Safety Tips

• NEVER drive your vehicle if any tyre has a tread depth of less than 1.6mm. Apart from being illegal, tyres with low tread depths will slide easily, suffer from longer braking distances and will be more susceptible to rupturing. In wet conditions the vehicle may aquaplane making braking and handling almost impossible.

• Make sure your tyre air pressures are correct. Low air pressure generates heat which can result in the rubber and cord separating, which in turn leads to the cord becoming cut and puncturing the tyre. Low pressure also results in excessive wear on the edges of the tyre, shortening the tyre’s life and can cause your vehicle to pull to one side. Excessive pressure, meanwhile, results in unpredictable handling in addition to which, if the tyre suffers an impact, it’s easily ruptured and cut. Always check tyre inflation pressures a minimum of twice a month and check pressures when tyres are cool and maintain the pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

• NEVER drive with damaged tyres. If you drive with a stone in the tread groove or a nail stuck in the tyre, the tyre can become punctured or ruptured. The tyre should be immediately changed  to avoid any further damage to the carcass. See your vehicle owner’s manual for details on the removal and replacement of wheels to your vehicle.

• Monitor and treat unusual tyre wear immediately. To ensure normal wear you should check air pressures and alignment and rotate the tyres regularly. In addition avoid sudden acceleration, braking and cornering.

• DON’T FORGET to check the spare tyre. Make sure you check your spare tyre for air pressure, damage and tread depth at the same frequency as you check the other tyres.

• NEVER mount radial tyres on the same axle as non-radial tyres or radial tyres on the front axle when non-radial tyres are mounted on the rear axle. These conditions are likely to cause vehicle instability with potential resultant loss of control.

• Check regularly that locking wheel nuts are securely tightened.

• NEVER overload your tyres. The maximum load and inflation pressure of the tyres are noted on the sidewall. Also, remember; the tyre is capable of carrying the maximum load only if it is inflated to its correct air pressure.

• Tyres are designed for specific types of road surface. Try to avoid prolonged use of road tyres when driving in off-road conditions.

• NEVER fit used tyres unless you are sure of their past history. Check your tyres’ age, even if they have not been used or have only been used occasionally. Cracks in the tread or in the sidewall rubber, sometimes accompanied by deformation of the carcass, are a sure sign of ageing. If you are unsure have your old tyres checked by a tyre specialist so that you can be certain they are still suitable for further use.

• If your tyre punctures, stop as soon as safe and change the tyre. Driving on an under-inflated tyre can cause serious structural deterioration. Punctured tyres must always be removed from the wheel to check for secondary damage. See your vehicle owner’s manual for details on the removal and replacement of wheels to your vehicle.

• If it is necessary and feasible to repair a tyre, it must be carried out by a tyre specialist as soon as possible to avoid any structural deterioration. All tyre repairs must be entrusted to a tyre repair specialist and carried out according to BS AU159.