- Get ready: adjust tyre pressures before hitting the road
- Safety comes first: replace worn tyres before the start of a holiday
- Be sure to check the car’s spare tyre, and all tyres on caravans and trailers
The summer holidays are coming up for South Africans, providing an opportunity to relax and enjoy some free time. But for car tyres, it’s a period when the hard work really starts.
Before departing on holiday, motorists should make sure their tyres are ready for the operational demands ahead. Tyre manufacturer Continental warns that long journeys at high speeds as well as underinflation can put tyres under great strain. For this reason, motorists should carry out a quick check of their tyres.
This includes adjusting the tyre pressure to the vehicle load, checking the tread depth and looking for signs of damage, such as embedded nails or stones. Users should also meticulously inspect the tyres on a rental car before they drive it away.
Cars will usually be carrying a higher load on holiday journeys, and the correct tyre pressure for this scenario can be found in the owner’s manual or on a label inside the fuel filler flap, on the door pillar or in the glove compartment. Here, users will find figures for a laden and an unladen vehicle.
While adjusting the pressures, drivers should also check whether the tread is still deep enough. The minimum legal tread depth across the entire circumference is 1.6 mm on tyres that incorporate a tread wear indicator (TWI), or a minimum of 1 mm on tyres that are not equipped with the TWI. Tyres should be replaced at the very latest when the tread is approaching this threshold. Tests by Continental have proven how wet grip decreases dramatically and the risk of aquaplaning increases once the tread depth falls below 3 mm.
Vehicle owners should also check if any of the tread blocks are damaged, if there are cuts or bulges in the sidewall, or nails or screws are embedded in the tyre. It is also essential not to forget the spare wheel when inflating the tyres. If your vehicle doesn’t come with a spare, check that the tyre inflation kit is fully operational.
Many South Africans will tow a trailer or caravan to their holiday destinations, and the condition of these tyres needs to be examined too. As most caravans and trailers are left outdoors and used infrequently, the tyres are heavily exposed to the sun for long periods. Inspect the tyres for signs of damage and wear, and follow the manufacturer’s recommendations for pressures.
The experts at a tyre fitment centre such as BestDrive offer thorough safety checks for customers, giving you additional peace of mind. Aside from checking the condition of the tyres, the examination will also check the vehicle’s brakes, shock absorbers and battery, ensuring your vehicle is safe for your holiday.
Motorists who heed these tips will then be able to set off on their summer holidays safe in the knowledge that their tyres and vehicle are ready for the journey ahead.
Then it’s just up to the driver to adopt a responsible approach to their holiday trip by obeying the rules of the road, not speeding, overtaking only when it is safe to do so, stopping for a break at least every two hours to avoid fatigue, and avoiding drinking and driving. A bit of courtesy and patience shown to fellow travellers will also go a long way to making your journey to and returning from your holiday destination a safe and enjoyable one.
