Tyresafe, a charity based and active in the UK, has launched this year’s Tyre Safety month—a campaign that has been a yearly fixture since 2010—in order to raise awareness on the importance of correct tyre maintenance and on the dangers of driving with defective tyres. The campaign is scheduled every year for the whole month of October, and 2018 has been no exception: this year the campaign tries to sensitize road users and fleets, in a humorous way, with a video that has been circulating since the beginning of the month. It is a gentle reminder of the key rules for checking tyres in the form of an amusing and informative version of a Smashie and Nicey style countdown of the top hits, but with musically themed tyre safety tips. Check it out:
According to the studies carried out by the charity, summer months are particularly challenging in terms of tyre safety. Fleets tend to be more prepared in winter months as the weather can become severe and there is an increasing chance of foggy/snowy/rainy days, while they seem more indulgent in the summertime despite the weather not being particularly warm in the UK. The research work carried out by Tyresafe also deals with the important role of properly maintained tyres not only in fleet safety but also in reducing fuel consumption.
But what are then the songs and tips suggested by Tyresafe which all fleets should remind themselves of when it comes to safe tyres and tyres checks? Here you have what should hopefully become your favourite hit collection!
- “Every Check You Take”—this song title suggests that in order to obtain optimal vehicle handling, avoid risks on the road, prevent premature wear and tear, and optimise fuel consumption, tyre checks should be performed on a regular basis. If you still haven’t got a tyre check process in place we suggest you do so: you can even take advantage of the opportunity of our Maintain trial and set up regular tyre checks to be performed via our app—contact us if you want to learn more about it!
- “How Deep Is Your Tread”—tyre tread depth is an important criteria to be checked not only for safety reasons (as grip on the road can only be guaranteed with the appropriate depth, pressure and inflation) but also as there are legal limits that need to be respected. Cars, Vans and LCVs are subject to the same tyre law and must have a minimum of 1.6mm of tread across the central three quarters of the tyre around its entire circumference; while for trucks, tyres must have a minimum of 1mm of tread in a continuous band throughout the central three-quarters of the tread width and over the whole circumference of the tyre. Loading of the vehicle has a greater impact on the tread, which should be checked on a regular basis to ensure that legal limits are respected and to prevent the risk of losing adherence to the road.
- “Get Into The Groove”—this refers to a particular test suggested to anyone who has a vehicle needing to comply to the 1.6 mm tread criteria: using a 20p coin, which it is necessary to insert into the tread, you will immediately see if your tyre is compliant—if you insert the coin and can see its border, the tyres probably won’t be compliant, so a more thorough check would be needed.
- “Under Pressure”—tyre pressure should be checked every month or on an even more regular basis according to your maintenance department’s recommendations, especially if your vehicles are constantly loaded or are working a great deal. You can check the ideal tyre pressure for your vehicle in the manufacturer’s manual which will also have guidelines on the correct pressure when loaded.
- “I Will Always Check You”—this last song suggests carrying out checks not only when it is time for the “regular checks”. It is better to be proactive. When you do your walkaround checks, for example, make sure to verify if there is any stone or object in the tread and check the general condition of the tyre and examine it for cuts or bulges, which could indicate possible internal damage.
