Low-mileage vehicle owners 'risking tyre problems'

31/07/2008

Many motorists of low-mileage vehicles are risking tyre problems in the coming months by not regularly checking the condition of their wheels, it has been claimed.

According to the RAC Foundation, although nine out of ten drivers understand the link between tyre age and road safety, some three million motorists neglect to inspect their tyres regularly.

Some 59 per cent of those questioned revealed they are unlikely to check the vital tyre age information on the sidewall.

According to the RAC, tyres on ordinary cars will be altered long before age becomes an issue but low-mileage vehicles such as caravans, vintage cars and trailers may suffer from "tyre fatigue".

This can make vehicles unsafe and cause accidents, which could lead to higher car insurance premiums.

Sheila Rainger, deputy director for the RAC Foundation, said: "Modern tyres are very robust and failure-resistant, but older tyres that have been stored incorrectly or simply not used for many years can become unfit for purpose through the passage of time alone."

The foundation is informing drivers that signs of aging tyres include cracks on the sidewall, tread separation, cracks or bulges, deformation of the tyre carcass and discolouration and fading of the rubber.

In related news, car care company Comma has highlighted that failing to check their oil levels regularly can lead to some 215,000 car and van owners facing hefty charges when their engines break.

Research by the group suggests that three in four respondents did not know what the oil light in their vehicle signifies.

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