Worrying complacency over tyres
Discussion
Auto Express
Their "Inside Story" feature suggests that over a third have incorrect tyre pressures and treads with a worrying number only checking "once per year"
Petrol forecourts were also found to be faulty in fairness to drivers as teh mag found 40% or so across the country were either out of order or giving incorrect readings.
Auto Exrpess had the RAC to help and in one morning in London - they found one third had at least one dodgy tyre
One over-inflated tyrereduces "grip" whilst under-inflatedsaffect steering and cornering.
It also affects petrol too. Using gas? Not "speeding"
... chances are they tyres are under pressure.
They found one 1997 Astra still running on all 4 orginal tryes.. completely bald
They were also under-inflated. This guy drives on a motorway Heaven help him in Rhyl.... 
In fact back to the 1oo mph thread - the tread depth seriously affects stopping distances and can cause stoping distance to increase by up to ten car lengths (Auto Express issue 917 - when we last discussed this issue over faulty pressure pumps.
Drivers were asked why they neglect their rubber.. and one lady said
Another
Apparently the garages are supposed to have these pumps calibrated every 6 months but there is no legal obligation on the garages to do this.
The mag found the old analogue type were the least accurate and also problems with findding a machine in working order.
We check our own with our own pressure pump each week and toddle off to the local tyre shoppe once per month for a monthly "touchy feely" on their ramps.
We are - or rather my wife is - the "customer from hell
"! Most firms provide the tyre/pressure check for free by the way - but be sure to allow time for tyres to cool before they check 'em for you.
Their "Inside Story" feature suggests that over a third have incorrect tyre pressures and treads with a worrying number only checking "once per year"
Petrol forecourts were also found to be faulty in fairness to drivers as teh mag found 40% or so across the country were either out of order or giving incorrect readings.
Auto Exrpess had the RAC to help and in one morning in London - they found one third had at least one dodgy tyre
One over-inflated tyrereduces "grip" whilst under-inflatedsaffect steering and cornering.
It also affects petrol too. Using gas? Not "speeding"
... chances are they tyres are under pressure.They found one 1997 Astra still running on all 4 orginal tryes.. completely bald
They were also under-inflated. This guy drives on a motorway Heaven help him in Rhyl.... In fact back to the 1oo mph thread - the tread depth seriously affects stopping distances and can cause stoping distance to increase by up to ten car lengths (Auto Express issue 917 - when we last discussed this issue
over faulty pressure pumps.Drivers were asked why they neglect their rubber.. and one lady said
dumb female said:
It's my husband's job to do that
Another
some other daft person said:
I leave it till the MOT is due
Others claimed they had used the garage forecourts .. and these were apparently checked and in fairness to the drivers concerned found by Auto Express to be faulty Apparently the garages are supposed to have these pumps calibrated every 6 months but there is no legal obligation on the garages to do this.
The mag found the old analogue type were the least accurate and also problems with findding a machine in working order.
We check our own with our own pressure pump each week and toddle off to the local tyre shoppe once per month for a monthly "touchy feely" on their ramps.
We are - or rather my wife is - the "customer from hell
"! Most firms provide the tyre/pressure check for free by the way - but be sure to allow time for tyres to cool before they check 'em for you.Yes it would seem that the a lot of motorists just dont look at tyres, after all thay are dirty! A Young lady a few doors away from us ran her KA for 3 weeks with an allmost flat rear tyre despite several neighbours pointing it out to her. She then ran it flat for a couple of days until it was shredded! Then she had a new tyre fitted. In addition a collegue at work ran her car for several months with two bald tyres as the MOT was not due!
I just cannot comprehend this attitude, or is it mechanical ignorance?
I just cannot comprehend this attitude, or is it mechanical ignorance?
One of my neighbours (middle aged male teacher) came over a few months back querying if I had a tyre pump as one of the tyres on their Scenic was "a little low", so I gave him my 12v tyre pump.
A few minutes later he came back over asking "how does this work", which I found strange as it's a tyre pump, hardly rocket science.
