.gif)
Following a tyre check at a Shropshire primary school in which eight out of 25 parents’ cars checked were fitted with illegal tyres, the tyre manufacturer Falken says it is planning to roll out the initiative to other schools across the UK.
Falken says that the results of the test at Moorfield Primary School in Newport, corroborate findings by its UK distributor Micheldever. More than 56% of 8,900 tyres removed by Micheldever in June 2013 had less than the legal requirement of 1.6mm tread depth.
Falken cites the current economic strain being felt by families as a key factor; in 2008 (pre-recession) the number of illegal tyres Micheldever recorded was 15%.
Matt Smith, director of Falken UK, said: “The results confirm what our dealers are saying. There are a significant proportion of cars running on illegal or dangerous tyres. Tyres are a crucial element in road safety but for a number of reasons they are often a distress purchase, left until the last minute.”
Su Plant, headmistress at Moorfield Primary School, said: “We were surprised at the results. We regularly address road safety with the children, but it would seem that parents need more information about the importance of tyre safety.”
For more information contact Nick Bailey on 01295 724130.
This highlights one of the essential things that should be checked on any motor vehicle. It’s a shame that so many people ignore/don’t realise the fact that bald, perished and distorted tyres are lethal, full stop.
I also think that the general public at large should get over the “closed bonnet” syndrome and do some essential checks/maintenance on their vehicles at least once a week. Ignoring those vital checks/maintenance could put themselves and others in jeopardy.
Phil, Kent
0
(Idris) – you are right and the full press release highlighted the age of some of the tyres found in the survey with some cars having tyres over 10 years old.
Nick Bailey
0
I have done the same thing back in the 80s at schools and found 18 to 20% failures and we did offer advice to all schools. Nowadays in this fiscally challenging time are parents not checking or turning a blind eye to tyre replacement. Should we be trying to get them out of their cars and showing what the school run mileage costs, might be another arguement for walking and cycling.
Peter Westminster
0
And its not just wear but also age. Check the Dot code on the sidewall, anything that has been in the open for 7 years or more is suspect, anything much older is suspect even if under cover. Check for crazing of the side walls – and replace if you see it.
For tyres manufactured after 2000, there are usually four digits after the DOT code which the first two specify the week of manufacture, and the second two specify the year. For example: 5007 = 50th week of 2007.
Before 2000, there were only 3 digits, again the first two would specify the week, and the third the year. However, this is not a hard and fast rule, as some tyre manufacturers use only three digits still, or * or – or other notations.
Idris Francis Fight Back With Facts Petersfield
0