A recent surveys carried out by the Society of the Irish Motor Industry (SIMI), supported by Continental Tyres Ireland, shows that 94 per cent of Irish drivers are aware that driving with damaged or dangerous tyres is an offence, writes Trish Whelan.
However, alarmingly, some six per cent or potentially 120,000 drivers are leaving themselves open to penalty points or failure of their NCT unless they pay proper attention to their tyres.
The survey, carried out to assess the attitude of Irish drivers in relation to the general care and maintenance of their cars, also found that when purchasing a replacement tyre, Irish drivers rely mostly on their local tyre retailer (34 per cent) versus 19 per cent who go to one of the tyre retail chains.
In regard to the choice of tyre brand, nearly half of drivers generally depend on the advice of the tyre retailer, franchised dealer or garage contact.
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| Tom Dennigan |
Tom Dennigan of Continental Tyres Ireland advises drivers to take more responsibility to learn the basics of tyre safety and performance. “While it is always good to seek the advice of a tyre professional, motorists should keep in mind that they need to be engaged with the four corners that are the only point of contact with the road.
“All motorists really need to get the message: you can get penalty points if you do not look after your tyres. Garda forensic analysis of fatal crashes has shown that damaged or worn tyres were partially responsible for one in ten fatal crashes on Irish roads.”
On car maintenance, some 43 per cent said they go to a trusted mechanic or workshop for all their needs; 37 per cent said they carry out some car maintenance themselves like topping up tyre pressure or windscreen washer fluid. One in five car owners rely on the car dealer where they purchased the car for all their maintenance and servicing needs.
Other findings from the survey showed that when buying a new tyre
* one in three drivers go to their local independent motor trader/workshop
* just 10 per cent go to a franchised car dealership for a replacement tyre
* as evidence that online retailing of tyres is still in its infancy in Ireland, only 3 per cent of drivers have ordered tyres online
* 19 per cent of respondents always choose the brand that is being replaced on their car
* Some 16 per cent allow cost to dictate their choice as they go for the lowest cost option that is available
* 15 per cent say they always go for a premium brand
The survey of 511 drivers from across Ireland was carried out during December 2018.