Walked over the road to find the chap on his knees in front of a virtually flat, virtually bald tyre, holding both connectors (12v and valve) without a
ing clue what to do with either one - keep in mind the chap's a teacher, so not the stereotypical dumb blonde, and this is the MPV in which they take out their 2 kids etc.
I'm not a mechanically minded person at all, but from day one of owning a car it's been second nature that you regularly check treads, pressures, fluid levels etc.
A few minutes later he came back over asking "how does this work", which I found strange as it's a tyre pump, hardly rocket science.
Walked over the road to find the chap on his knees in front of a virtually flat, virtually bald tyre, holding both connectors (12v and valve) without a
ing clue what to do with either one - keep in mind the chap's a teacher, so not the stereotypical dumb blonde, and this is the MPV in which they take out their 2 kids etc.I'm not a mechanically minded person at all, but from day one of owning a car it's been second nature that you regularly check treads, pressures, fluid levels etc.
People don't realise either that a bald tyre is 3 endorsed point and & £60 fine if the BiB get hold of you.... Or worse still if The Vehicle inspectorate (VOSA) get hold of you on a Police run road check they can instantly prohibit your car from the road for a dodgy tyre... Meaning you have to pay for a flat bed to come and take you to Kwik Fit, or get one of the Roadside fitters to come out.... Very expensive.
Furthermore, if you have a smash with a dodgy tyre and BiB come out your could be looking at a charge of Dangerous Use of a vehicle which carries similar penalties to Dangerous Driving itself, I.e. A Ban!!
Furthermore, if you have a smash with a dodgy tyre and BiB come out your could be looking at a charge of Dangerous Use of a vehicle which carries similar penalties to Dangerous Driving itself, I.e. A Ban!!
No surprise whatsoever I'm afraid. A friend runs a local a MOT station, he reckons some 75% of cars are failing on their tyres
I see flat tyres every day, b roads, a roads & motorways, its no surprise that so many people locally end up in the hedge round our way.
If you don't know how to & never check them or get them checked on a weekly basis you simply should not have a licence IMHO
I see flat tyres every day, b roads, a roads & motorways, its no surprise that so many people locally end up in the hedge round our way.
If you don't know how to & never check them or get them checked on a weekly basis you simply should not have a licence IMHO
not too long ago on a saturday morning 7.30am i followed a young girl out of the local tesco, i could see the tyre was flat. tied following her and she sped off, with bits of rubber coming away. i was flashing my lights and blasted horn at her. she didn't slow until she stopped after te 3rd roundabout for a bus coming the other way . i jumped out and banged on her window and went to drive off i pointed at her tyre. she pulls out her ipod earphones and puts down her sandwhich but refused to get out the car or wind down the window. i got back in the van and she sped off again with a shredded rear tyre. how could she not know it was flat and then shredded
A women driver will not actually stop a car regardless of how it drives, what lights are flashing on the dash or what noises it is making, as long as it is still going, all is good.
They will simply casually mention it to their husband / boyfriend that there is something "funny" with the car.
I have personally stopped two women drivers, driving with flat tyres, one was doing 70mph in the middle lane of the M1, kid in the back of course, i explained to her that i did not want a tyre coming through my windscreen - sadly my own wife is no exception, came home complaining that the steering was acting strange......the fact that the car was lower by 2 inches on one side seamed to be lost on her and of course shredded a good tyre that just needed a plug.
Even now i get a phone call about some lights on the dash after she has reached her destination......
All went bad when they started voting....must go she's calling
They will simply casually mention it to their husband / boyfriend that there is something "funny" with the car.
I have personally stopped two women drivers, driving with flat tyres, one was doing 70mph in the middle lane of the M1, kid in the back of course, i explained to her that i did not want a tyre coming through my windscreen - sadly my own wife is no exception, came home complaining that the steering was acting strange......the fact that the car was lower by 2 inches on one side seamed to be lost on her and of course shredded a good tyre that just needed a plug.
