As the only point of contact between the vehicle and the road, tyres are fundamental to driving safely; so it’s important to ensure that they are regularly checked and maintained.
Deanne Jolly, former contestant on Channel 9’s The Block, is pleased to be working with Bob Jane T-Marts for Tread Safely Week, a joint initiative with the Australian Road Safety Foundation that will educate all road users on the important role tyres and tread depth play when it comes to vehicle safety.
Tread Safely Week runs from Monday 7 September to Sunday 13 September in the lead up to September school holidays.
“Since partnering with Bob Jane T-Marts, I’ve learnt just how dangerous it can be driving with old, worn and deflated tyres, and the risk to your family on the road.
As the September school holidays approach and families prepare to hit the road, now is the time to check your car tyres and ensure they are healthy,” said Jolly. Jolly uses Bob Jane T-Marts top five safety tips when checking her tyres, and encourages everyone to use the same
Russell White, CEO Australian Road Safety Foundation, said there is no excuse for putting family safety at risk by not performing regular tyre checks.
“No matter how busy you are, I encourage families to check their tyres during Tread Safely Week to ensure their vehicles are safe to use ahead of the school holidays,” said White.
“We hope to improve road safety awareness, enhance driver education and keep tyre safety top of mind.”
Zsuzsa Zalatnai, National Marketing Manager Bob Jane T-Marts, said the school holidays means more motorists are on the road and therefore families need to be more careful when travelling with precious cargo onboard.
“We encourage vehicle owners to stop by their nearest Bob Jane T-Marts store to get their tyres checked and ensure their tyres are healthy before they leave their driveway these holidays,” said Zalatnai.
Australian motorists are encouraged to take a couple of minutes out of their day every month on Tyre Check Tuesday to check their tread depth and pressures. Sign up to receive a free SMS reminder from the Bob Jane T-Marts team on the first Tuesday every month by visitingwww.treadsafely.com.au/tyrechecktuesday
What to look for when checking tyre health:
- All tyres slowly deflate over a period of time, so check tyre pressure every 2-3 weeks and when the tyres are cold. Recommended tyre pressures are located on a placard on the inside edge of the driver’s door.
- Regularly check balance and alignment to maximise the life of tyres. Regular wheel balances ensure your tyres run smoothly on the road to improve your vehicle’s control, and wheel alignments maximise the life of tyres by ensuring they wear evenly.
- The minimum amount of tread required for a car to be roadworthy is 1.6mm, but it’s wise to replace tyres at 2mm as wet-weather grip is diminished when there is a small amount of tread. To check tread depth, put a match head into the tread grooves, and if any part of the head shows above the grooves it’s time to replace the tyre. Tread depth cards are also available free from your local Bob Jane T-Marts store.
- Regularly check tyres for wear such as tears or bruises on sidewalls as well as embedded objects like nails or stones as they may lead to a puncture.
- Always remember to check the spare tyre at the same time!