Your driving habits have a significant impact on the health and longevity of your tyres, as well as your safety on the road.
To maintain the health of your tyres and ensure your safety on the road, it’s important to adopt safe driving habits. This includes driving within the recommended speed limit, taking corners carefully and smoothly, avoiding overloading your vehicle, and driving on well-maintained roads as often as you can.
Here are some ways your driving style can affect your tyres:
1. Speeding and Hard Acceleration
The most common driving style that damages your tyres is hard acceleration and driving at high speeds, both of which cause your tyres to wear out faster due to increased heat and friction. High friction produces increased heat, which in turn leads to tyre wear. Additionally, hard acceleration causes bits of rubber from the tyre to shred and chip off, thereby further increasing wear and tear. Similarly, speeding increases heat and friction, putting more stress on your tyres. The best thing to do is drive gently to help improve the longevity of your tyres.
2. Hard Braking
Similar to hard acceleration, hard braking can also lead to premature tyre damage. Frequent emergency braking has an adverse effect on the car’s suspension and leads to uneven wear of tyres. Driving in city traffic often includes hard braking, but this can be minimised by maintaining a safe following distance, keeping your hands on the wheel and your eyes on the road.
3. Cornering
Taking corners too quickly or aggressively can also cause your tyres to wear unevenly, as the outside edges of the tyres are constantly under stress. This can lead to poor grip and reduced handling, making your vehicle less safe to drive.
4. Overloading
Overloading your vehicle beyond its recommended weight limit causes excessive stress on your tyres. The tyre of a car is designed to carry a particular maximum weight as prescribed by the vehicle manufacturer. This weight is known as the load rating and is marked on the tyre’s sidewall and in the car owner’s manual. By overloading your vehicle, you increase pressure on the tyre, weakening its internal structure which not only leads to faster wear and tear, but an increased risk of tyre bursts.
5. Driving On Rough Roads, Debris And Over Curbs
Driving on rough or poorly maintained roads such as potholes and debris causes your tyres to wear out faster, as they are exposed to more friction. Hitting harshly against a curb can easily cause cracks on the rubber of a tyre and damage the wheel, rim, steering components and suspension. Remember to drive slowly and carefully in built-up areas and look out for unmarked curbs.
Regular tyre checks and maintenance can help detect any potential issues before they become major problems. By changing your driving habits, you can extend the life of your tyres and enjoy a safer drive.
The South African Tyre Manufacturers Conference (SATMC) is actively working to address the issue of illicit trade of tyres in South Africa, which are an enormous danger on our roads and contribute to the country’s high accident rate annually.
The SATMC is the representative body of the four leading global tyre manufacturers with manufacturing facilities established in the country, namely Bridgestone Southern Africa, Continental Tyre South Africa, Goodyear South Africa and Sumitomo Rubber South Africa.
Chairperson and CEO of Sumitomo Rubber South Africa, Lubin Ozoux, said illicit tyre trade is a growing concern and has far-reaching impacts on the industry, as well as the safety of drivers and passengers on the road.
“The production, import, export, purchase, sale or possession of tyres that fail to comply with the domestic legislation of South Africa must be taken seriously and stamped out. We as the SATMC, representing local tyre manufacturers, are particularly concerned about the entry of substandard and counterfeit tyres into the South African market. These tyres often do not meet the required safety standards, are made with inferior materials and are prone to failure, placing millions of lives at risk on our roads,” he said.
Illicit trade must be stopped, as this will create a safe and fair market for South Africa, helping to keep millions of lives safer on the roads
–Lubin Ozou, Chairperson and CEO of Sumitomo Rubber South Africa
Tyres which are illegally brought into the country pose a serious threat to the safety of South African consumers. While this issue has been a persistent problem for several years, the recent increase could be attributed to the rise in illegal trade activities globally as globalisation and e-commerce continue to expand.
SATMC Managing Executive, Ndu Chala, said the Tyre Importers Association of South Africa (TIASA), in collaboration with the SATMC, has been working closely with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to root out illicit trade in the industry.
