In my hometown of Melbourne, we say that if you don’t like the weather, you just have to wait five minutes. And someone who’s lived here my whole life, I can confirm that it’s true. The other day I was going for a 15-minute walk. At the start of the walk, it was sunny and fine. About ten minutes in, it started drizzling, then raining heavily. A couple of minutes after that I had to cut the walk short because it actually started hailing!
Understandably, that has a pretty big impact if you’re walking, but you need to be mindful of the weather if you’re driving, too. In some ways, that’s obvious – low visibility, slick and slippery roads, icy conditions. In other ways, it’s a bit more subtle. Changing weather patterns – in particular changing temperature – tend to have an effect on your tyre pressure, and variable weather can mean that your tyres lose or gain pressure without you even noticing.
TPMS Tyre Pressure Sensors
That’s why it’s a good idea to get a tyre pressure monitoring system if you want to keep on top of your tyre pressure. The system uses tyre sensors to directly measure the pressure inside your tyres. When that pressure isn’t what it should be – when it’s a little too high or a little too low, for instance – then the TPMS lets you know that it’s time to fix things and add a bit more air to your tyres (or let a bit out).
If your tyre pressure isn’t right, that affects your braking distance and your handling. Your tyres are more likely to skid, and you take longer to stop. Remember those wet and icy roads from a couple of paragraphs ago? When your tyres aren’t properly pressurised, then those become a serious safety hazard. To make matters worse, underinflated and overinflated tyres wear out faster, and worn-down, balding tyres have similar problems when it comes to traction and turning.
If you want to stay safe on the roads no matter what the weather, come and talk to Safe-T-Tyre. We want to help you make sure that your tyres are always in good condition, and that you’re always prepared for the roads. The best way to do that is to know that your tyres are always ready for a ride, and that’s where a tyre pressure monitor really helps.