Even now i get a phone call about some lights on the dash after she has reached her destination......
All went bad when they started voting....must go she's calling
Taita said:
Tyres get a walk around once each day and a check with a forecourt pump (when I can find one working) once a week.
Payday will see an investment in a pump to live in the boot. As well as new cambelt and bushes
Well Payday will see an investment in a pump to live in the boot. As well as new cambelt and bushes
.. besides trying to get folks out there to at least consider C O A S T when driving (umpteen definitions but the best ones must be the marking criteria on the DIS/Speed Aware courses to be realistic and one cop on Paul safespeed's site's definition. OK so he's Wildy's cousin 
- but the guy is 100% cop all the same I've driven him to the airport in the past and he's driven me around the bend after the drives sometimes Our other acronym is P O W E R
P.. Petrol (or Diesel or whatever..
O .. Oil check the dipstick!
W .. Water .. screen wash.. engine cooling system
E// Electrics.. check the lights etc
R.. RUBBER check the wiper blades and TYRES
before each drive.,
Both me and my wife could be accused of "ritual" here..
We happen to think it to be "safety"
Edited by Mad Moggie2 on Saturday 12th January 21:51
Mg6b said:
Most people who do not take a specific interest in driving issues, rarely check their wheels at all. In fact they only realise something is wrong when they happen to notice that the wheels have gone altogether and that is because the car has been left on a pile of bricks!
Perhaps then why so many accidents.All the more reason for police in greater number to pick up on this lack of responsiblity.
The Highway Code does include maintenance and the new driving test as it currently stands does include these basics.. a long time after the continent's version.
We will have the same L test type hopefully some time in the future though w3ith the same tuition realistically applicable tuition time
Better reply before my wife Wildy spots and claws you to the bone
Pork_n_Beem said:
A women driver will not actually stop a car regardless of how it drives, what lights are flashing on the dash or what noises it is making, as long as it is still going, all is good.
They will simply casually mention it to their husband / boyfriend that there is something "funny" with the car.
Wildy and her sister and three girl cousins are a bit "unusual" in that they are au fait with "boy's toys" They will simply casually mention it to their husband / boyfriend that there is something "funny" with the car.
perhaps.They see over-dependence on a mere man as letting down other human beings whether male or female. But for all this .. Wildy enjoys being a woman and likes me to "woo her"
But interfere with her car or just fix one of her "classics in bits" without consulting her first and I get the spare room
One wild cat alright.
But.. she knows her cars all the same
and I acknowledge this passion which I also share with her.We have children who would be called after cars if we followed modern trends of anaming according to conception back then
Pork_n_Beem said:
I have personally stopped two women drivers, driving with flat tyres, one was doing 70mph in the middle lane of the M1, kid in the back of course, i explained to her that i did not want a tyre coming through my windscreen - sadly my own wife is no exception, came home complaining that the steering was acting strange......the fact that the car was lower by 2 inches on one side seamed to be lost on her and of course shredded a good tyre that just needed a plug.
But running on a flat can damage the actual wheel rims. Oh .. I don't know.. perhaps because we make sure our cars are well maintained and just listen to their engines .. maybe that's why we "feel" any problem immediately and get it checked out.
We must be doing something right as we are not constantly replacing worn parts and all engine parts seem to last to just beyond manufacturer's specs on agregate.. and we do not exactly drive "slow" - but usually within compliance boundaries on UK public roads and with some fangs ahowing on track and in Germany
Pork_n_Beem said:
Even now i get a phone call about some lights on the dash after she has reached her destination......
All went bad when they started voting....must go she's calling
You must be patient and educate her tactfully All went bad when they started voting....must go she's calling
Voting? My wife originated from Appenzell Kanton. Wimmin did not have the right to vote in Kantonal elections till 1990-ish. My wife and her sister and three girl cousins were amongst the ringleaders in that fight
You are one brave dude to say that
By the way.. Wildy may call for me. demand his and that.. give me that look
.. . but 
I am a FREE man ! 
I sometimes like the spare room..
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