SATMC Managing Executive, Ndu Chala, said the Tyre Importers Association of South Africa (TIASA), in collaboration with the SATMC, has been working closely with the South African Revenue Service (SARS) to root out illicit trade in the industry.
“This influx is concerning, and we have endeavoured to collaborate with the Tyre Importers Association of South Africa (TIASA), the Tyre Equipment Parts Association (TEPA) and the government through the Department of Trade, Industry and Competition (the dtic) to detect non-compliant behaviour, and ensure consequences for those found to have resorted to this illegal and criminal behaviour,” added Chala.
Ozoux said all role players in the tyre industry including manufacturers, importers, dealers and distributors are aligned and collaborating to tackle the scourge of illicit tyre trade. The SATMC has also introduced a number of solutions, including increased collaboration with law enforcement agencies to enforce regulations, and increased public awareness through targeted campaigns.
“Illicit trade must be stopped, as this will create a safe and fair market for South Africa, helping to keep millions of lives safer on the roads, and protecting local jobs. If reducing the unacceptably high number and cost of road deaths in South Africa is a priority for us all, then we simply cannot continue to allow illegal and often inferior tyres to keep proliferating the local market. Only legitimate and safe tyres should be available to South African consumers,” said Ozoux.
Tiger Wheel & Tyre is driving the green initiative with the launch of the company’s first solar-powered store.
South Africa’s much-loved automotive parts and fitment brand marks another milestone in its journey towards a healthier environment – and its drive for carbon neutrality.
The Company’s Fourways store is very proud to be the first of the Tiger Wheel & Tyre family to complete the move to solar power. This is just the first store to go solar, as the Company continues its mission to prioritize a carbon-neutral footprint, with all stores running on solar energy within the next three years. Tiger Wheel & Tyre’s other fitment centres are currently in various phases of this transition.
The Company cemented its decision to use renewable energy for a number of reasons. The most important of these is the brand’s stated responsibility to ensure a healthier future for generations to come.
Other important factors that informed this decision include soaring energy prices and the uncertainty of load-shedding in South Africa.
Alex Taplin, TiAuto Investments CEO, is passionate about the project. “Society and that includes us, our shareholders and financiers have a duty to take active steps towards using clean renewable energy sources to lessen our impact upon the environment. State-of-the-art technology that embraces sustainability is now readily available, so it would be highly remiss of us were we not to incorporate these technologies and obvious benefits into our everyday operations.”
“The advantages of solar power are tangible and measurable. By way of example, if we take just the initial Fourways store pilot project, we’re looking at a reduction of over 28,000kg of reduced CO² emissions per annum. That’s the equivalent of 64 trees saved.”
“And that’s just one store! Once we have fully executed stores in Phase 1 to solar power, representing 16 stores, we will be reducing emissions equivalent by over 560,000 kg of CO², as well as reducing our oil equivalent by 80,000 litres a year. That’s the same as saving 1,200 trees a year. We call on other businesses to move to sustainable energy, as we will all benefit in the end.”
Tiger Wheel & Tyre’s solar solution is all the more impressive as it enables stores to continue full operation at normal capacity, without any reduction in our product or superior service offerings. What’s more, thanks to being increasingly self-sufficient from a power supply perspective, Company’s power system is now even more stable, and in a small way, we can assist by reducing reliance on an already overburdened Eskom Grid.
Even though rims are generally sturdy, they aren’t immune to getting damaged and can result in blow-outs.
There is a joke which says that if you drive in a straight line on any road in South Africa, chances are you are intoxicated; whereas if you drive haphazardly are you are most likely to be sober. Why? Well, when you zig-zag across the road the assumption is that you are avoiding potholes.
Cracked rims are just as much of a threat to your safety and the overall performance of your car as any other component of your vehicle. Sometimes, it is quite easy to spot a crack on the rim but at other times, the crack can be quite fine, making it difficult to spot.
Either way, most motorists may be unaware that there is a problem, hence it is important to regularly check the integrity of your vehicle every other day and even more so before going on a long-distance drive.
