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It is important to check your tyres
regularly.
Your tyres are your vehicles only contact
with the road, so in order to drive safely it is imperative that
all your tyres are in good condition.
They affect the steering, acceleration and
braking of vehicles.
They should be checked at least every two
weeks for having the correct tyre pressure, for a safe level of
tread and any visible damage.
The correct tyre pressure will optimise fuel
economy, prolong the life of your tyres, which in turn will save
you money, and help the environment by reducing CO2 emissions,
and by reducing the load caused by old tyres on landfill sites.
The correct tyre pressures for your vehicle
can usually be found in the vehicles handbook, on drivers door
frame or on inside of the drivers door.
Tyre pressures should always be taken whilst
the tyres are cold, even the shortest journeys can warm the
tyres.
As tyres wear away the grip is reduced, this
will adversely affect the vehicles handling, particularly
braking and increase the risk of
vehicle accidents.
The legal minimum for tyre tread depth is
1.6mm in a continuous band around the middle three quarters of a
tyre. Most tyres have tread wear indicators, usually small ribs
across the bottom of the tread grooves. When the tread surface
is level with these ribs, the tyre is about to become illegal.
It is recommended that tyres are replaced
before the tread has worn down level to the rib indicators. If
in doubt find a reputable tyre retailer and ask them to check.
It is illegal to have: -
A cars tyre tread worn below 1.6mm;
Under or over inflated tyres;
A mixture of radial and cross ply tyres on
the same vehicle;
Damaged tyres with tears, cuts, lumps,
bulges or bald patches;
Incorrect tyres fitted to a vehicle.
New tyres should meet European Standards for
load and speed performance; this will be shown by an 'E' or 'e'
on the tyres side wall. Retread tyres supplied in the UK must
meet British Standard 'AU144e' and show that code.
This signifies that they have been tested
and meet the same performance standards as new tyres. Second
hand tyres will display 'part-worn' next to the European or
British Standard mark indicating the have been correctly checked
for faults.
Recent DfT
figures show that under inflated or faulty tyres are responsible
for over a third of all
road accidents
resulting in injury. Research by
TyreSafe indicates that
over 10% of company cars and vans have at least one faulty tyre
and that another 12% have a tyre tread between 2mm and 1.6mm,
which is the legal minimum.
It is estimated that some 70% of drivers are
unaware of the legal minimum tyre tread depth
Tyre Safety month
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