tread depth is below the legal limit, it's time to replace the tyre.
If the tread depth is below the legal limit, it's time to replace the tyre.
Check for damage: Look for any cuts, bulges, or other damage on the tyre's sidewall or tread. If you notice any damage, have the tyre inspected by a professional. Doing this will extend the life of your tyres, reducing your running costs.
Alignment and Balancing: Have your tires aligned and balanced regularly. Misaligned or unbalanced tires can cause uneven wear, leading to handling issues and reduced lifespan.
Avoid overloading: Overloading your vehicle can put a lot of stress on your tires and cause them to wear out quickly. Make sure that you are not carrying more weight than your vehicle can handle.
So, by far and away the best policy is to ensure that your tyres are in good condition, that being properly inflated to the required PSI, have the required tread depth and most certainly not bought from a second-hand tyre dealer! Remember what we said about running shoes? At the end of the day, it’s about staying safe, the job is heavily dependent on driving, just make sure your vehicles tyres are in the best condition to play their part in ensuring that!
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