Image credit: carcomplaints.com
Common causes of rim damage
It may not always be possible to avoid damaging a rim but to avoid costly repairs, here are a few things you might want to steer (pun intended) clear of.
Hitting a pothole
Potholes are the bane of our lives. They vary in width and depth and should always be approached cautiously particularly because they are a serious threat to the longevity of a car’s tyres and rims.
A lethal combination of the speed of a car, coupled with the depth, width and sharpness of the edge of a pothole has been known to rip a tyre right off its rim; shredding it almost instantly on point of contact.
At other times, the damage is not as visible to the naked eye but can reveal itself over time.
2. Driving on a flat or poorly inflated tyre
A properly inflated tyre can absorb impact from bumps and other anomalies on the road. However, a tyre that has low pressure will not absorb any impact from any irregularities on the road’s surface. Instead, the force of such impact will hit the rim directly thereby causing damage such as cracks or dings.
3. Driving over a curb
On roads such as ours which are, in some instances, devoid of even the faintest remnants of paint, one can occasionally drive over an unmarked curb or similar hard shoulder. This is more prevalent when driving on unfamiliar or poorly lit roads.
How can I tell if my rim is damaged?
A visual inspection of your tyres and rim is one way to check the health of your wheels.
Another is noticing a continuous vibration through the steering wheel or an unfamiliar sound emanating from the direction of the affected wheel.
Lastly, when you notice that your tyres can no longer retain pressure for long, forcing you to pump them more often than normal, chances are there is a problem with your wheels.
Is it safe to drive with a cracked rim?
My quick and short answer is no.
No matter how small or fine the crack might be, it would be best to have the rim replaced as soon as possible. Cracks on your rim are a hazard and can jeopardize your safety and that of other motorists around you.
The smallest crack could either grow over time or widen exponentially at the slight of impacts. In either scenario, where there is a crack on your rim there is a very real possibility that the air from our tyres could escape abruptly and without warning. Should this happen, even the most skilled drivers would have a hard time controlling the vehicle.
If you suspect that you have a cracked or bent rim, it is best to have it attended to immediately. Remember that your rim holds your car’s tyres and that the only contact you have with the road is about the size of the palm of your hand.
Should there be an abnormality on your rim, then suffice it to say there will be an abnormality with your tyres, causing a ripple effect which could result in a tyre blow-out, serious injury, expensive damage to your vehicle and at worst – death.
It’s better to be safe – and out of pocket due to having replaced a rim – than injured or sorry.
Incorrect wheel alignment can take a toll on your car’s tyres resulting in you having to replace them soon than expected. Misaligned wheels significantly contribute to the diminished lifespan of your tyres, so it is vital that you check your wheels’ alignment regularly.
Old and worn tyres are difficult to dispose of due to their size, shape and because they are not environmentally friendly.
Tyres are standard equipment in vehicles but getting rid of them at the end of their life-span can be problematic. One simply cannot put unwanted tyres in the trash along with other household waste. Due to the materials used in their production, tyres are hazardous to the environment and as such need to be disposed of carefully.
Recycling is the safest and most effective way of getting rid of tyres. It is a long term solution which gives new life to old tyres through the manufacture of other products which can be used in various industries.
The Process of Recycling Tyres
Tyre recyclers collect old tyres from retail outlets and transport them to tyre recycling processing facilities for processing.
Tyres are sorted by size and composition then placed on conveyor belts ready for shredding.
The first stage of the tyre shredding process reduces each tyre to approximately 5cm pieces. The second stage used a granulator, which further reduces each 5cm piece into a 19mm size granule.
Next, the steel within each tyre granule is removed (the steel is re-useable), then stored into large hoppers in preparation for the next stage of the process.
Depending on the fineness required for the manufacture of the end product, the granules are cut further and pushed through various sized sieves to produce different levels of coarseness.
At this stage of the recycling process, the tyres are as small as breadcrumbs and as such are called ‘rubber crumbs’.
The rubber crumbs are packaged according to coarseness, ready for distribution.
