Tyres are not the most conspicuous of components.  Unless you experience a puncture, or are into F1 or monster trucking, you may not have paid them great amounts of attention.

Perhaps this may explain the alarming statistic, uncovered by tyre-manufacturer Continental recently, that nearly 40% of drivers had never checked the condition of their vehicle’s tyres.  More than 30% of drivers had never taken the time to check their tread-depth, and an even smaller number actually knew what the legal requirement for tread-depth is.

Speaking for continental, Tim Bailey said that “One in five drivers polled have suffered a blow-out and three-quarters of us understand that low tyre tread depth causes accidents in wet weather yet we still do not recognise the risks we take by not checking and replacing tyres more regularly. People just don’t think about it enough or they don’t know what to look for.”

Whilst this survey accounted for a range of motorists, the findings are of particular importance for van drivers due to the high mileage clocked up as well as heavy loads carried.

Tyres are, of course, the point of contact between your vehicle and the road.  Any dangers on the road surface must be dealt first and foremost by the tyres.  This means that your tyres need to be sturdy enough to cope with potholes, ice, water, rough surfaces and anything else you find yourself driving over.

Continental has, in fact, been experiencing higher than average cases of damage from potholes.  Potholes are caused primarily by wet and icy conditions.  Once cracks have formed in road surfaces, icy conditions can force them wider and wider, creating dangerous and sharp obstacles.  These flaws can be costly to fix, especially for councils experiencing budget cuts, so we may well be seeing more of them in the months to come.  Continental do, though, warn against veering around such obstacles, since evasive driving can be extremely dangerous for other road users.

Taking good care of your tyres is the most effective method of protection from rough road surface conditions, and well-kept tyres should help guard the rest of your vehicle.

The legal tread depth for tyres in the UK is 1.6mm.  Most tyres have indented indicators which allow you to quickly tell whether your tyres have worn too low.  Of course, the legal limit is only the lowest possible tread depth.  Replacing your tyres before it reaches this minimum can be extremely beneficial, particularly if driving conditions are wet, icy or otherwise treacherous.

Michelin, a leading manufacturer, recommends checking your tyre pressures at least once a month, particularly before embarking on any high speed motorway journeys.  Pressures can only be checked when your tyres are cold, and should be inflated according to your usage.  Bad tyre pressures can cause over or under steer, which can be extremely dangerous, particularly at high speeds.  In addition, under inflated tyres can be costly because they make the engine work far harder.  Under inflation of just 10psi could add 3p per litre to your fuel bill (assuming a price of £1.00 per litre.)

It is impossible to predict tyre life-expectancy, since there are so many influencing factors.  The only way to ensure that your tyres are working well for your vehicle is to pay them the attention that they deserve.  Luckily, they should be able to reward your efforts with safety, comfort and financial savings. For more financial savings remember to make sure you have good Commercial Vehicle Insurance.