How to avoid trye bursts as heat soars in UAE

Dubai - Dubai - What should one do to keep car tyres in good shape and avoid any accident due to a tyre burst?

With the mercury level rising, it is important to be keen on tyre maintenance and safety to prevent road accidents.

Tyre related accidents cause around 5 per cent of the UAE traffic death toll and this is too much! All vehicle tires must be procured, fitted and maintained properly, considering the taxing climate of the UAE. High temperatures can become a serious problem for tyres, especially if they are not properly maintained. Incorrect inflation pressures, poor wheel balance and alignment also contribute to a reduction in tyre life and safety, said Thomas Edelman, founder and managing director of Road Safety UAE.

Evelina Voynova, G.M., Administration, Bridgestone Middle East & Africa FZE and in charge of CSR & Tyre Safety related initiatives, provided answers to some of the most relevant concerns over tyre safety.

What should one do to keep car tyres in good shape and avoid any accident due to a tyre burst?

Do a daily check on tyres. Check the sidewalls for cracks or unusual bulges, check for any foreign objects lodged in your tyre that could possibly puncture it (e.g. stones or nails). Also, pressure checks should be done every 2 weeks or before a long journey.

Does taking a car for desert safaris take a toll on its tyres?

Driving in the desert requires different driving technique and understanding of tyre pressure among other things. So, before and after the dessert trip, one must ensure that the tyres are safe with the help of a technician.

One must also check the temperature code that is engraved on the sidewall of a tyre, which are coded as A, B, or C, to know whether the tyres are well suited for higher temperatures. Another key point is that one should inflate the tyres only when they are cold as hot tyres will show inaccurate reading.

Throwing more light on the matter, Michelin tyre's senior sales showroom supervisor at Central Trading Company LLC, K. Suresh Kumar Nair said that tyres must be bought from authorised agents or dealers as tyres that are not suitable for the weather conditions of UAE are available in the market.

Jawahar Mehta, who is in his 60s and a Dubai resident for almost 40 years said: "I change my car tyres in every 3 years or after 60,000-70,000 kilometres (whichever comes first). The last time I changed the tyres of my cars was just when the summer was around the corner. I also check the air pressure in the tyres once a week. A monthly check for wheel balancing and alignment also helps keep the tyres in good shape."

gaurav@khaleejtimes.com

(The writer is an intern)

• UAE