Christmas road safety begins where the rubber hits the road

Correctly fitted tyres can be the difference between stopping your car safely and completely losing control ... mechanic Daniel Price changes a tyre at All Coast Tyres.

As the Christmas holidays approach, it is a good time to make sure your car is safe and ready for road trips.

 “It is so important to have your vehicle’s  tyre tread depth and air pressures checked regularly, “ said John O’Leary of All Coast Tyres. 

“When we think about car safety, we tend to think about airbags and seatbelts, but the only point of contact between you and the road is your tyres. Tyres have a direct link to the quality of your ride as well as your safety in general,” he said. “The right tyres, correctly fitted and air pressure maintained, can be the difference between stopping your car safely and, and completely losing control.”

Selecting the right tyre for your vehicle and driving habits, and maintaining them with the correct pressure and regular rotations will help provide a smooth, safe ride as well as extending the quality of life of your tyres. And it is important that you see an expert to get this done.

 “Amongst the issues we look at are uneven tyre wear and your car’s wheel alignment,” John said.

 “Tyres wearing prematurely on one side of the tyre are indicative of a misalignment, mechanical faults in the vehicles front end or incorrect tyre pressure.

 “Correct wheel alignment not only maximises your tyre’s life but ensures the car drives and handles to its full potential. This should be checked every time you have tyres fitted, and at every 10,000km”.

 With the enormous amount of rain we are experiencing, aquaplaning is a dangerous risk.

 “Aquaplaning is when water builds up in front of your tyres faster than the weight of your car can displace it,” John explained. “This forces water below the tyre, creating a layer of water between your tyre and the road. Because of this, your tyres lose their grip on the road, reducing braking and steering efficiency. In the worst cases, all control of your vehicle is lost,” he said.

 “Over our 46 years in the tyre industry, we have found there are some key procedures that help to ensure your car and tyres are safe,” John said. “We don’t use rattle guns to tighten your wheel nuts, instead we tighten wheels by hand to the correct tension with a tension wrench for your ultimate safety. Each team member’s work is cross checked and we keep true accurate records of when your tyres are fitted and serviced, and punctures and repairs are performed to Australian standards and beyond. Every process, checklist and cross check is designed to elevate our standards and maximise your safety.”

Call All Coast Tyres today on 5441 2133 for the Nambour store or 5458 4802 for the Yandina store to get your car ready for the holidays.