Products Made From Recycled Tyres
There are many different products made from recycled tyres. These include:
1. Athletic Tracks
Rubber granules are mixed with polyurethane binder to produce surfaces such as athletics tracks. The use of recycled rubber provided assistance with impact absorption and injury reduction.
2. Playground Surfaces
Recycled rubber is used in the production of play safe surfaces such as children’s playgrounds. Similar to sport surfaces, the playground surfaces made from rubber crumbs and shreds, are durable, porous and low-maintenance. They also assist with impact absorption and injury reduction.
3. Brake Shoes
Rubber crumbs are used in the manufacture of asbestos-free brake shoes. The advantage of using recycled rubber in producing brake shoes is that the rubber component reduces noise and improves wear and tear due to its heat-resistant nature.
4. Matting Surfaces
Various matting products are made from recycled rubber for both commercial and domestic use. These include non-slip door mats and marine surfaces. Mats made from recycled tyres are hardwearing, weather resistant and can be washed easily.
5. Sports Surfaces
Recycled rubber is used under synthetic grass for added softness. Rubber crumbs are also processed into a material which is used to hold the synthetic grass upright when laid onto the pitch.
6. Tile Adhesive
Recycled rubber is becoming more commonly used in the manufacture of tile adhesives, allowing the adhesive to retain a great deal of the flexible properties of cured rubber. The flexibility of rubber prevents the tiles from cracking as a result of building movement over time. In addition, recycled rubber provides water-resistant and sound dampening properties.
7. New Tyre Production
Recycled rubber is in the manufacture of passenger tyres. By mixing recycled rubber with uncured rubber to form a filling compound prior to the tyre baking process, tyre manufacturers are able to reduce the amount of new materials used in the production of passenger tyres. This results in lower cost of tyre manufacture.
8. Building Materials
Mixed with polyurethane binder, recycled rubber granules are used in the production of building materials such as insulation for use in under flooring and walls.
Anyone who has ever experienced the shock of a burst tyre while travelling at a relatively high speed, will relate to this article particularly given our country’s unacceptably high road accident rate.
BMW is relying on SportContact 6 tyres from Continental as original equipment for the new M4. The new BMW M4 Competition Convertible with M xDrive will be available in South Africa from the fourth quarter of 2021.
BMW is relying on SportContact 6 tyres from Continental as original equipment for the new M4.
The SportContact 6 has been developed in particular for sporty vehicles and is especially designed for handling, precision and driving stability at high speeds.
As the only point of contact between the vehicle and the road, tyres play an essential role in providing an optimal driving experience without compromise.
– Dr Holger Lange, head of tyre development for Continental’s original equipment business
In addition, it has been rated best in the EU tyre label in the wet grip category, meaning that it is particularly convincing in terms of braking performance on wet roads. Continental received global approvals for the dimensions 275/40 ZR18 (103Y) XL and 285/35 ZR19 (103Y) XL.
“As the only point of contact between the vehicle and the road, tyres play an essential role in providing an optimal driving experience without compromise,” said Dr Holger Lange, head of tyre development for Continental’s original equipment business. “Our engineers develop OE tyres that perfectly match the respective vehicle model and thus optimally support the car’s performance. To capture the specific requirements, Continental works closely with vehicle manufacturers on tyre development.”
Good tyre tread and properly inflated tyres are essential to maintaining control on slippery roads. Your tyres should always be properly inflated and have plenty of tread groove depth to help disperse water on the road. Don’t forget to ensure that your spare tyre should also be properly inflated and in good condition.
Gals Garage, in association Toyota Motors South Africa recently hosted a Tyre Safety Workshop aimed at female motorists.
Supported by Toyota Motors South Africa (TMSA), the first Gals Garage Tyre Safety Workshop of 2021, took place in Gauteng recently. Although all COVID regulations had been taken into account, organizers of the event took further precautions by hosting the Workshop over a few 4-hour sessions at different venues, thereby giving guests the added comfort of knowing their health had been taking into consideration.
