TYRE SAFETY
In light of the most recent VOSA effectiveness report, TyreSafe has issued a warning to van and LGV drivers on the cost and safety issues linked to overloading their vehicles. The organisation states that unless operators compensate for carrying heavy loads by increasing tyre pressures to the recommended levels, their tyres will wear out quicker, fuel consumption will increase and safety may be compromised.
A report from road maintenance campaign website Potholes.co.uk suggests that the UK’s ongoing pothole epidemic, caused jointly by harsh seasonal weather and government spending cuts, could result in a £2.68 million per day cost to the country’s motorists. The website describes the condition of Britain’s roads as approaching “Third World” standard as a consequence of allowing them to fall into disrepair.
The results of the latest VOSA effectiveness report have come to TyreSafe’s attention and the tyre safety organisation is not impressed with the attention van drivers are paying to their tyres. The report, TyreSafe comments, shows that ‘condition of tyres’ remains the most frequent prohibition defect at spot checks on light goods vehicles across the country, and the incidence rate is increasing; in 2007/08 and 2008/09 it sat at 20 per cent but rose to just under 26 per cent in 2009/10.
TyreSafe has released a statement suggesting that damage caused by the UK’s pothole epidemic can be minimised if the tyres are properly inflated. Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe, comments: “Potholes can cause significant damage to wheels and tyres. It’s therefore important for drivers to ensure their tyres are properly inflated to reduce any potential damage. If they do suffer the misfortune of hitting a pothole, drivers should make sure both their wheels and tyres are thoroughly inspected by a professional for signs of damage.”
National Tyres and Autocare has opted to re-stock its 210 retail branches exclusively with Klarius type-approved exhausts made in the UK, according to the exhaust maker. National will also be stocking Klarius replacement CATs, Lambda sensors and Diesel Particulate Filters (DPFs).
The UK distributor of Yokohama tyres, Yokohama HPT has extended its commitment to tyre safety by becoming a full member of tyre industry safety body TyreSafe. Yokohama was previously an associate member of the group but will now take a more active role as full members, which includes a seat on the TyreSafe board. David Seward, managing director of Yokohama HPT said the company was “proud to have become a full member” of TyreSafe, mentioning its “enviable reputation” as a communicator of tyre safety information to a wide audience.
UK car leasing customers are struggling to avoid potholes on the nation's roads, a study has revealed. According to Kwik Fit, nearly four in ten British motorists (or 13.7 million) have taken dangerous action to avoid hitting a pothole over the past 12 months.
etyres, the online tyre retailer, says it has been inundated with call-outs from vehicle owners who have had their tyres and wheels damaged in the latest pothole epidemic. And following weeks of severe winter weather, the state of British roads is continuing to deteriorate at a rapid rate forcing drivers to navigate their way round cracks and gaping holes.
Toyota and Lexus became the latest vehicle manufacturers to join tyre safety organisation, TyreSafe, helping the group reach a dozen vehicle manufacturer members helping to raise standards of tyre care and maintenance through driver education and engagement. “It’s wonderful to receive the support and backing of two fantastic brands such as Toyota and Lexus,” comments Stuart Jackson, chairman of TyreSafe. “We have seen very positive results from the excellent contributions made by our other vehicle manufacturer members and we are looking forward to the two new members becoming equally involved.”
While we appreciate tyres getting a mention in the House of Commons yesterday, it is regrettable that our Secretary of State for Transport hadn’t studied up on the subject beforehand. During a speech intended to reassure that last winter’s ‘big freeze’ mayhem would not be repeated this year, no less a person than the Rt Hon Philip Hammond MP questioned their suitability for the UK and told parliament that “winter tyres wear out very quickly on normal road surfaces” – a feature that would be a major disadvantage for the cold weather product, were it true.
Early next year TyreSafe will set its first ever industry roadshow in motion. Solihull has been chosen as the location where the event, hosted by Quentin Willson, will get underway on January 26. The British motoring authority, who has at different times presented both Top Gear and Fifth Gear, has been charged with delivering insights into the challenges the UK continues to face from defective and illegal tyres. During the roadshow TyreSafe will outline its ongoing plans to tackle the key issues linked with this problem and highlight how companies from a wide range of sectors can get involved and help save lives.
Over 500 children in Birmingham gained valuable experience in road safety last week, when Aston-based tyre specialist ATS Euromaster organised a series of practical demonstrations at Anderton Park School in Balsall Heath (24 November) and Coleshill Heath Junior & Infants School in Chelmsley Wood (25 November). The special lessons were arranged to support National Road Safety Week (22-28 November) and saw a Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) squeeze into the playgrounds at both schools to help highlight a series of key safety messages involving stopping distances, driver reaction times and vehicle blind spots.
Goodyear Aviation product support manager Robert Robson has emphasised the importance of daily aircraft tyre pressure checks. Aviation tyres' design and construction differ from automobile tyres, and though it is important to maintain the correct pressure in car tyres, proper aircraft tyre pressure is the most important factor in aircraft preventive maintenance. As a result, pilots and maintenance personnel must resist the temptation to follow the same schedule they would use in checking their cars' tyres to determine that their aircraft tyre pressure is correct, advises Robson, who regularly teaches aviation industry authorised inspection classes and has ten years of aviation tyre experience.
A dominant player in the UK passenger car and light van sector, in which it estimates it has a market share of “75 per cent and growing”, Kwik-Fit Fleet has seen increasing opportunities for the provision of fleet maintenance since the recession – hastening the advance of policies already in play before the financial crisis. Peter Lambert, sales director at Kwik-Fit Fleet told Tyres & Accessories that the extended replacement cycles of many car and van fleets coincide naturally with “increased fleet demand for tyres and mechanical work including vehicle services and MoTs”, while also increasing pressure on fleet managers to ensure older vehicles remain on the road. “We anticipate that fleet demand for all forms of mechanical work at Kwik-Fit centres will continue to increase as all businesses look to minimise vehicle downtime,” concludes Lambert.
While the latest European Truck Customer Survey suggests that vehicle uptime has overtaken fuel efficiency as the most pressing concern on the minds of fleet operators, ATS Euromaster has continued to view both aspects of fleet service with similar importance. Peter Fairlie, group sales director with the firm, suggests that ATSE has retained a focus on helping fleet managers to “cut their running costs” across the board, through such measures as tyre husbandry, an increase in emphasis on mobile repair units and “ramping up” its service offering to accommodate fleet vehicles’ longer deployment.
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