4 February 2009

Don't run your tyres on red

If you're keeping your car for an extra year, don't do the same with your tyres.

Checking-Pressures-2

That's the blunt warning from Continental Tyres Ireland, which says it could be 'a recipe for disaster'.

The company's Paddy Murphy says that during the winter months in particular, when roads are likely to be wet or icy, running below 3mm of tread depth leaves motorists open to a greater risk of aquaplaning and longer braking distances.”

Continental Tyres is especially concerned about those motorists who changed their cars every other year during the boom years of the Celtic Tiger. “Those motorists are not necessarily in the habit of replacing worn or unroadworthy tyres. If they have only been doing low mileage, they may be unaware of the effects of low tread depth."

Generally, after two years of normal motoring with an average annual mileage of 15,000km, a tyre will show signs of wear and tear and reduced tread depth.

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