Mumsnet have challenged bloggers in partnership with Michelin to promote the importance of having the right tyres on your car.
This becomes even more important at this time of year as the roads start to get icy. I’m very good about checking the level and strength of fluid in the windscreen reservoir. And ensuring that I have a blanket, wellies, high-vis vests and snacks in the car. I even add a spade to the boot once it starts snowing. But hand in the air, I could do much better when it comes to tyre safety.
Back in October, over 1,000 Mumsnetters completed a survey for Michelin on tyres and tyre safety. The infographic below summarises the key findings.
I have to say that over the last few years, we have on several occasions discussed purchasing winter tyres in our household, but still haven’t actually done so. But we did take a step in the right direction by purchasing a gauge and inflator last year which you just plug into the cigarette lighter. I was very pleased to say goodbye to my old manual gauge which I was always reluctant to use as I was convinced that by the time I got it onto the tyre properly, that I had lost some psi. So yes I am checking the tyre pressure more frequently than I used to.
But even so I do admit that I leave most tyre safety to my partner. I’ve never changed a tyre without help. I knew that there was a penalty for having bald tyres but not that it is a minimum 3 points per tyre, plus a fine here in the UK. And I’ve now learnt you can use a 20p coin to check that your tyres have more than the legal tread depth.
We’ve never even considered buying tyres online, always popping along to the local KwikFit garage. And I was totally unaware of tyre labelling.
Disclosure. This post is an entry for the Mumsnet Michelin Total Performance Challenge.
Yet another blogging mummy!!! 