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Bad weather drives importance of tyre safety checks

By / 10 years ago / Latest News / No Comments

The warning comes from TyreSafe, which stays that standing water remains a major hazard in many parts of the UK presenting a risk of aquaplaning while damaged road surfaces present a different tyre related challenge. However, by taking just a few minutes to inspect tyres regularly, the organisation advises drivers that the impact of these issues can be reduced.

TyreSafe says that although driving through deep flood water has a wide range of associated risks and should be tackled with extreme caution, smaller areas of standing water may be less easy to avoid but equally dangerous.

On vehicles equipped with tyres that have insufficient or low levels of tread depth, water between the tyres and the road surface may not be removed quickly enough. This layer of water builds up in front of the tyres until the tyre loses contact with the road surface. This loss of traction, or aquaplaning, causes the wheels to slip and prevents the vehicle from responding to steering, braking or acceleration. As a result, the vehicle can lose control, starting to skid or spin dangerously.

To reduce the risk of aquaplaning, drivers are advised to check the tread depth of their tyres. New tyres often have a tread depth of around 8mm, far greater than the legal minimum requirement of 1.6mm, which makes them much more efficient at removing water and able to cope with standing water.

Any drivers unfortunate enough to suffer from aquaplaning should heed the advice of organisations such as the AA who recommend holding the steering wheel lightly and lifting off the throttle until the tyres regain grip.

Meanwhile, damaged road surfaces and potholes caused by the recent wet weather also present another significant tyre safety hazard. When tyres hit large potholes, they have the potential to be suffer internal damage that could cause the tyre to fail catastrophically, leaving the driver unable to control the vehicle.

Consequently, drivers are being advised to inspect the condition of their tyres at least once a month, and even more frequently if they know they’ve hit a pothole. In particular, drivers should look for cuts, lumps or bulges in the tyre and also check the tyre pressures regularly in case the wheel rim itself has been damaged.

‘Checking your tyres may see like an unnecessary or daunting task, but in the current conditions it’s even more important than normal,’ said Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe.

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Natalie Middleton

Natalie has worked as a fleet journalist for over 20 years, previously as assistant editor on the former Company Car magazine before joining Fleet World in 2006. Prior to this, she worked on a range of B2B titles, including Insurance Age and Insurance Day.