Hidden dangers from bumping kerbs

TyreSafe, the non-profit, non-commercial organisation, has warned motorists about the increase in premature tyre removals as a result of either kerbing damage or uneven tread wear due to wheel or axle misalignment.

The cause of these early removals is due to motorists mounting or hitting a kerb, which usually occurs during a parking manoeuvre. As most cars have power steering, drivers consider that a kerb is not an obstacle to manoeuvring a car into a tight spot, which may lead to a tyre's sidewall being pinched, or the steering system becoming misaligned.

A driver may not be aware of any problem until either the tread pattern shows rapid, irregular wear or a bulge appears on the tyre sidewall, increasing the likelihood of an accident. The level of grip of an unevenly worn tyre is unpredictable in the wet; a sidewall bulge, the result of a fracture in the carcass of the tyre, can cause a tyre to either lose pressure or to blow out.

TyreSafe has pointed out that tyres should be maintained at the levels of pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. Drivers who have impacted a kerb should have the tyre inspected and the vehicle alignment checked. Tyre sidewall damage cannot be repaired and may lead to possible failure because of the leaking of air from the tyre.

http://www.tyresafe.org