Van tyre maintenance necessary in wet winter weather

Just a quick one today to remind van drivers of the importance of regular tyre checks. With forecasts of bad weather still on the cards and not long after the latest bout of the worst winter storms for years, some roads have been badly affected by floods (standing water, potholes, etc.) and if you have been driving on them recently; the tyres on your van may need attention.

Tyresafe, the not-for-profit organisation dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of correct tyre maintenance and the dangers of defective and worn tyres, have released some good tips and advice to keep in mind when driving in these hazardous conditions. Read Tyresafe's helpful advice below:

• While driving through deep flood water has a wide range of associated risks and should be tackled with extreme caution, smaller areas of standing water may be less easy to avoid but equally dangerous.


• On vehicles equipped with tyres that have insufficient or low levels of tread depth, water between the tyres and the road surface may not be removed quickly enough. This layer of water builds up in front of the tyres until the tyre loses contact with the road surface. This loss of traction, or aquaplaning, causes the wheels to slip and prevents the vehicle from responding to steering, braking or acceleration. As a result, the vehicle can lose control, starting to skid or spin dangerously.


• To reduce the risk of aquaplaning, drivers are advised to check the tread depth of their tyres. New tyres often have a tread depth of around 8mm, far greater than the legal minimum requirement of 1.6mm, which makes them much more efficient at removing water and able to cope with standing water.


• Any drivers unfortunate enough to suffer from aquaplaning should heed the advice of organisations such as the AA who recommend holding the steering wheel lightly and lifting off the throttle until the tyres regain grip.


• Meanwhile, damaged road surfaces and potholes caused by the recent wet weather also present another significant tyre safety hazard. When tyres hit large potholes, they have the potential to suffer internal damage which could cause the tyre to fail catastrophically, leaving the driver unable to control the vehicle.


• Consequently, drivers are being advised to inspect the condition of their tyres at least once a month, and even more frequently if they know they’ve hit a pothole. In particular, drivers should look for cuts, lumps or bulges in the tyre and also check the tyre pressures regularly in case the wheel rim itself has been damaged.

 “Checking your tyres may seem like an unnecessary or daunting task, but in the current conditions it’s even more important than normal,” advises Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. “Of course, if you’re not sure what to do then simply pop into your local tyre professional who will be able to inspect things properly and advise you of any issues.”

 

Please take a bit of time this morning to give your van tyres a good once over before taking to the roads. It only takes a few minutes and could potentially save you loads of time and money in the future. To view more tyre safety advice and information, please click here to go to the Tyresafe website.