The Road Safety Authority (RSA), the Irish Tire Industry Association (ITIA) and the Garda have joined forces to mark Wednesday 5th October 2022 as 'Tire Safety Day'.
With so many tragedies on Irish roads, dealing with people suffering serious life-threatening injuries, the Garda National Road Policing Bureau says that badly-inflated tyres are a serious danger to all road users.
"Many of these can be avoided if your vehicle is roadworthy and you drive within the speed limit. Check your tires regularly, reduce your speed and keep the roads safer together.
How do tires contribute to safe driving?
The tires on your vehicle are the part of the vehicle that comes into contact with the road. Hence, they play an important role in vehicle safety. Between 2007-2012, gardaà reported tire failure as a factor in 172 collisions. Some of these collisions were fatal, while others resulted in serious and minor injuries.
Why is tire safety so important?
Your safety depends on it, along with the safety of your passengers and other road users. Check the condition of your vehicle's tires as follows:
Be the right type and size for your vehicle
Must be properly inflated
Do not damage
Have a minimum tread depth of 1.6mm
What are the legal requirements for tires in Ireland?
By law, it is a driver's responsibility to ensure that their vehicle meets legal requirements.
Requirements are also always in transportable condition. The Road Transport Regulations 2003 specify requirements for tire condition and tyres. If you drive on public roads with damaged or worn tires, you are sacrificing your life and the lives of others. Those who are at risk also risk prosecution.
If you are convicted of driving with dangerous tyres, you can be fined up to €2,500, jailed for 3 months or both, and your license will have 5 penalty points on conviction.
There are no factors in a vehicle that cause an accident more than the tyres. They are your only contact with the road and if they are not fit for purpose can cause accidents, based on an analysis of Irish Road Collision Reports we estimate that faulty tyres are responsible for 14 deaths each year. People often don't think about their tyres - are they properly maintained, are they under the minimum thread, are they damaged in any way? You pay attention.
Each month 8,500 vehicles are classified as dangerous for 'tire tread' and 'tire condition' between the NCT and CVRT testing systems. Be aware that if the tyres are not properly threaded, you may not even receive an insurance claim
Don't wait for the NCT to come check your tires for roadworthiness. Do it regularly Walk around your car and check your tires – look for cuts, cracks or bulges (those that stick out due to pressure). If you're unsure or don't know anything about tyres, get them checked regularly by a local ITIA-registered dealer. "
Motorists can call any ITIA dealer for a free tire pressure check and tread depth check. To find your nearest ITIA (Irish Tire Industry Association) registered dealer nationwide, visit www.itia.ie. "
Some general tips on tire maintenance:
The minimum tread depth for your tires is 1.6mm (1mm on a motorcycle). Replace with new tires before reaching this level.
Tire pressure is written in the owner's manual, when the fuel cap is opened, or on the driver's door side.
Cuts, cuts, cracks, sidewall damage or a bulb are all hazards to look for in a tire.
Don't forget to check the spare tire.
What kind of tires should I buy? Types of tires
There are three different categories of tires:
1)Winter tires
Winter tires have special tread patternsDesigned to ride on snow and ice.
They are made from softer rubber than regular tires and last longer in the cold. Flexible in cold weather. This means the tire can grip. Winter tires are best for snowy or icy roads
Labeled 'MS' or 'M&S' (mud and snow) with Alpine
Symbol as shown in Figure
2) Summer Tyres
Summer tyres are mostly used in Ireland. That doesn't mean they aren't good
Summer can only be used - this is the only term used to separate them. The requirement to fit winter tires from winter tires in countries where there is a practical requirement and sometimes a law exists.
3) All season tyres
All season tyres are a cross between summer and winter tires.
Cope with all types of conditions including dry roads and rain. They are not exclusive
Designed for any type of weather. All season tires are marked with MS. Or M&S (mud and snow) but without the Alpine symbol.
Do I need winter tires fitted in Ireland?
Irish law does not require winter tires to be fitted and there is no law against fitting them. If you decide to fit a set of winter tires, you should always fit a full set to make sure
Your steering will not be affected. Once the danger of snow and ice has passed, you should remove them. Remove your winter tires and refit your all-season or summer tires. If you leave the winter
Tires in hot weather can wear down the soft rubber they are made of quickly.
What is an 'E-mark' tyre?
An E-mark on a tire confirms that it meets the minimum European Union or International (UNECE) standards. Standards related to its size, load and speed rating. Tested on E-mark tyres. To ensure that they have adequate breaking depth and performance capability. Contains E-marks
An 'E' or an 'E' plus a number in a circle or rectangle.Buy what's included
What is an 'S-Mark' tire?
Tires sold in the European market must have an 'S-mark'. This is 'sound marking'. The level of road noise produced by the tire is certified to meet EU standards. From October 1, 2011, retailers will not be able to sell new tires without the S-marking
If buying a new tire :- should have performance labels
Performance labels encourage people. Performance Labels Labels for all new tires. EU law requires that there be
The label shows the best environmental and safety tires, how well the tire performs in wet conditions, fuel efficiency and noise performance. For each tire, a performance rating from A -G is given.
As shown in the example, rated Tier A for wet conditions, C for fuel economy, and 72 decibels of typical or average noise performance.
If buying second hand (partially used) tyres !!
Second hand or partially used tires are tires that have been used on another vehicle. If you are thinking of buying a used tire, you should make sure that the tire is safe and in good condition
Some important things to consider before buying a partially used tire are:
1. Check for an E-mark on the tire. Your tires must have an E-mark
2. Check that the tire has a tread depth of at least 1.6 mm. Anything less is illegal to use on public roads. The depth of a tire can be measured by always measuring in the center of the tire surface, not at the edges.
3. Tires are equipped with a 'tread wear indicator' block at a depth of 1.6 mm. You should check this block to make sure you don't have this indicator or the same level
4. Ask the seller to ensure that minimum legal requirements are met and free from internal and external defects. Common defects include bulges and lumps.An unroadworthy tire can cause an NCT to fail, reducing your safety on the road.
Examples of specific tire defects are shown below. For more information
From 2008 to 2013, tires were one of the top three failure factors in the NCT. At NCT, tires are checked for thread depth, condition and presence of European type. Endorsement ('E' or 'E') marks. At NCT, the thread depth for any of your tires will tell you what condition they are in.
If the date of manufacture of a tire is less than 3 mm or more than six years old. Classified as a 'pass advisory' item. This will not cause your vehicle's NCT to fail, but it will advise you that your tires need to be replaced soon. Thread depth shall not be less than the legal minimum limit of 1.6 mm.
As the only part of the vehicle that contacts the road under normal conditions, the tire's thread improves the safety and performance of your vehicle - and especially in wet conditions - reducing the tire's thread reduces the safety and performance of your tires as they wear. Be aware that if the tires are not properly threaded, you may not even receive an insurance claim
Fitting charges start at €15 per tyre, although better brands can be found in shops and winter or all-weather tires are cheaper online. Also https://www.oponeo.ie/ will provide door delivery within 4-5 days. Various member reviews have been recorded from previous experiences. So we include https://www.oponeo.ie/.
