What you may not know about tyres and your safety on the roads
Holidays should be a time of enjoyment that you share with your family – children are finally finished school for a few weeks, you can finally take that long needed annual leave and hit the road to explore somewhere new with the people you care about.
A sad reality of holiday periods is the sometimes alarming number of accidents on the roads. While safe driving on the roads can help you avoid an accident, ensuring that your vehicle is performing at an optimal level can help to safeguard you against any concerns that may be unavoidable if your vehicle is not in excellent condition.
To keep you safe on the roads, our automotive specialists at Tyres Direct want to provide you with some information that you may not already know about the safety of your car.
The leading cause of tyre related crashes on the roads is deflation
A study taken by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reported that underinflation is the dominant cause of tyre related crashes on the road – amplifying the need for people to check and adjust their tyre pressure at least once monthly.
Underinflation can be caused by:
- A lose rim that is not adequately sealed to the tyre
- Corrosion to the wheel
- Faulty tyre valve
- Small, virtually invisible punctures
- Gradual loss of pressure through the tyre membranes
Underinflation can wreak havoc on a vehicles handling, not to mention the fuel consumption. Unfortunately it does not end there; tyre deflation can also cause the tread of the tyres to wear unevenly and can place stress on the vehicle which can cause structural failures.
To stay safe on the roads you should check your tyres at least once a month. You can check your tyre pressure yourself, or come in and be serviced by our automotive specialists.
Unbalanced wheels can actually lead to driver fatigue
Unbalanced wheels can cause a vibration in the steering wheel and the vehicle which may not only cause uneven and premature wear to your tyres, it can even lead to driver fatigue when on long journeys. For people embarking on a long distance drive over the holiday period, fatigue is the last thing you want in order to keep yourself, your family and others on the road safe.
At the first sign of a vibration in your vehicle you should have your wheel balance checked. Despite this, even if your vehicle is not presenting symptoms it is important to have your wheels balanced at least once a year. Having your wheels balanced can not only save you time and money in the long run, it can also help to keep you safe on the roads. Our automotive specialists at Tyres Direct are trained to expertly asses your wheels and ensure that they are equally balanced.
Nearly one million vehicle accidents occur in wet weather annually
Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Administration suggest that nearly one million accidents occur in wet weather annually. Given that June, and winter in general, is notorious for rainy weather, it’s important to understand how to get the most out of your tyres and vehicle in the rain in order to stay safe this holiday break.
Some concerns that can occur in wet weather include:
- Skidding
- Aquaplaning
- Loss of visibility
- Overloaded wiper blades
One of the most effective things you can do to keep safe on the roads in wet weather is to slow down. Slowing your driving pace gives your tyres a better chance to make contact with the road to increase your traction. When your tyres loose contact in wet weather, causing you to skid or aquaplane, it is usually because the water pressure is too great to be filtered in-between the veins of the tyre. By slowing down, your tyres can be able to keep a greater traction to the road, thus potentially avoiding the loss of contact.
In addition to slowing down in rainy conditions you should also:
- Check your tyres to ensure there is adequate tread depth
- Keep a safe distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front of you
- Drive in the tracks created from the vehicle driving ahead of you
- Lighten the pressure you put on the brakes, steering, clutch and the accelerate to avoid skidding
And don’t forget – it takes about three times longer to brake in wet conditions!
Tyres Direct can help you stay safe this holiday break
Your safety on the roads is our priority at Tyres Direct. Our automotive specialists can thoroughly examine your vehicle to ensure that everything is performing at an optimal level while on the roads in some of the busiest times of year. If you would like to have a detailed service of your vehicles, including the wheels, tyres and battery, please contact us by dropping in, filling out our online form or giving us a call on (07) 5573 7788.
