Motorists advised to curb mounting kerbs

TyreSafe has issued a warning to motorists about the increase in the number of premature tyre removals as a result of either kerbing damage, or uneven tread wear due to wheel or axle misalignment.

The cause of a significant number of these early removals is due to motorists mounting or hitting a kerb, which usually occurs during a parking manoeuvre. As most modern cars are now equipped with power steering, drivers consider that the presence of a kerb is not an obstacle to manoeuvring a car into a tight spot, which may lead to a tyre’s sidewall being pinched between the kerb and the wheel, or the steering system becoming misaligned.

A driver may not be aware of any problem associated with such a manoeuvre until either the tread pattern shows rapid and irregular wear or a bulge appears on the tyre sidewall, therefore increasing the likelihood of an accident. Furthermore, the level of grip of an unevenly worn tyre is unpredictable in the wet, whilst a sidewall bulge, the result of a fracture in the carcass of the tyre, can cause a tyre to either lose pressure or in a worst case scenario a tyre blow-out.

Whilst it should be common practice for motorists, TyreSafe points out that tyres should be maintained at the levels of pressure recommended by the vehicle manufacturer. TyreSafe recommends that drivers who are aware of having impacted a kerb with some force should have the tyre(s) inspected for any damage and the vehicle alignment checked by a tyre dealer. Tyre sidewall damage cannot be repaired and may lead to possible failure because of the leaking of air from the tyre.