South Africa displays trends similar to those of developing countries, according to the research. This implies that an increase in the number of vehicles on the road has contributed to an increase in the number of road traffic fatalities.
As countless families across SA prepare to depart for their holiday destination, it is a worrying fact that many will do so without taking the time to check the health of their tyres. "Drivers often forget that only correctly inflated tyres can do their job properly, delivering the right level of handling performance. Our comprehensive tyre tests show that under- and also over-inflation can have a significant impact on the car's overall driving behaviour and its stopping distance. But it impacts not only the car's safety, it also decreases the tyres' potential mileage and the car's fuel efficiency," says Lize Hayward, PR at the Goodyear Group.
"Drivers frequently make one of three classical mistakes: either they don't check their tyre pressure before departure, or alternatively, they check the pressure when the tyre is warm, which results in incorrect readings, or they put it at a level that does not take into account the weight of the car - empty or fully loaded, it makes a difference," explains Hayward.
Many problems start with a gradual and unnoticed loss of inflation pressure. When a tyre is under-inflated, the car's weight is concentrated on the outside part of the tyre tread, increasing pressure on the tyre's sidewalls, rather than being spread out evenly across the width of the tyre. This means that as the tyre rolls, the sidewall heats up more than it should and that affects both performance and safety.
Under-inflation means less evenly distributed pressure on the road. It also reduces the tread area that is in direct contact with the road. These effects reduce the tyres' grip and especially in combination with a heavily loaded car, can have a significantly impact on the car's driving behaviour. Stopping distances become longer and cornering abilities can become sloppier and less direct, which can lead to uncontrollable driving behaviour.
Tyres may lose up to 0.2 bar air pressure in a three-month time period, solely as a result of the everyday diffusion processes in the tyre. Too many drivers make the mistake of thinking that a kick to their tyres or a visual check will tell them if their tyre pressure is correct. A visual inspection cannot detect a 0.2 bar decrease in pressure. Studies carried out by the European Union have shown that more than 64% of all cars have under-inflated tyres. Most drivers simply don't check their tyre pressure often enough, which can have a significant effect on vehicle safety.
Under-inflated and over-inflated tyres don't use the full tread area equally. Under-inflation leads to increased tread wear of the outside area of the tyre's tread while over-inflation increases the tread wear of the inside area. Both have an effect on the tyre's mileage. The tyre's tread wears out faster and in an uneven manner. Under-inflated tyres also need more energy to roll smoothly. The vehicle's fuel efficiency decreases and motorists get less kilometres for every litre of fuel.
According to various tyre fitment centres vehicle and tyre damage, due to potholes and deteriorating road conditions, increased dramatically. Some centres estimate that the number of tyres they replace due to road damage has doubled compared to a few years ago.
Pothole damage is usually confined to tyres, rims, steering and suspension. If you hit a pothole and afterwards you notice a vibration, the steering wheel doesn't centre properly or it pulls to one side, get the car checked immediately, as faults such as tracking or steering damage can lead to later expense or even an accident. Also, check your tyres as damage may not be immediately obvious. Watch for the development of bulges on the tyre sidewalls, indicating serious internal damage.
Hi-Q, which has an extensive national footprint in both big cities and small towns, offers a free 10-point safety check on vehicles. This entails checking all four tyres plus the spare for tread depth and pressure, the front and rear shock absorbers, the brake pads, discs and fluid, as well as the battery, exhaust and wiper blades. Should any of the vehicle checks highlight a warning or faulty part, the technician will recommend the correct course of action.
