Practice good tyre safety following the festive season

Motorists are urged to check their tyres as South Africans prepare to return from their Christmas holiday.

Worn out tyres pose a grave risk to road users as they affect a vehicle’s braking and steering, says the South African Tyre Manufacturers Conference (SATMC).

Traffic volumes across South Africa are expected to pick up this this week as holidaymakers return home.

Road fatalities skyrocket over the festive and Easter seasons, being around 30% more than the monthly average, according to the Road Traffic Management Corporation.

While drunk driving and speed all contribute to the road carnage, tyres are also critical for road safety and drivers should ensure they check their tyres before they set off, says Carlo Baldocchi, Tyre Sector Manager for SATMC.

“Good tyre and tread condition is critical to ensure good braking and handling in both wet and dry conditions as well as to provide good steering response and that is why it is imperative that everyone who is setting off on their journey by road checks their tyres beforehand,” he says.

Baldocchi says in addition to the condition of the tyre, pressure is also important.

“The over and under-inflation of a tyre has a detrimental effect on the driver’s control of the vehicle. Furthermore, over and under-inflation of a tyre results in uneven wear of the tread. Over-inflation will result in excessive wear in the centre of the tread and under-inflation will result in excessive wear on the shoulders of the tyre – meaning that you will have to replace your tyres prematurely,” he says.

“Tyre pressure should be checked at least once a month and especially before you embark on a lengthy road trip.”

Baldocchi recommended that drivers consult the maintenance document provided by the vehicle manufacturer to ensure that they are applying the correct tyre pressure.

“Drivers also need to remember that the heavier a vehicle is, the higher the pressure required. Your vehicle’s maintenance record will provide information on tyre pressures for different loads.”

Baldocchi urged drivers to check their tyres to avoid becoming part of South Africa’s alarming festive season road statistics.

“Before setting off on their Christmas holiday this year, we implore motorists to visually inspect their tyres to ensure there are no cuts, nails or any foreign objects penetrating them and that there is sufficient tread pattern visible above the Tread Wear Indicator (TWI). Should motorists be unsure of the condition of their tyres, they should visit a tyre dealer for professional assistance. They should also make sure their tyres are properly inflated. These simple tasks can save the life of the driver as well as their passengers and other road users,” he says.

The do’s and don’ts of good tyre maintenance:

• The tread pattern is important for dispersing water on the road surface so ensure that the tread on all your tyres are above the Tread Wear Indicator (TWI), a design feature in the tread pattern of all tyres made available to the South African consumer.
• The requisite tyre pressure depends on a vehicle’s size, weight and power configurations, so consult the vehicle’s specification and vehicle maintenance document to ensure you have the right tyre pressure. If your vehicle is heavier than normal, you will have to increase your tyre pressure.
• Tyres should ideally be inflated when cool and before a long trip. However, should you need to inflate a tyre during a long trip, this should be done immediately.Do not deflate the tyre when it is hot as this may give a false indication that there is a problem with the tyre, such as a slow puncture.
• Tyres may only be repaired in the tread area (not the sidewall) and only by a tyre dealer who specialises in tyre repairs according to repair standards.
• Passenger, SUV and light commercial tyre treads cannot be regrooved. It is illegal to do so. Only a tyre with the word “Regroovable” engraved on the sidewall can be regrooved, and this applies only to heavy commercial truck & bus tyres as an additional layer of tread has been built into the tyre for this purpose.
• Out of sight is not out of mind – don’t forget about your spare tyre. Your spare tyre should also be checked before you set off on your trip to ensure it is not worn and is inflated.

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