It’s Tyre (that’s tire to those of us in the U.S.) Safety Month in the UK, and Swinton insurance, a leading seller in Britain, is urging motorists to check their tires. This advices comes on the heel of a Swinton-conducted survey of 1200 of their customers, which revealed that 44% of them don’t recognize the signs of a worn-out tire, and 67% don’t know how to check and see if their tires are road-ready.
With winter weather just around the corner on both sides of the pond, we think checking your tires is a pretty good idea. It’s simple, and takes about five minutes. Here’s how:
You’ll want to make sure there’s decent depth to your treads. In England you can use a 20p coin, but here in the States a quarter will do. If you stick a quarter into the grooves in your tire and more than a third of it is visible, you may want to have your tires looked at – and possibly replaced – by a professional. Check this monthly, and check the tire pressure at the same time. Also, use this opportunity to make sure there are no bulges or cuts, and to dislodge any foreign objects stuck in the treads.
According to Steve Chelton, Insurance manager at Swinton, “Sufficient tread depth is vital to vehicle safety. In wet weather, the tread pattern helps to remove water from the tyre’s contact patch with the road surface. Without a tread pattern, the tyre would struggle to grip the road and the vehicle may lose control, which could cause an accident.”
Stay safe on the road, avoid an unwanted insurance claim, and check those tires!