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29 March 2024

3 out of 4 vehicles on under-inflated tyres

Published
By Majorie van Leijen

It is estimated that at least 3 in every 4 vehicles in the UAE are running on tyres that are underinflated, according to Emirates Driving Institute (EDI).

If the estimation is correct, these are alarming figures, as underinflated tyres pose a risk to the safety of all road users.

In fact, not only under-inflation may lead to accidents on the road, but over-inflation, overheating, overloading, or worn out tyres can all be the result of dangerous accidents, and require proper tyre maintenance, suited to the vehicle and climate of the UAE.

This week an accident involving a swerving vehicle caused the death of the driver.

The vehicle swerved after one of its tyres had burst. Accidents like these are not uncommon.

Mostly during the summer months, when tyres are overheated more easily and more distance is covered on the road, reports of tyre failures frequently make the headlines.

In the context of the ongoing Gulf Traffic Week 2014, concerned authorities bring to the attention the importance of tyre maintenance.

While booklets are distributed by the EDC, the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) on Thursday organised a lecture on tyre maintenance for truck drivers.

The most important tips evolve around two aspects of tyre maintenance: tyre pressure and tyre wear.
 

Tyre pressure

According to the EDC the tyre pressure should be checked every fortnight in order to avoid safety hazards on the road.

“The air in your tyres provides a flexible cushion between the vehicle and the road that smoothes out shock and provides for a comfortable ride,” the driving school writes.

Underinflated tyres get heated up faster, reduces the control the driver has over the vehicle, increased the time the vehicle needs to stop, causes the vehicle to consume more fuel, and wear out faster.

Overinflated tyres cause a bumpy ride, may lead to impact fracture or other casing failures, and cause excessive wear of the center of the tyre.

Air pressure can drop due to various reasons; a drop in temperature may reduce tyre pressure, while the natural leakage of air through the walls of a tyre usually occurs at a rate of 0,2 bar (2,9psi) every three months.

However, more harmful is when there is a leak in the form of small perforations, which is also called a small leakage because the air gradually disappears over hours, days or months without leading to a noticeable effect, writes the ECD.

“Eighty-five per cent of all the significant losses of pressure are represented by ‘small leakages,” they add.

For every 0,2 bar that is lost in tyre pressure, 1 per cent extra fuel is consumed, they state.

Furthermore, braking performance can be reduced by 20 per cent and tyre life by over 50 per cent as a result of under inflation.

The appropriate air pressure is not the same for every vehicle.

The manufacturer of the vehicle should specify the suitable pressure, but this pressure should be maintained by the car owner, states the EDC.

The driver can identify the appropriate pressure of the tyre from the number that appears besides the expression (MAX PRESS); which means the maximum inner air pressure of the tyre, or from the label affixed near the driver’s door, explained the RTA.

Furthermore, when the vehicle is used to carry an additional load or weight, he required tyre pressure may change.

When deciding to check the air pressure, it is important to do so when the tyres are cold. If the vehicle has been driven, a waiting period of two hours should be taken into account, advises the EDI.

Tyre pressure can be checked with a tyre pressure gauge. Simply fit the air gauge to the valve and check the pressure that appears on the gauge.

After checking the pressure, ensure that the valve caps are replaced as these are the primary seal for keeping dirt and grit out of the valve, writes the EDI.
 

Tyre wear


Tyre wear is indicated by the tyre tread, which is the pattern in the rubber formed by the grooves all around the tyre surface. The grooves in the tread channel water from underneath, allowing the tyre to keep in good contact with the road surface and continue to grip, explains the EDI. The deeper the tread, the more grip you have on the road.

Tyre tread reduces in depth as the tyres come into contact with the road. It is a natural process that comes along the kilometres driven in the vehicle. A new tyre has a depth of 8mm, which enable the tyre to remove 5 gallons of water at a speed of 80kmph, explains the EDI.

Although the minimum legal requirement for a tread in motor cars in the UAE is 1,6mm, motorists are recommended to change a tyre when its tread is 3mm, which is a sensible minimum for safety, writes the EDI. Dubai Police earlier advised that tyre tread should be checked after each 1000-2000 kilometre distance covered.

The RTA further advises the public to be vigilant when purchasing a used tyre, as the minimum requirements may not be taken into account. Manufacturers and vendors of new tyres have recently been subjected to a new set of standards by the Emirates Standardisation and Meteorology Authority (ESMA) to guarantee tyres are fit to hit the UAE roads.

“The letter written beside the word TEMPERATURE refers to tyre heat resistance which has to be (A) in order to suit the high temperature level prevailing in various emirates of the UAE,” said the RTA earlier.