What is tyre safety?
Well kept tyres are essential to the safety of yourself, your passengers and all other road users. After all, your tyres are the only thing connecting your vehicle to the road surface below you. A safe tyre allows you to corner, brake and accelerate effectively.
At Tyrepower, we take tyre safety seriously. In this article, we take a look at some of the regular checks and maintenance that will help to ensure that your tyres are safe and reliable.
Tyre safety and the overall condition of your tyres may become increasingly important when it comes to planning long haul trips. Even if you put on the k’s for work each day then you may need to pay extra attention to the condition of your tyres.
1. Maintain correct tyre pressures.
One of the main causes for uneven tyre wear or simply unsafe tyres, is tyre pressure. Your tyres only need to be slightly under or over pressure to cause irregular tyre wear. These pressures may not be visibly obvious as you walk around your vehicle without the use of a pressure gauge.
It's really quite simple so don’t wait for something to happen such as tyre bulging or uneven wear and tear. This can be extremely dangerous.
By the time a tyre looks deflated, it is likely very deflated. When your tyres are under inflated they can become overheated, which can lead to tyre failure.
Maintaining the recommended inflation pressures will not only ensure vehicle safety and performance, but it will also assist with tyre longevity.
Checking and adjusting tyre pressure is a relatively simple task, which you can do yourself. Alternatively, the experienced and friendly professionals at your local Tyrepower store are available to assist.
2. Keeping an eye on your tread depth
The key to a well rounded safe tyre is the combination of tyre pressures and tread depth. There is a legal tread depth here in Australia of 1.5mm. Anything below this depth and your tyres are not only deemed unsafe, they’re illegal.
Why is tread depth important?
- Tread grooves expel water (which greatly assists to avoid aquaplaning)
- Grips road surfaces
- Enables effective cornering
- Assists in effective braking
Luckily, these days tyres are designed and equipped with tread depth indicator bars. These indicators will be reached once the tyre has worn evenly to the minimum tread depth. The bars can be found on the deep longitudinal grooves running parallel with the wheel.
Another simple and effective method of checking your tread depth is the use of a gauge. You should measure the outer and inner sides of the tyre, as well as the middle of the tyre to obtain an accurate measurement.
3. Regular wheel alignment and balancing is essential.
A safe tyre is an aligned and balanced tyre. It’s necessary to have your new tyres aligned and balanced once fitted to the car. It's also a good idea to have them checked after long distance driving or after you may have come in contact with a few nasty potholes.
When you maintain regular wheel alignments and tyre balancing, as outlined in your owner’s manual, your tyres should achieve even wear, which greatly assists in tyre longevity.
I have unsafe tyres! What should I do next?
So, you have taken a walk around your car, checked the tread depth and come to the conclusion they need replacing. Simply call into your nearest Tyrepower store for some expert advice and a free tyre safety check.
With over 300 stores located Australia wide, it's never been easier to maintain the safety of your tyres. If the time has come to purchase a new set of tyres, we supply and fit an extensive range from top leading brands, including Toyo, Kumho and Falken. Your old or unsafe tyres will be disposed of environmentally and you can be rest assured that your vehicle will be fitted with the right tyre for you.
