Are tyres overlooked when it comes to vehicle maintenance? According to Streetwize Copywriter, Mayur Mistry, many motorists will invest time valeting their vehicles to give it a showroom finish, but tyre care will often be neglected and lead to breakdowns.
In fact, according to National Highways, more than 41,500 people broke down on National Highways roads in 2021 because of tyre issues – that is over 20% of all breakdowns.
If you’re selling tyre maintenance products to the public, then as retailers and suppliers, we should make the effort to educate consumers to ensure they look after their tyres, so that they last longer and provide optimum performance in terms of steering and suspension.
Below and across are a few ways in which motorists can be encouraged to look after their vehicle’s tyres – perhaps you recognise them?
Check tyre air pressure regularly
A tyre’s air pressure, if low, can greatly impact a vehicle’s handling, fuel economy and its steering and suspension. If a vehicle’s tyre pressure is low, it will cause imbalance, and, possibly, force the driver to lose control of their vehicle.
It is advised to check tyre pressures once-a-month. To encourage your customers to look after their tyres, stock up on tyre pressure gauges, which are not only low-cost, but they can also be sold as add-ons when a consumer is about to pay for goods.
Also, emphasise how important air compressors are for every vehicle. Most air compressors are lightweight and compact so take up minimal space, and they even show a tyre’s air pressure too. Plus, they provide a quicker inflation rate when compared to standard foot pumps.
Many air compressors are powered by a vehicle’s 12V socket, but there are also cordless air compressors on the market.
Streetwize has a selection of tyre pressure gauges and air compressors. It supplies to both national and independent retailers across the UK and the world. One of its air compressors is a cordless air compressor that can be charged via USB, allowing it to be charged at home or inside the car.
Check tyre tread depth Regularly
The tread depth on a tyre is hugely important when it comes to steering and handling, especially on wet or icy roads.
Motorists should be made aware that if the tread depth was to fall below the minimum depth of 1.6mm, their vehicle will fail their MOT and they risk losing control of their vehicle when driving.
It’s important to ensure that all motorists regularly check the depth of their tyre with a suitable tyre gauge, which is also available at Streetwize.
Mind the load!
Motorists should be encouraged to check the maximum load of their vehicle before loading anything considerably heavier than usual, whether in their vehicle’s boot or mounting the load on the roof of the vehicle with suitable roof bars.
If a vehicle is handling excessive weight, then it would not only wear the tyres quicker than normal, but it also increases the risk of tyre explosion!
Ultimately, if you sell roof bars and other travel storage accessories, motorists should be advised to refer to their vehicle handbook to know their vehicle’s maximum load weight.
Tyre alignment
While this is something motorists can’t check on their own, motorists will be notified by their technician during their vehicle’s annual MOT or service if their tyres are misaligned.
Tyres that are misaligned usually leads to uneven wear and poor fuel economy. While misalignment of tyres is almost inevitable, the next tip should help minimise tyres from misaligning.
Develop better driving habits
Little things, like being extra careful when driving over speed bumps and mounting kerbs, minimises the opportunity for tyres to misalign, while reducing wear and tears on tyres.
Remember tyre care
When you think about it, tyres hold the weight of an entire vehicle; therefore, if they’re not looked after appropriately, not only will the steering and suspension of a vehicle be negatively affected, but it could be harmful to the driver and passengers too.
To help your customers, be sure that your store is stocked up on the all-important tyre care accessories.
