Goodyear Warns on 4WD Tyres (17/11/05) |
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Goodyear
has expressed concern that some 4WD owners could be choosing the wrong tyres
for their vehicle, and putting themselves and their families in danger.
Goodyear’s concerns relate to replacement tyres, not original equipment
tyres. Goodyear experts say 4WD owners need to ask themselves where they
will be taking their vehicle and how often, in order to choose the most
appropriate tyre for safety and handling in all conditions.
Critical safety issues arise when heavy duty off-road tyres are fitted to 4WDs that rarely go off-road. While all-terrain or mud-terrain tyres are the better option for heavily laden 4WD vehicles and those that spend most of their time off-road, that type of tyre is not necessary for most city-based drivers. The concern is that there can be significant increases in stopping distances in wet weather when mud tyres are fitted. They work well in slow, heavy, off-road wet conditions but can take longer to ‘grab’ on wet bitumen with potentially devastating results. Goodyear says when it comes time to replace the original equipment tyres, owners need to be realistic about the type of use their vehicle gets – how often they go off road, how tough the conditions are and how much weight the vehicle will be carrying. It is more
an issue with replacement tyres because original equipment
tyres
on a new
vehicle are designed to work with that vehicle’s handling dynamics
and cover a vast range of performance requirements. Goodyear says consumers
need to be aware of the importance of choosing tyres wisely for their 4WD
and the way it will be used. For more advice on the right tyre for your
4WD, talk to your nearest JAXQuickfit Tyre dealer. |
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