Motorists driving home fully-laden for the Christmas festivities are being urged by a leading safety organisation to check their tyres before setting off on their journey.
Tyresafe have issued the advice to help motorists cope with the increased vehicle weight from extra passengers, luggage and presents being carried to friends and family.
“Checking your tyre pressures is a very quick and simple job,” said Tyresafe Chairman Stuart Jackson. “By spending just a few moments before you travel, you could save yourself a whole heap of festive misery or unwanted expense.”
He continued, “Most cars require different tyre pressure settings depending upon the number of passengers or amount of luggage being carried. During the festive period many of us travel around more as a family or will be carrying extra loads. It’s therefore important that before heading off to see friends and relatives, drivers ensure that their tyres are inflated to the correct pressures.”
Over-loaded vehicles with under-inflated tyres can lead to higher fuel bills, added tyre wear, as well as reduced safety. The added heat built up inside the tyre as a result of not being fully inflated for the load being carried increases the risk of a rapid tyre failure, which is most likely to occur during long period of high speed driving such as on busy motorways and dual-carriageways.
The advice from Tyresafe is to check tyre pressures regularly, when the tyres are cold, doing so at least once a month or before any long journeys. Ensure the tyre pressures correspond with those recommended by the vehicle manufacturer for the load being carried. This information can be found in the vehicle handbook, inside the fuel filler cap or on a plate located on the driver’s door sill. Make sure you check all four tyres, as well as the spare, using a reliable and accurate pressure gauge. As well as the tyre pressures, check the general condition of the tyre and remove any stones or other objects embedded in the tread, as well as looking out for any lumps, cuts, or bulges.
If you have any concerns about the condition of a tyre, don’t take chances – go to a reputable local fitting centre for expert advice.
Click here to sign up for our monthly newsletter
| Popular news stories |
||||||
 |
 |
 |
 |
|||
