Alongside Christmas, the Easter break is one of the most dangerous periods on Australian roads, due to a combination of increased traffic volumes and fickle weather conditions.

“Weather this time of year, is often unpredictable as proven by the recent extremities experienced across our states, with school holidays this year coinciding with the Easter long weekend, plenty of families will be taking short motoring breaks,” Marketing Manager of Continental Tyres, Australia, Gareth Taylor said.

“It is simply not a time to be taking risks with your tyres and compromising the safety of your family and others on the road.”

“Wet braking is a major issue at this time of year and I fear that many motorists are not adequately informed on how braking can be compromised in tyres that focus solely on significantly reduced rolling resistance.”

The findings of a recent tyre survey conducted by respected European automotive magazine “Auto Zeitung” illustrated how the concentration by some tyre makers on low rolling resistance values, inherently led to longer braking distances on wet roads, and in one case a difference of 5.8 meters.

Leading premium manufacturers like Continental were pioneers of silica technology over 15 years ago and are now on the 3rd generation of silica tyres.

The Continental range provides the benefits of an optimised product offering which combines excellent braking, maximum grip and low rolling resistance tyres.

Once you have the correct tyres you can ensure maximum life expectancy by taking the time to perform a visual inspection of your tyres, checking tread depth and tyre pressures.

Checking the Tread Depth

The tread depth should be measured in the principle grooves. These are the ones which contain “tread wear indicators”, which are raised sections in the base of it. They are usually 1.6mm to 2mm above the base of the groove.

Measure the depth across the tread width in several places around the tyre circumference.

Braking distances on wet roads increase as the tread pattern depth reduces. To maintain an adequate safety margin Continental supports the advice given by road safety organisations including RoadSafe, who recommend replacing tyres when the tread depth reaches 3.0mm.

Checking Tyre Pressure

Low tyre pressures reduce the tyre’s performance and increase fuel consumption.

The recommended tyre pressures for your vehicle will be found in the vehicle handbook or on a placard mounted on the vehicle – usually behind the petrol flap or on the driver’s door pillar.

Always check the pressures when the tyres are cold and never adjust tyre pressures during or immediately following a journey.

Check tyre pressures every two weeks and adjust when necessary. Always refit the valve cap.

Visual Inspection

It is important to visually check the condition of tyres on a regular basis.

Lumps and bulges may indicate the tyre has been damaged internally. If there is any doubt to the tyres condition then the tyre should be checked by a suitably qualified tyre expert immediately.

Any cut to the tyre, which is deep enough to reach the internal structure renders the tyre unsafe and the tyre should be replaced or where possible repaired.

Continental Tyres recommends that a qualified tyre expert be consulted should you have any concerns or doubts.

About Continental:
With sales of approximately €20 billion in 2009 Continental is among the leading automotive suppliers worldwide. As a supplier of brake systems, systems and components for powertrains and chassis, instrumentation, infotainment solutions, vehicle electronics, tyres and technical elastomers, Continental contributes enhanced driving safety and global climate protection. Continental is also a competent partner in networked automobile communication. Continental currently employs approximately 134,500 in 46 countries.

You’d be hard pressed to find the last time the notion of tyre pressures was raised in an election campaign, but in the 2008 US presidential election, Senator (now President) Barack Obama thrust the subject into the spotlight when he raised it in August 2008.

He claimed that if US citizens kept their tyres properly inflated, as a whole they would save enough oil to avoid expanding offshore drilling.

Most people thought this idea was ludicrous, but it turns out that President Obama was right. Time Magazine researched the issue and determined that a well-serviced vehicle, with tyres inflated to the correct pressure, can actually improve fuel economy by up to 3 per cent.  An improvement in fuel economy will negate the need for an increase in oil production and an expansion in offshore drilling.

To explain the theory a little further, the correct tyre pressure gives a balance between ride comfort, rolling resistance, traction and keeping the tyre firmly mounted on the rim. The moment tyre pressures drops, rolling resistance increases, which increases fuel consumption.