What Is TyreSafe?

When it comes to car maintenance, most of us are pretty good at keeping everything in working order such as oil, water and brakes. But what about tyre safety? While there are other essential elements, your car tyres are possibly one of the most significant features keeping you and your loved ones safe.

Technology and vehicles have evolved over the years to include incredible safety features and some cars can even drive themselves (to a degree at least). If you really think about it, what is the point of investing in state-of-the-art braking technology if you don’t look after your tyres and the tyre tread is worn? Whether you put it down to lack of knowledge or ignorance, tyre safety is of the utmost importance and that is where TyreSafe comes in.

TyreSafe And The EU Road Safety Charter

Formed in 2006, TyreSafe aims to reduce the number of tyre-related incidents on Britain’s roads. This is done through awareness campaigns focusing on the importance of tyre maintenance as well as the dangers associated with defective and illegal tyres. As a result of TyreSafe’s activities and campaigns, they have reportedly helped reduce the number of tyre related accidents where people were killed or seriously injured by 44% each year.

They receive support from all over the automotive industry including most major tyre manufacturers, retailers and wholesalers. In addition, some associated equipment suppliers and a number of vehicle manufacturers are also part of the process. To get their message across effectively, TyreSafe works closely with a wide range of commercial and government organisations including Highways England, RoadSafe, police, fire services and several councils among others.

TyreSafe is the leading authority and first point of contact for any tyre safety issues and will continue their wide range of education and information programmes. Their primary goal is to encourage motorists to improve their attitudes and behaviour towards road and tyre safety.

The EU Road Safety Charter was created in an effort to reduce the number of deaths and injuries in road accidents across all EU member states. They set a target of 50% by 2010 and TyreSafe was the first tyre safety organisation to sign this important Charter.

TyreSafe Maintenance Tips

Elite Garages believe strongly in tyre safety and have been supporting the TyreSafe campaign for many years. Just as they do, our aim is to raise awareness of the importance of tyre safety. We want to help educate you and your children about effective vehicle and tyre maintenance. This free advice is even more important if you own an older car as your goal is to keep your family safe in a reliable vehicle.

Tyres need replacing for several reasons, including physical damage or abuse and tyre tread that is worn down to the minimum depth. In addition to tread depth, remember to check your tyre pressure at least once a month but it depends on how often and far you travel. Under- or over-inflated tyres are dangerous and could easily lead to tyre failure. Incorrect tyre pressure leads to uneven contact with the road which means your tyres will wear excessively on the inside and outside edges.

How Can I Check My Tyre Tread?

Under UK law, tyre tread must be at least 1.6 mm deep around the tyre circumference and the central three quarters. Why is this important? When driving in wet weather, the tyre tread grooves help remove excess water from the contact patch between your tyres and the road surface. This means that your car can brake, steer and accelerate much more effectively. If your tyres don’t have adequate tread depth, overall safety is compromised especially in wet conditions.

It is absolutely essential to keep a close eye on the condition of your tyres and consider replacing them before they reach the legal minimum requirement.

You can use a tread depth gauge to measure the inside and the outside of your tyre tread or use the 20p coin test. All you need to do is insert a 20p coin into the main tread grooves of your tyre and check it in at least three different locations. If the outer band of the 20p coin is not visible, your tread is above the legal limit. On the other and, if you can see the outer band, it is likely that you need to replace your tyres rather sooner than later.

If you don’t have the means to do it all yourself, feel free to visit any of our Elite centres for a FREE tyre safety check [linkto: free tyre check page]. Our professional and helpful staff will provide the type of service you’d expect from a family-run business, offering value for money, full transparency and no hidden costs.

Tyre Safety With Elite Garages

We recommend that you check all your tyres at least once a month, including the spare. If you suspect any tyre damage, visit one of our Elite branches nationwide and we’ll take care of it for you. We always keep our customers informed and will never do any work without your express consent.

If you want a local garage to keep all your vehicles safely on the road at competitive prices, get in touch with us today. Our staff are knowledgeable and can provide you with all the information you need on tyres, puncture repairs, MOTs, services, wheel alignment and more. Why don’t you join us on Facebook and become a valued member of our online community?

When you are ready, book your FREE tyre safety check with us and never look back!