Car Tyres, Are Your Tyres Safe?
Cars are by far the most common vehicles on Britain’s roads so it’s no surprise they are involved in the highest number of tyre-related incidents. Simple maintenance can help avoid a large proportion of these incidents and keep drivers and other road users safer.
Car Tyres and Your Safety
Tyres are the only parts of the car which are in contact with the road. Safety in acceleration, braking, steering and cornering all depend on a relatively small area of road contact. It is therefore of paramount importance that tyres should be maintained in good condition at all times and that when the time comes to change them the correct replacements are fitted.
The original tyres for a car are determined by joint consultation between the car and tyre manufacturers and take into account all aspects of operation. It is recommended that changes in tyre size or type should not be undertaken without seeking advice from the car or tyre manufacturers, as the effect on car handling, safety and clearances must be taken into account.
In some other European countries it is illegal to use replacements which differ in certain respects (e.g. size, load, and speed rating) from the tyre fitted originally by the vehicle manufacturer. Tyres are a high-tech composite product, the result of over 100 years of continuous development. The overwhelming majority of tyres on the road today are of radial construction.
Some tyres, known as Self Supporting Run Flat tyres, are designed to provide a limited run on period following a puncture.