A safety group has called upon motorists to check their tyres now to avoid a Bank Holiday nightmare over the Easter period, traditionally one of the busiest times of the year on UK roads.
Tyresafe issued the reminder after a recent survey revealed that only eight per cent of new cars on the UK market come supplied with a full-size spare wheel. ‘Space savers’, repair kits, and run-flat tyres are now the norm, but motorists unfamiliar with these features could be caught out so proper tyre maintenance is more important than ever according to the organisation.
The Bank Holiday period often sees motorists making a getaway in vehicles more heavily laden than usual, and it is essential to make sure all tyres are correctly inflated for the load they are carrying. Tyre pressure info can be found in the owner’s manual, or on a sticker commonly found on the inside of the fuel filler flap or b-pillar. While conducting a tyre pressure check drivers should also look for damage or bulges on the tyre, and check that the tread depth is above the 1.6mm legal limit across the central three-quarters of the tread.
The Easter holiday puts increased strain on breakdown recovery services, with the AA responding to 7,500 tyre-related callouts during the period last year, and Green Flag reporting that tyre-related incidents are the second most common reason for roadside assistance. Meanwhile, the RAC has revealed that the number of callouts to assist motorists who have a puncture but no spare wheel rose from 29,000 annually in 2010 to 118,000 last year, and is expected to continue to rise as fewer models are fitted with a full-size spare.
“As families across the country hit the roads over the Easter period, it’s perhaps no surprise that the number of breakdowns soar,” comments Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe. “However, many of these incidents are avoidable if people take the time to check their tyres and ensure everything is in working order. These checks are quick and simple to conduct, but essential as they could be the difference between a pleasurable Easter break and one spent by the roadside or worse.”
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