Spare a thought for tyre safety

Increased vehicle downtime, higher fuel costs and premature tyre wear can be the result of poorly maintained tyres, but more importantly they can also seriously affect the safety of drivers

TyreSafe, the UK’s leading tyre safety organisation, is urging all motorists, including fleet operators, to consider ‘warming’ to winter weather tyres.

Indeed, with winter upon us, air temperature, which is a crucial factor in how a tyre performs, is starting to fall. When it drops below seven degrees Celsius the tread compound in standard summer tyres begins to harden, changing their performance and leading to loss of grip, longer stopping distances and reduced safety.

However, in these cold and damp conditions winter weather tyres function at their best. Winter weather tyres have a higher content of natural rubber in their tread. This helps to resist the hardening process, providing better grip, shorter stopping distances and overall improved safety.

A COLD CLIMATE
Reinforcing the argument for swapping over to winter tyres, Met Office figures from 2010 show that the mean daily maximum temperature in the UK did not rise above seven degrees Celsius in three months (figures taken from www.metoffice.gov.uk/climate/uk/stationdata).

Perhaps what’s just as revealing is that the data from the weather stations in the south show that the number of months when the mean daily maximum temperature was lower than seven degrees Celsius was the same as that in the Midlands or Scotland, reinforcing that it’s a driving problem for all UK motorists and not just those further north.

Yet, while snow and ice present an obvious hazard to drivers in terms of steering, acceleration and braking, there is also a hidden danger that can dramatically affect the performance of tyres.“We all remember the particularly extreme winters we’ve had in the last two years, but it’s not just these severe conditions that a danger when driving. Cold and damp roads can be just as lethal and should be treated with the upmost respect. Fitting winter tyres is the best way to cope with these types of conditions, helping to keep drivers safe,” explains Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe.

In fact, tests conducted by the British Tyre Manufacturers Association found that a car braking at 60mph on a wet road at five degrees Celsius stopped five metres shorter, equivalent to more than one car length, when fitted with winter weather tyres.

“Although winter tyres can actually be used all year round, we recommend their fitment from October through to March when they come into their own and can help reduce the risk of an accident. The temperature barely creeps above seven degrees Celsius, especially in the early morning and evening rush hours, when the roads are at their busiest with many business drivers and commuters on the move,” added Jackson.

TYRE CHECKS
However, those who decide not to fit winter weather tyres can still carry out a number of tyre checks to lessen their chances of being involved in an accident. Tread depth should be inspected to ensure that it easily exceeds the legal minimum requirements of 1.6mm across the central three quarters of the tyre, around its entire circumference. The tyre should be checked for any cuts, bulges or embedded objects and tyre pressures should be checked at least once a month or before a long journey.
But while winter presents its own hazards, correct tyre maintenance should be a year round activity. Not only can safety be improved, but so can fuel efficiency.

“It’s very important that tyres are regularly checked throughout the year for signs of damage, premature and uneven wear, and that they are inflated to the right pressure, especially on fleet vehicles, as these can lead a particularly hard life and often cover high mileage. Under-inflated tyres are much more likely to suffer a blowout which can be a particularly devastating event,” continues Jackson.

TYRE CONDITIONS
Supporting TyreSafe’s concerns, a VOSA effectiveness report showed that ‘condition of tyres’ was the third most frequent prohibition defect at spot and fleet checks on HGV motor vehicles in 2009/10.

More worryingly, it was the second most frequent defect on HGV trailers and showed an increase on 2008/09 and 2007/08.

However, it’s not all bad news because just a few simple steps, including inflating the tyres to the correct pressure, can pay dividends as the vehicle will travel further on each tank of fuel and reduce the amount of CO2 emissions produced.

To keep the tyre in service for longer, they should be inflated to the recommended tyre pressure level for the vehicle. This results in an even distribution with the road surface, optimum handling, and consequently a more even wear rate.

When looking at pressures, fleets should also ensure they do not overload the vehicle as the effects on tyres are similar to under-inflation. Excessive heat builds up inside the tyre which significantly increases the likelihood of experiencing a dangerous blowout.

Also, when under-inflated (or overloaded), the tyre’s contact patch with the road surface is reduced to two smaller areas towards the outer edges of the tread. Calculations from one TyreSafe member show that when tyres are under-inflated by just 20 percent, three percent more fuel is used.

By running tyres at just 80 per cent of the recommended pressure, fleet operators can expect tyre life to be reduced to around 75 per cent. If the pressure falls to 60 per cent, they can expect to achieve just 35 per cent of the potential mileage from the tyre.

“Terrifying accidents can occur as the result of a blowout and this is much more likely to happen if a vehicle’s tyres are under-inflated. Increased stopping distances, reduced stability, shorter tyre life, and higher fuel consumption, are also things to consider,” explains Jackson.
Indeed, the tyre is a complex component of a vehicle that has been engineered to work in harmony with the vehicle’s sophisticated brake, steering and suspension systems. When a tyre is under-inflated, it does not have enough air to support the weight of the vehicle properly, which adversely affects acceleration, braking and cornering.

FLEET RESPONSIBILITIES
Fleet operators should also remember that the responsibility for the condition of the tyres on the vehicle lies both with the driver and the business itself. Drivers found to be driving on illegal tyres risk incurring a personal fine of £2,500 and three penalty points for each illegal tyre.

Business owners also have a responsibility and duty of care obligation to provide their employees with a safe working environment, which includes the provision of safe and roadworthy vehicles. Under the Health and Safety Offences Act (2009), UK courts have greater authority to prosecute businesses for committing offences such as fitting illegal tyres or faulty brakes. The maximum penalty is now £20,000.

In addition to the punitive risks, businesses also face a number of negative factors by failing to look after their tyres properly. In simple terms, the vehicle is not earning money if it is sat at the side of a road with a tyre problem or being repaired in the workshop.

Vehicle downtime can be very expensive. In fact, many customers penalise haulage companies for poor delivery performance, which can result in lost business. To ensure that delivery performance is not a deciding factor when it comes to contract renewal, fleet managers and drivers should ensure correct tyre maintenance is adhered to at all times.

Fitting a replacement tyre on a motorway hard shoulder is hazardous at the best of times, as anyone who has had to do it will testify. Correct tyre maintenance can greatly reduce these risks and provide a safer working environment for all.

In order to remain as safe as possible there are some key points to remember. These include checking the pressure of tyres, including spares, every time they leave the workshop, or at least once a week. When checking tyre pressure it should be against the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended pressure for the axle loads (or the tyre manufacturer’s recommended operating pressure).

The correct pressures for both the laden and unladen state of the vehicle can be found inside the fuel filler cap, on a plate located on the front door sills or in the vehicle manufacturer’s handbook.

Using an accurate tread depth gauge, tyre tread depth should be checked at every fleet inspection or monthly. Also, make sure any stones and other objects embedded in the tread are removed and inspect for any bulges, lumps or cuts to the sidewalls.

FOR MORE INFORMATION
To help fleet operators understand the key aspects of tyre safety, TyreSafe has developed a range of resources and information which is available by visiting www.tyresafe.org.