 Safety
Tips
1. Do not use tyres with a tread depth
of less than 1.6mm. Apart from being illegal, tyres with
low levels of tread will slide easily, suffer from extended
braking distances and will be more susceptible to rupturing.
In wet conditions the vehicle will aquaplane making braking
and handling almost impossible.
2. Make sure your air pressures are correct. Low air pressure
generates heat which can result in the rubber and cord separating,
which in turn leads to the cord becoming cut and puncturing
the tyre. Low pressure also results in excessive wear on
the edge of the tyre, shortening the tyre's life. Excessive
pressure, meanwhile, results in unpredictable handling in
addition to which, if the tyre suffers an impact, it's easily
ruptured and cut. If you brake hard, the tyre may skid,
which reduces tyre life as the centre of the tread becomes
worn. Check tyre inflation pressures at least twice a month.
Always check pressures when tyres are cool and maintain
the pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
3. Don't drive with damaged tyres. If you drive with materials
such as stone in the tread groove, or with a nail stuck
in the tyre, the tyre can become punctured or ruptured.
You should change the tyre immediately on discovering any
damage to avoid any further damage to the carcass.
4. Treat abnormal tyre wear immediately. To assure normal
wear you should check air pressures and alignment and rotate
the tyres regularly. In addition you should avoid bad driving
habits such as sudden acceleration, braking and cornering.
5. Check the spare tyre. Make sure you regularly check the
spare tyre's air pressure, existence/non existence of damage
and the depth of remaining groove regularly.
6. Never mount radial tyres on the same axle as non-radial
tyres or radial tyres on the front axle when non-radial
tyres are mounted on the rear axle. These conditions are
likely to cause vehicle instability resulting in a sudden
loss of control and serious injury.
7. Check regularly that wheel nuts are securely tightened.
8. Never overload your tyres. The maximum load and inflation
pressure of the tyres are moulded into the sidewall. Also,
remember; the tyre is capable of carrying the maximum load
only if it is inflated to its maximum air pressure.
9. Do not use detergents or chemicals containing petroleum
products for cleaning or polishing your tyres.
10. Avoid prolonged use on bad surfaces.
11. Never fit used tyres unless you are sure of their past
history. Tyres age even if they have not been used or have
only been used occasionally. Cracks in the tread or in the
sidewall rubber, sometimes accompanied by deformation of
the carcass, are a sure sign of aging. Have your old tyres
checked by a tyre specialist so that you can be certain
they are still suitable for further use.
12. If you get a puncture, stop as soon as possible and
change the tyre. Besides the obvious safety considerations,
continuing to drive on an under-inflated tyre can cause
structural deterioration. Punctured tyres must always be
removed from the wheel to check for secondary damage
13. If it is necessary and feasible to repair a tyre, it
must be carried out by a tyre specialist as soon as possible
to avoid any structural deterioration. All tyre repairs
must be entrusted to a tyre repair specialist .
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