They may be black and round, but tyres are also the most safety-critical aspect of vehicles today. Tyres are the only contact patch vehicle have with the ground, but it seems more drivers are ignoring their safety aspects. Auto Repair Focus Editor Phil Curry looks at how garages can help keep drivers safe.
There are some worrying trends emerging when it comes to tyre care and maintenance. Many drivers are neglecting checks, and leaving their tyres to wear down, sometimes to the canvas, before having them replaced.
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This follows a pattern of increasing vehicle neglect, with some now regarding their cars simply as tools, rather than possessions to look after. However, with tyres being the only contact point between a car and the ground, their upkeep is vital, less the consequences be severe.
The UK’s legal tread limit is 1.6mm. That is not a lot to provide grip, especially in wet or icy conditions. Yet with the cost-of-living crisis pushing household budgets, many are reluctant to spend on tyres, seeing them as a distress purchase, and one which should only be made at the last minute.
“We get a lot of people coming in, saying they are going on a long journey and need to do a tyre check,” stated Grant Scott, Depot Manager at All Tyres & Wheels in Whitstable. “We conduct these, and most often the tread depth is low, around 2mm of tread, sometimes on the limit of 1.6mm, or beyond.
“This is happening more and more at the moment, unfortunately, and a massive part of this is just lack of diligence to the actual tyre itself. Drivers are just getting in the vehicle and driving it straight to a destination, there are no checks conducted, as they should be.”
Technology and tyres
Over the last few years, tyre pressure monitoring systems (TPMS) has become standard in the automotive market.
These systems provide tyre pressure information to the driver display, allowing them to ensure their tyres are inflated correctly. However, TPMS does not provide any other data, such as tyre wear, age, or perishing.
“A lot of drivers are not acting on their tyres until the TMPS kicks in and tells them they have a problem,” added Scott. “Sometimes, this is too late, so the situation is really getting worse.”
Sophie Lyden, Depot Manager at Westgate Tyres, and social media star as The Tyre Lady, added: “I think that TPMS and the technology around tyres is a great thing, but at the same time, it does not help as well.
“Unfortunately, people who own vehicles think that the TPMS is going to tell them when a tyre is in danger, or needs help. And sometimes issues with tyres can completely be missed because people are waiting for that light to come on. But say it is a bulge in the side of the tyre, say a nail has gone in but the tyre has not lost any pressure, the TPMS light would not come on.
“Drivers need to be visually checking their tyres at least once every month to stay safe, they cannot rely on technology.”
Tyre label confusion
In 2012, tyre labels were introduced into EU markets, to help drivers understand three key aspects – wet weather grip, fuel economy, and noise.
Yet research shows that many drivers either do not understand, or do not look, for tyre label information. A study by Apollo Tyres found that 45% of drivers are buying replacement tyres without understanding the rating labels.
For workshops, this is an opportunity to educate, and move drivers away from the simple cheapest option, to find a tyre that is better suited to their needs.
“The whole idea behind introducing a tyre label was so that the end consumer can make an informed decision about what they are getting into,” commented Shobhit Arora, Director of Sales at Apollo Tyres UK. “People need to understand that you can buy the safest cars in the world, but the tyres are the four contact points on the road. If you are compromising on the tyres, you are compromising with your lives. So that is where that label becomes very, very important.
“And yes, discussions can starts with that tyre label, but they also start with your needs, to ensure drivers stay safe.”
The role of the workshop
With an increasing number of drivers not checking tyres, as referenced by recent MOT figures that show over two million MOT failures in this area alone in a 12-month period, the need for garages to check and educate becomes even more necessary.
“This is all about trying to get people to understand the importance of safe, legal, road-worthy tyres,” commented Stuart Lovatt, Chair of road safety charity TyreSafe. “Of course, the garages have an absolutely crucial role. And this is where the technicians can come in because it is the single point of engagement. This is the opportunity for garages to work with their customers and also to then build that customer base by providing that sound, reliable service.
The best way to do this is to engage with the customer to explain why tyre safety is so important, but also ask them what kind of driving do they do? The range of tyres that are now available, performance depends on the type of tyre that you want.
“It is not just the cheapest tyre available. If they are going to be doing long distances on high-speed roads, motorways, and dual carriageways, putting their children in the car, going to load the car up because they are going on holiday, then perhaps the cheapest option is not the best one. So, this is something we think that the technicians have an absolutely critical role in getting that message across to the customers.”
Offering alternatives
When it comes to having a vehicle in the workshop with dangerous tyres, how can technicians engage to ensure drivers know about the potential dangers, and also with the best tyres suited to their usage?
It is not just a safety aspect,” added Lyden. “I think for the garages that have that vehicle, and it is also an upsell.
“I know people might not like to hear that word in this trade because everyone thinks we are cowboys for some reason. But for garage owners, there is part of the market there that they are missing. And if they do not sell tyres, that is another good chunk of the trade that they are missing just because everybody always needs them.
“It is the only point of contact with the road. And if you was to call a customer and say, your tyre is knackered, like it needs a new one, that customer kind of has to have that done. And any garage that is doing work on a vehicle that has got bald or defective tyres, they should not be letting that car drive away, from a safety aspect. They really need to advise the customer strongly that their tyres are not safe, and work with them to get replacements on.
“Ask if they would you like to put the money for their service towards tyres, and come back in a few weeks’ time when they can afford to do the rest of it. That is something we offer our customers.”
Find out more
Auto Repair Focus is a partner with TyreSafe, to help highlight the role of independent workshops in educating on tyre safety.
You can find out more about the road safety charity, and the work it does, at www.tyresafe.org. You can also apply to become a partner, and access the benefits, including various resources to help educate drivers. Find out more on their website.
