Drivers Should Ensure Tire Safety

While performance and mileage are major issues when you select tires, you must also remember that nothing overshadows road safety. The types of tires you have will always govern your safety especially when you are traveling at high speeds on in conditions that can be dangerous. There is an overwhelming lack of interest from most drivers when it comes to tire inspection. Surprisingly, most drivers only inspect their tires once a year, and this is usually before they set off on a long journey. This normally includes a brief look from one side or perhaps a hard kick to make sure the tire holds firm. However, this is hardly anyway to inspect a tire for tire safety. There may be many things that get past your eyes, and you will never be able to detect them in this way. In most cases, tires are checked properly after they fail. This is usually when something more visible shows up such as a crack, a bulge in the sidewall, etc. Perhaps the main reason why motorists neglect checking their tires is plain laziness or simply not realizing the dangers of a properly inspected tire. There is also the probability of a lack of knowledge in the shape of sheer ignorance as to how dangerous an unfit tire can be. This is all despite the fact that tires do have indicative factors that can help motorists determine tread wear. Most drivers have no idea of the legal limits in tire safety. If tires are worn below 1.6mm that is a violation of the law, and your insurance will not even cover you if there is an accident with your tires in such a condition. Worn out tires severely affect vehicle performance. When they are worn out, your car will not stop easily, which can automatically mean serious accidents. Tires that cracked or damaged are at risk of blowing out and resulting in damage to your car and severe risk to your self. Tire pressure is another important point, as under or over inflation affects tire life, performance, fuel efficiency amid a range of other things. To check your tires properly, you need to be in a position to be able to get a look at things. You will need to get down on your hands and knees, as that’s where your tires are. You must look for cracks, tears and bulges especially to the sidewall on both sides of the tires. While it’s difficult to see the inside, it can be done. You must also check the tread depth to ensure tire safety; you will need to get a look under the vehicle to view this thoroughly from one side to the other. You must ensure that you have enough tread depth, and you can also check this with a twenty pence coin. All you have to do is insert the coin in the tread, and you need to see if the tread is above the inner line of the heptagon. If it is above the inner line of the heptagon then it’s fine. Finally, for the best tire safety, you need to check for tire pressure as well as the valves and valve caps. You must also check your spare tire to ensure it is a worthy replacement in case you run a flat tire.