Tyres are in many ways your first line of defence while driving. They enable your vehicle to handle all sorts of terrain, from well-maintained roads to untamed bush. But even on-road, there’s a huge variance in the kind of surfaces that your tyres encounter. There are wet roads, icy roads, pot-holes, and sometimes even spills! If you want to stay safe while driving, you need your tyres prepared to handle anything that might be underneath you, and that means two things.
Checking your tyre treads?
First, it means that your tyres need to be in good condition. They can’t be worn-down. Worn-down tyres don’t have properly defined grooves and treads, and you need grooves and treads for the traction that helps you grip the road. Without proper tyre treads, the rubber will slip and you’re more likely to lose control of your vehicle – especially in wet or icy conditions. And you’ll have a longer braking distance, which can turn what would have been a near miss into a nasty accident.
Secondly, it means that your tyres need to be properly inflated. Too much tyre pressure or too little, and you’ll get all sorts of problems. Your tyres will wear out faster, which links back to the earlier point. You’ll also use more fuel and have a greater risk of blowouts, so improperly inflated tyres are a safety hazard in and of themselves. Fortunately, you can combat this problem easily with a tyre pressure monitoring system.
TPMS keeps tyre pressure in check
A TPMS lets you know if you have the right amount of pressure in your tyres, or if you need to increase or decrease it. The system includes tyre sensors that measure the pressure in your tyres and alert you if it’s too high or too low. That way, you can take swift action, changing the pressure as needed at the next opportunity. Without a pressure monitor, people often end up driving on improperly inflated tyres for weeks or months until they remember to check their tyre pressure, putting them at risk because of all the reasons discussed above. The tyre pressure monitor increases drivers’ awareness of their tyres, helping them drive more safely and keep their vehicles in better condition.
Just like we have low battery warning lights and low fuel warnings, tyre pressure monitors should be considered an integral part of vehicle safety and maintenance. If you don’t have a TPMS, get in touch with us today, and we’ll help you find the perfect one for your needs.