AIB’s 4 Steps to Complete Tyre Safety

Unfortunately, many of us don’t check our tyres until the day before our NCT. However, keeping a close eye on your treads can not only keep you safe but in the long run, could potentially save you money. By using worn out tyres you run the risk of having one of them burst, losing road grip, taking longer to brake or having poor handling on the road in general.

AIB Car Insurance brings you our top four things you need to look out for when it comes to having safe tyres on your vehicle:

1. Repairing a punctured tyre yourself

It’s important to know when you can repair a flat tyre yourself by patching it and when you should use a professional tyre service. Repair kits generally come with instructions about this and tears are usually repairable when they are smaller than one-quarter of an inch.

2. Purchasing tyres that are part worn

The savings from going with second-hand tyres can seem like an attractive deal, but it’s important to look more closely to see if you’re really getting value for your money. First of all, check that the tread depth is a minimum of 1.6mm as this is the legal requirement for driving on a public road. Next, check how close to this minimum tread depth they are as it may not be worth buying them at all. After this, look for an E-Mark on the inside of the tyre which shows that the tyre is in line with minimum standards of the EU.

Finally, examine the tyre for humps, scratches, bulges and rips. Ensure the tyre is of the right spec for your vehicle including correct size, load and speed rating. Check the age of the tyre on the inside sidewall and note that anything more over six years old should not be purchased.

3. Wheel alignment and rotation

Find out the recommended tyre rotations for millage intervals on your car. In the event that your cars pulls slight to one direction, have your suspension looked at or your wheels realigned. Each year during your annual service, request that the alignment of your tyres is checked.

4. Adjusting the pressure of your tyres

The pressure of your tyres can’t be too hard or too soft. If there’s too much air in your tyres it can cause them to wear more quickly, while tyres with too little air can lead to overheating and higher use of fuel. It’s recommended that you check your tyre pressure at least once a month, either using the in-built monitors for newer cars or manually while at a service station for older cars without this feature.

In order to have peace of mind in the event any mishaps do happen, AIB has the right Car Insurance to meet your needs. Visit AIB Car Insurance online today and get a great Car Insurance quote.

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