The DIY safety check everyone should know.
In the lead-up to the busy Easter public holiday Toyo Tires worked with Carsguide.com.au to produce content that could play a role in reducing risk on the road this long weekend.
You can read the full piece here
The challenge – getting drivers to care about, and take notice of their tyres.
Easter is a unique time of year. Stressed drivers on congested routes, shifting weather and high speeds on unfamiliar roads are all factors that make it critically important for drivers to take care of the only thing connecting them with the road.
Safety is our focus, but unless a driver has experienced a loss of control incident it can be hard for them to take the safety message seriously. Just read our blog last week for confirmation.
The check also looks at cost and convenience, meaning fewer trips to the tyre dealer and money saved on replacing tyres.
Above all, the check needed to be easy – something that can be done in a few seconds at a petrol station when filling up for a weekend away, without the need for any special skills, accessible to people of all ability.
So, in consultation with our technical team manager Steve Burke and with advice from the experts at Bonnyrigg Tyre & Mechanical, we have developed a three-point check.
It’s fast, simple and too easy to ignore.
Steve gives us the run-down:
“In the main grooves of every tyre there is a small bar that runs across the tread. That's your tread wear indicator. It’s sometimes tricky to spot, but there's generally an arrow or another icon moulded on the tyre shoulder to show you the way,” Steve says.
“The top of the rubber bar indicates the minimum legal tread depth of that tyre. The closer the tread to the top of the bar, the more worn the tyres.”
“Air loss and flat tyres are situations everyone wants to avoid, but they aren't the worst outcome. Of more concern is drivers heading out on a busy motorway with a tyre about to fail. High speed, tight quarters and a punctured tyre is an easily avoidable recipe for disaster,” Steve says.
“Look out for cuts, gouges, bulges and anything that shouldn’t be there. If you notice a puncture or unusual bulging, your first point of contact should be your closest tyre dealer.”
3. Manage and check tyre pressure
“You can't rely on the way the tyre looks to judge its inflation pressure. It's something that needs to be checked,” says Steve.
“Correct tyre pressure saves fuel, improves on-road grip and increases tyre life. If there’s too little pressure friction increases, creating uneven wear on the shoulders of the tyre and increasing fuel consumption. Too much pressure and the tyre loses grip and reduces driver control, wearing heavily on the middle of the tyre.
“Check them cold, before driving, at least monthly,” he says.
