Don’t let worn tyres ruin your holiday

THE mid-year school holidays are upon us and, true to South African form, this means road trips for many families.

Whether embarking on a trip to the beach, a two-hour drive for a few days’ getaway or a countrywide road trip, it is imperative for motorists to undertake basic safety checks on their vehicles.

Checking the tyre pressure, grip and conducting an overall check for any foreign bodies that may have become embedded in the tyres is of critical importance.

‘Planning a vacation or even a stay-cation with day trips is such an exciting part of any holiday,’ said Riaz Haffejee, CEO of Sumitomo Rubber South Africa (SRSA).

‘Part of that planning should be to check out every aspect of your vehicle’s safe running.

‘As your tyres are the only part of the vehicle that touch the road, it is essential to check these thoroughly and make sure they are ready for whatever terrain you will encounter on your journey.’

Basic tyre safety checks include:

Wear and tear

As well as checking the tyre tread depth, it is important to inspect the sidewall and tread of your tyres for damage, punctures and foreign bodies like nails.

Reduced tread depth prevents effective road grip, especially in wet conditions when grip is most vital.


Avoid replacing a worn tyre with an unregulated second-hand tyre

While this might be an attractive financial alternative, there are many unscrupulous second-hand tyre sellers who carve out the rubber of the tyre to make the tread depth appear deeper than it is.

For peace of mind, rather invest in a new tyre.


Ensure correct tyre pressure

Motorists often underestimate the importance of correct tyre pressure.

‘Under-inflated tyres have a higher risk of blow-outs and will increase fuel consumption, while over-inflation results in uneven wear, impacting road grip,’ said Haffejee.

It is also important to ensure the spare wheel is inflated and that your vehicle is equipped with wheel changing tools.

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