The Gals Garage Tyre Safety Workshop not only allowed guests to simulate a flat tyre scenario but also gave them an opportunity to test drive the Toyota Urban Cruiser, Toyota Starlet and one of 2 Toyota Agya vehicles.
It used to be safe to ask a stranger to assist you to change your flat tyre but times have changed, so it is to every woman’s benefit to know how to do so herself.- FOUNDER, GALS GARAGE WORKSHOPS
It used to be safe to ask a stranger to assist you to change your flat tyre but times have changed, so it is to every woman’s benefit to know how to do so herself.
– FOUNDER, GALS GARAGE WORKSHOPS
Kicking off with an interactive discussion about tyre rotation, wheel alignment, and wheel balancing, the important topic of knowing how to change a tyre led to a few of the ladies relating personal stories about the inconveniences and dangers of being stuck on the side of the road.
It is important to align the jack with the car-jack point. If you jack the vehicle at any other point, the car’s weight may cause damage to its frame.
– FOUNDER, GALS GARAGE WORKSHOPS
Excited about learning this basic life skill, the ladies gathered around the 2 Toyota Agya vehicles and set about changing a tyre; all the while talking about causes of a flat tyre, how to identify you have a flat tyre (while driving), and safety measure to adhere to in the event of a flat tyre. These include pulling out of traffic as slowly as is safely possible, parking on a flat surface where possible, ensuring that the handbrake is engaged (either in gear in manual transmission or Park if in an automatic).
“In some instances, it is advisable to place a brick in front or behind one of the other tyres to further secure the vehicle,” Vuyi mentioned, “but you must remove these before you leave so as not to cause damage to another motorist’s vehicle, particularly at night when visibility is generally reduced”.
Another important element under discussion was identifying the optimal position to place the red reflective triangle which serves as a warning for other motorists, as well as learning the correct names of each of the tools required to successfully change a flat tyre – wheel spanner, nut-lock, car jack, reflective red triangle, spare tyre.
In some instances, it is advisable to place a brick in front or behind one of the other tyres but you must remove these before you leave.
– Founder, GALS GARAGE WORKSHOPs
It came as a surprise to some of the ladies that all cars have a car ‘jack point and that it is the safest location to position the car jack. By running their fingers along the edge of the bottom of the body of the car, the ladies discovered either one or two jack-points positioned either a short distance behind the front wheels or positioned a short distance in front of the rear wheels.
“It is important to align the jack with the car-jack point. If you jack the vehicle at any other point, the car’s weight may cause damage to its frame or, the jack may slip off, causing the vehicle to crash to the ground. Either way, this could result in serious injury to yourself and expensive damage to the car,” Vuyi said.
I will never forget the day my children and I nearly spent a night at the side of the road just because I did not know to change a flat tyre.
– GUEST, GALS GARAGE TYRE SAFETY WORKSHOP
To their surprise, the ladies accurately and safety completed the tyre change exercise in less time than they had anticipated. Most could barely believe how simple the task was.
“I will never forget the day my children and I nearly spent a night at the side of the road just because I did not know to change a flat tyre. Looking back I feel annoyed with myself because I put us in unnecessary danger yet here I am, doing this simple thing in 20 minutes!” remarked one of the guests.
When it came to test driving the various Toyotas on display, the Starlet proved to be a clear favourite among the ladies. “It stylish, spacious, comfortable to drive and quite spacious,” one guest remarked.
“The Agya is much bigger than it looks”, remarked one of the guests. “When I first glanced at it, I felt it was a ‘toy’ but, out of curiosity, I drove it and now I’m surprisingly impressed. I would love to have it as my weekday car because it would be easy to park,” she continued.
Some car salesmen can be very pushy, but his job is to listen to my needs and give me the best product which fits my budget.
– Guest, gals Garage Tyre Safety Workshop
Many of the ladies expressed appreciation that they had had an opportunity to test drive the Toyota vehicles in the comfort of their environment because they find car dealerships intimidating.
