4 Vital Tyre Safety Checks for Safe Journeys

4 Vital Tyre Safety Checks for Safe Journeys from South West England to Yorkshire

York is a stunningly beautiful city and well worth a visit, even if you are travelling all the way from Axminster, for example, in the South West of England. It’s a route of over 200 miles I take a few times a year to visit family.

Before you load up the children with a packed itinerary and plans to visit everything from the Viking Centre to the Minster and Clifford’s Tower, make sure your car is in good condition, especially your tyres which are, after all, the sole link between your car and the road.

Let’s take a quick look at four vital tyre safety checks to keep you safe on the journey from the south west all the way to Yorkshire, often called ‘God’s own country.’

How Old Are Your Tyres?

The age of your tyres isn’t really important until they get to about five years old. At this stage, even if you don’t if you drive a lot, you should really think hard about changing your tyres for a new set. This is because rubber is a natural product and, in the way of natural products, it degrades over time.

By the time your tyres are five years old or older, they will almost certainly be showing signs of degradation: cracking and splitting as the rubber dries out, perhaps the start of distortions as the rubber ages unevenly, and even crumbling as small chunks of rubber start to fall off.

When planning a replacement, it can help to look at Dacia tyres that are designed to suit the handling and specifications of your vehicle.

Check the Inflation Levels

Your tyre inflation is essential to the correct operation of your tyres – so much so that it has been included on the MOT test checklist since 2018. This is because modern tyres are so precisely engineered for safe driving that having them move outside the recommended levels of inflation causes the tyres to be less effective when it comes to steering or stopping the car.

By the time they look a bit flat they are really starting to be dangerous, so make this part of your regular car maintenance routine. A simple pressure gauge is a really useful tool to have.

How’s Your Tread Depth?

Your tread is the pattern of grooves and sipes (the small slots) that run over the contact area of the tyre. This pattern is not merely aesthetic, although it can look quite beautiful. Instead, it is designed to suck water off the road’s surface and whisk it away, allowing the tyres to firmly grip the road, keeping you in control.

Without a good tread depth, your car might skid over the surface of that water, no matter how thin the layer is, and you could end up aquaplaning or skidding on top of the water layer, with no way to effectively control the car’s movement or speed. This is also a legal requirement to have enough tread.

Are They in Good Shape?

Finally, keep an eye on your tyres, making sure that they are in good condition and not showing any signs of damage such as dents or dimples in the sidewall, any sign of distortion or crumbling, and fractures or cracks anywhere in the tyre and wheel combined.

By ensuring you know what your tyres look like when everything is right, you will be quickly able to pick up when something goes wrong – and that gives you time to sort it, before you say farewell to Axminster, hello road to York!

Help is at hand

If, upon arriving in York, you notice your car tyres aren’t gripping the road as they should or look a bit flat, it might be a sign they need replacing or a quick check-up to ensure your safety on the journey ahead. If you are looking for new tyres in Castleford that last a long time & provide consistent performance, Reg Greenwood offers a diverse range. Their expert team will help you choose the perfect tyres for your needs to keep you moving confidently. They even have a mobile service if you are worried about driving to the depot.

conclusion

Travelling around the UK by car or campervan and exploring our lovely countryside and cities is a wonderful thing to be able to do with family or friends. Yorkshire is really beautiful and the countryside north of York through the Yorkshire Dales to the north west, North York Moors and beaches to the east is dramatic and known for its stunning scenery.

It’s easy to keep jumping into our cars without thinking about tyre safety but also remembering to check oil levels and water in the screen wash. Basic checks will help ensure a safe journey for you.  Whatever the time of year enjoy your travels.

This is a collaborative guest post.  Images are from Canva Pro.