As thousands of families prepare for the Easter Bank Holiday getaway, Bridgestone is reminding drivers to check their tyres before setting off – and to make road safety their top priority this spring. The advice comes as part of the company’s wider Road Safety Hero campaign, which emphasises the importance of regular tyre checks.
According to Bridgestone, properly maintained tyres can make all the difference between a smooth journey and a dangerous one and has issued three seasonal pieces of advice to follow ahead of any road trips to see family and friends over the Easter Bank Holiday weekend, which is particularly pertinent ahead of long-distance journeys.
How to check your tyres:
Each tyre must be in good condition, free from bumps, cuts and bulges. They must be maintained at the correct pressure and have sufficient tread to enable motorists to stop safely. The law states the absolute minimum tread depth is 1.6mm of tread across a continuous band of ¾ of the tyre width, around the entire circumference. Failure to comply could result in a fine of up to £2,500 & three penalty points per tyre.
Try the 20p test
Ideally, tyres should be checked at least once a month at the same time that tyre pressures are checked.
Insert a 20p coin into the main tyre grooves at several places around the circumference of the tyre and across its width. If the outer band of the 20p coin is visible whenever the treads are checked, they might be illegal and should be checked by a specialist.
Under pressure?
Like tread depths, tyre pressures should be checked at least once a month, or before long journeys, too.
Tyre pressures should be checked against the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended level which can be found in the vehicle handbook and on a plate which is often located inside the fuel filler cap or on the driver’s door sill.
Play a part in making roads safer
“We want everyone to enjoy their Easter travel plans while feeling confident and safe behind the wheel. That’s what really matters. Everyone can play their part in making roads safer, and the beauty is that this can be achieved in a matter of a few minutes by making some straightforward tyre checks,” says Bridgestone North Consumer Sales Director Drew Chapman.
Turanza 6 – Bridgestone’s latest
In addition to its Bank Holiday advice, Bridgestone points to the safety characteristics of its latest generation tyre, the Turanza 6. Designed to “deliver extra reassurance whatever the weather,” Bridgestone highlights the tyre’s “best-in-class wet performance” as well as “long-lasting performance with improved fuel efficiency and reduced road noise for added comfort.” Turanza 6 is also engineered with EV-readiness in mind.
“Developed and manufactured in Europe, the Turanza 6 is a fitting example of Bridgestone’s ongoing mission to create a safer, more sustainable future for all road users,” states Bridgestone.
Click here for more Bridgestone tyre safety tips for drivers and ways to stay safe on roads.