“I am not looking forward to buying a car because some car salesmen can be very pushy,” one lady said. “I feel that car salesmen judge women based on appearance and I am not about to make the extra effort just so the salesman will want to approach me when I walk into a dealership. His job is to listen to my needs and give me the best product which fits my budget – not to make me feel unknowledgeable and small,” she concluded.
ABOUT GALS GARAGE WORKSHOPS
Gals Garage Workshops, Because Women Deserve Better, was conceptualized and launched in 2016 by motoring journalist, Vuyi Mpofu when she identified a gap in the market to engage with female motorists. The Workshops aim to inform, educate and empower female motorists about the nuances of various elements of vehicles and serve to encourage women to become aware of the vehicle components which affect everyday driving safety.
Other than the Tyre Safety Workshops, the Gals Garage brand offers a variety of courses being:
The goal of tyre balance is to distribute weight equally around the entire circumference of the tyre. Wheels that are out-of-balance can cause uncomfortable vibrations while driving. It also results in premature wear of suspension and steering components, rotating parts, and tyres.
As part of routine vehicle maintenance, drivers should seek to balance the tyres on their vehicle after every 5,000-10,000 km travelled, or after 1-2 years (whichever comes first).
Also, it’s worth balancing the tyres and wheels when:
Buying new tyres, rims, or wheels;
Rotating the tyres;
Repairing the tyres;
The car hits a large pothole.
Another thing to remember; tyre balance is entirely different to wheel alignment, though the two concepts are sometimes confused. Aligning a set of wheels entails adjusting their angles so that they’re parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground.
Knowing the signs of imbalance
Tyre imbalance can develop over time as the tyre tread wears down through regular use and the distribution of weight changes. Subjecting the tyres to excessive stress by driving on poor roads, hard braking and cornering may hasten matters further.
When one or more tyres are out-of-balance on your vehicle, there are several common indicators:
The car experiences vibration at high speeds;
There’s uneven wear on the tread;
There’s an increase in fuel consumption;
There are issues with the suspension.
If you notice one or more of these symptoms – even if the tyres are relatively new – then it’s possible your car has an imbalanced tyre.
With the end of 2020 comes a well-earned break after a long and extremely difficult year. In the second installment of our 3-part holiday driving series, we focus on the importance of vehicle maintenance.
Although modern safety features such as anti-lock braking systems (ABS), electronic stability control (ESC) and radar-based adaptive cruise control (ACC) are integral to road safety and Continental’s Vision Zero concept, the condition of the vehicle plays a fundamental role.
All motorists need to adopt a proactive approach towards safety-critical maintenance. Follow these basic vehicle maintenance tips to help reduce road fatalities, expensive repairs and general inconvenience:
Tyres: The legal tread depth limit in South Africa is 1 mm, but tyres should be replaced when the tread depth drops below 3 mm (or at 1.6 mm at the very least) to ensure traction in wet conditions. Inspect the tyres for any uneven wear, bulges, cuts or abrasions in the sidewall, which could result in premature failure.
Tyre Pressures: Adjust your tyre pressures based on the vehicle load. Increase the pressure according to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommendations if towing a caravan, trailer or loading the vehicle – and remember to check pressures when the tyres are cold. Don’t forget the spare tyre!
Brakes: Your car’s brakes are an essential safety feature, and need to be checked and regularly maintained. Have a look at the brake discs and pads – if they show excessive wear, or you notice the brakes are noisy or less effective than usual, then have them checked.
Lights: Inspect and test all the vehicle lights, and those of a trailer or caravan, to make sure you have maximum visibility and can be seen by other motorists.
Windscreen: If your windscreen is cracked or damaged have it repaired or replaced, as it may compromise your vision – especially when driving it night. Check that the windscreen wipers are working properly.
Engine Bay: Check all the fluid levels, including engine oil, radiator coolant (only when the engine is cold), power steering fluid, brake fluid and the windscreen washer bottle.
Regular Maintenance: Have your car serviced according to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended intervals (typically between 10 000 and 20 000 km, or annually).
Preventative maintenance could make the difference between arriving safely at your destination, or being stranded on the side of the road.
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