Tyre Safety Day was launched on Monday by the Road Safety Authority, An Garda Síochána and the Irish Tyre Industry Association and this year they are highlighting the need for young drivers in particular to check their tyres regularly.
To this end, they are partnering with Dublin City University and holding tyre check sessions to show students how to check their tyres and look out for defects.
Winter is fast approaching, so good tyres are more important than ever as the weather gets wetter and colder. In wet weather, braking distances need to be doubled, with even more care needed in frost, snow and ice.
If tyres aren’t in good condition, the treads may not be able to move enough water to grip on the road and the result is aquaplaning, where the car rides on top of a film of water and is effectively out of control, with no braking or steering possible. It’s not a pleasant feeling.
Tyres still remain the main cause of NCT failures in Ireland with 9.5% of cars tested failing due to tyre condition. Of those, 2.7% or almost 45,000, failed due to tread depth of less than the legal minimum of 1.6mm. Last year, An Garda Síochána issued 1,755 fixed charge notices for tyre offences.
While the legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm, this is woefully inadequate and as a tyre nears 3mm of tread left, you should really be changing it, particularly as we’re heading towards the winter.
Sarah O’Connor, Director of Partnerships and External Affairs, Road Safety Authority, said: “Many motorists give little consideration to their tyres unless an emergency requires a tyre replacement or repair. As our main contact with the road, tyres play a crucial role in keeping us safe and it is vital that they are checked regularly. Getting into the habit of carrying out a regular tyre check at the early stages of their driving life, means young road users are equipped with information about their tyre health to keep them safe. A check is as simple as walking around your car before you go on your journey – look for any defects, ensure all your tyres are inflated properly and that the tyre tread depth is within legal requirements.”
ITIA members around Ireland are inviting all motorists to call in for a free tyre pressure check and tread depth inspection during this week’s Irish Road Safety Week. You can find your nearest dealer at www.itia.ie. On the website you can also download a copy of ‘Your Guide to Tyre Safety’ which includes information on buying second-hand tyres, which in my opinion is always a bad idea.
Sue O’Neill, CEO, Irish Tyre Industry Association, said: “We are encouraging all drivers to start checking their tyres more frequently. Our ITIA members are nationwide and available during Irish Road Safety Week and throughout the year to support motorists, offering free tyre checks. As the experts when it comes to the health of your tyres, young drivers can drop into any of our members outlets to get a check to ensure their car is in road worthy condition. ”
Some things to keep in mind to keep your tyres safe:
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Carry out tyre checks every time you take your car or motorcycle out on the road
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Look out for any bulges, cracks, cuts or grazes
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Ensure your tyres are inflated to the correct pressures. Front and rear tyres may have different pressures.
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Check your tyre tread depth – the recommendation is to replace a tyre if below 3mm. New tyres are 8mm. The legal minimum tread is 1.6mm.
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The limit for motorcycle tyres is 1mm
