Risks associated with tyres - By: Robert William

Worn tyres pose a huge risk to drivers, passengers and other road users. With the approaching holiday season this risk will increase proportionately due to the increase in traffic and more so in summer rainfall areas where wet weather conditions make roads more dangerous. Increases in fuel prices and the cost of living have made South African motorists very thrifty. They do not replace their cars as often as they used to and they expect higher kilometer performance from the vehicles they already have. As a result, there is an increase in demand for replacement tyres, but car owners tend to stretch the life of their tyres to the limits before replacing them. This has its safety hazards as the less tread there is on the tyre, the sooner it loses its grip on wet roads and the longer the braking distances become. The tread on tyres is essential in helping a driver brake, steer and accelerate. Drivers must be made aware of the importance of regular vehicle maintenance and tyre checks that are essential for keeping a vehicle safe.

Tread separation, blowouts and punctures can to a large extent be eliminated by maintaining proper tyre pressure, observing tyre and vehicle load limits, and inspecting tyres for cuts, slashes, and other damage. Adhering to these basic safety principles will also improve vehicle handling, improve fuel economy, increase tyre life and avoid unnecessary breakdowns and assist in preventing accidents.

Not only is the risk of sliding on the wet road surface substantially higher when tyres are worn, braking distances on wet roads are also longer. A smooth tyre has no grip at all in wet weather and on a dry road a tyre with 1mm of tread compared to 3mm takes 25 percent more distance to stop. The experts urge motorists to replace their tyres if they have less than four millimeters tread, in order to ensure safety when driving in wet conditions.

The safety risks increases substantially when driving on wet roads with tyres that are worn down. A worn tyre pushes a bow wave ahead of it and the water builds up which could eventually result in the tyre losing contact with the road, making it impossible to steer or brake. Wide tyres with inadequate tread depth are more susceptible to losing road contact. An accident caused by aquaplaning as a result of worn tyres may even affect car insurance cover.
All tyres, including the spare should be checked for correct tyre pressure at least once a week using an accurate pressure gauge. This should be done while the tyres are still cold, in other words before 10 km have been driven. Not enough emphasis can be placed on the importance of correct tyre pressure. Tyre pressure that is too low can affect the tyre in numerous ways.

Drivers must remember that their tyres slowly deflate as they travel from the inland areas to the denser air pressures of coastal regions. If tyres deflate to 1.8 bar safety experts consider this to be definitely hazardous while 1.5 bar is considered to be extremely hazardous.

Tyres that run with too low pressure get hot and slowly disintegrate. Damage caused is irreversible and therefore accumulates. The sidewalls of a tyre are built up in layers and their construction weakens under high temperatures. If driven under these conditions for long enough the sidewall will eventually pull apart and the centrifugal forces will fling chunks of solid rubber in any direction, which can all happen so quickly that it looks like the tyre burst.

Even occasional low pressure driving, or periodic vehicle overloading, may cause damage that only shows up much later as a blowout. Steering behavior, durability, directional ability and rolling resistance will all be negatively impacted by extra flexibility of too low tyre pressure.

Loss of air pressure could be caused by dirt clogging the valves if valve caps are missing and should therefore be replaced as soon as possible.
When selecting replacement tyres this should be done in strict accordance with the car manufacturer’s recommendations. Compatibility charts are available at most dealers and tyre manufacturers. Incompatible tyre sizes could result in mechanical problems and correct tyre size is of utmost importance on vehicles fitted with ABS braking systems as these systems are based on the rolling circumference of the wheel and are computer controlled. Ensure that the tyre size selected can carry the laden weight of the vehicle and for this purpose all tyres are marked with a universal load index.
Before leaving on that well-deserved holiday have your tyre tread, tyre pressure and general tyre condition checked and replace ant tyres that you are not completely satisfied with. Remember to check that your car insurance is in place and adequate prior to embarking on your journey.

About the Author

The author specializes in car insurance in South Africa. To read more on cheap car insurance, visit Getinsurance.co.za

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