Being the mother of two young children who is always using the car to bring them to school, outings and their various activities, the condition and safety of my car is paramount to me. All too
often I've heard of accidents that have occurred, which could have easily
been avoided if only the car had been given a safety check and any
problems fixed before driving.
When it comes to car safety, one of the most important parts of the car that people often overlook are the tyres and it's such an oversight because I don't think people realise just how important tyres are to the correct driving function of your car.
Tyre
safety should be absolutely paramount to anyone who is driving a car,
after all, the tyres are the only part of the car that actually touch
the road. According to the Road Safety Authority,
between the years 2007 and 2012, 172 collisions stated tyre defects as a key
factor leading to the collision. Some of these collisions were sadly fatal.
How awful is it that something so easily fixable as investing in a new
tyre, could have avoided a fatality?
Why exactly is tyre
safety so important I hear you ask? Well, ultimately, the safety of
everyone in your vehicle and the vehicle itself could depend directly on
the condition of your tyres and considering how easy they are to look after, change and how cheap they can be to buy, there's no excuse for not having tyres that aren't in good condition.
If your tyres are old and worn (you can check this quickly by looking at the treads and how worn they are) you need to invest in new tyres ASAP. Certain road conditions can be detrimental for tyres. For example, if you have a lot of potholes in your local town and happen
to accidentally drive into one (we've all done it, especially when
they've filled with water after the rain), these can cause a blowout or
wear your tyres down quickly. Having a flat tyre on a crowded road like
Glasgow can really be an inconvenience because you won't know what to
do, especially if you are getting late for work or any other commitment.
There are many garages spread across different parts of UK that can
help you with the right type of tyres. Same holds true for Glasgow and
near by locations. So, if you live local to Glasgow, you can get tyres in Glasgow from Point S to make sure you're driving on safe tyres.
When choosing and purchasing new tyres for your vehicle, it's always important to make sure that:
- They are the right kind and size for your vehicle
- They are properly inflated and the right tyre pressure
- That they're free from defects (I would avoid buying second-hand tyres and save for brand new ones just to be 100% sure of their
safety). - Have a tread depth of at least 1.6mm
There are so many dangers associated with using and
continuing to drive on sub-standard tyres, the main one being a chance
of fatality as I discussed above. However, other things that you can
experience if your tyres are not in the best condition are:
- Reduced road handling so you have less control of your vehicle
- Aquaplaning when your tyres lose grip in wet conditions - a very important thing to consider for those who live in places where it rains a lot
- Blow-outs which result in the loss of control of your vehicle
- Increased breaking distances due to lack of grip
Tyres are essentially the 'shoes' of your car and
they should always be in good condition and be checked regularly. Check your tyres before long journeys to make sure they are safe for travel and all road conditions they may encounter.
They're one of the only areas of a car that can be easily fixed and
quickly too and should be kept in the best condition possible for
optimum safety for you and your family and anyone else who travels in
your vehicle.
