Partner Article

Northgate Vehicle Hire offers UK road users top tips for tyre safety month

To coincide with the 2014 Tyre Safety month, Northgate Vehicle Hire, the market leader in flexible vehicle hire, has put together some invaluable tips and tricks, urging UK road users to ensure their tyres are safe and fit for the road this winter.

David Saint, Vehicle Supply Manager at Northgate Vehicle Hire, commented:

“Tyre safety month is a fantastic time to get road users to think about tyre maintenance. It can be surprising what small measures can be taken to ensure optimum performance; by checking pressure regularly and simply giving tyres a visual inspection, it’s quite easy to keep yourself safe on the roads. Although they’re often overlooked, tyres are arguably the most important part of a vehicle; that’s why at Northgate Vehicle Hire, we’ve followed this advice across our comprehensive range of services, ensuring the safety of all our commercial vehicles and their prospective drivers.”

Northgate’s top tyre tips

Pressure: tyre pressure should be checked at least once a month, and always before long journeys. Tyres with too much or too little pressure will not the grip the road efficiently, which will impede braking performance.

Tread Depth: tread depth can dramatically affect braking performance. The legal minimum in the UK is 1.6mm across the central ¾ of the tread; however, to ensure optimum performance, a tread depth of 3mm is recommended by industry experts. Tyres with lower tread depths cannot transmit traction and braking forces as effectively, leaving vehicles more at risk of accidents, particularly in wet conditions.

Stopping distances in the wet are increased from 31.7 metres on 3mm tyres to 39.5 metres on 1.6mm tyres; those 8 metres could literally be the difference between life and death.

Visual Inspection: often, a simple once-over will make you aware of any issues with your tyres; look out for debris or stones that may have become embedded in the tread - any cuts, bulges or lumps should always be checked by your mechanic.

To coincide with the 2014 Tyre Safety month, Northgate Vehicle Hire, the market leader in flexible vehicle hire, has put together some invaluable tips and tricks, urging UK road users to ensure their tyres are safe and fit for the road this winter.

David Saint, Vehicle Supply Manager at Northgate Vehicle Hire, commented:

“Tyre safety month is a fantastic time to get road users to think about tyre maintenance. It can be surprising what small measures can be taken to ensure optimum performance; by checking pressure regularly and simply giving tyres a visual inspection, it’s quite easy to keep yourself safe on the roads. Although they’re often overlooked, tyres are arguably the most important part of a vehicle; that’s why at Northgate Vehicle Hire, we’ve followed this advice across our comprehensive range of services, ensuring the safety of all our commercial vehicles and their prospective drivers.”

Northgate’s top tyre tips

Pressure: tyre pressure should be checked at least once a month, and always before long journeys. Tyres with too much or too little pressure will not the grip the road efficiently, which will impede braking performance.

Tread Depth: tread depth can dramatically affect braking performance. The legal minimum in the UK is 1.6mm across the central ¾ of the tread; however, to ensure optimum performance, a tread depth of 3mm is recommended by industry experts. Tyres with lower tread depths cannot transmit traction and braking forces as effectively, leaving vehicles more at risk of accidents, particularly in wet conditions.

Stopping distances in the wet are increased from 31.7 metres on 3mm tyres to 39.5 metres on 1.6mm tyres; those 8 metres could literally be the difference between life and death.

Visual Inspection: often, a simple once-over will make you aware of any issues with your tyres; look out for debris or stones that may have become embedded in the tread - any cuts, bulges or lumps should always be checked by your mechanic.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Richard Savage .