The Mum’s Guide to Car Tyres: A Quick Check Could Save Your Family Holiday

Planning for a family holiday requires a lot of effort.

Usually, it’s the mothers who take care of everything, and they ensure that nothing gets forgotten while travelling with the whole family.

But one tiny thing that can change your whole holiday for the better is car tyres.

Generally, nobody thinks about car tyres because there are no warning lights, and they assume they’re fine.

Nevertheless, tyres have a limited lifespan, so a quick inspection before going on a trip can save you from a car problem on the side of the road instead of enjoying a comfortable and joyful journey.

It’s not surprising that while you are handling many things at once before your trip, the last thing you’d think about is checking your car tyres.

But this should be one of the most important things on your list!

Don’t forget that tyres are the only part of the vehicle that has direct contact with the road surface.

They affect how safely you brake, how well you handle corners, and even how much fuel you use.

If you are in a hurry (which most mothers usually are), Magowan Tyres makes car tyres checks quick, easy and stress-free for mums.

Their staff will inspect your tyres and see if there are any symptoms of wear or fault now, they will help you fit new tyres if needed and solve any problem before it becomes serious.

However, in case you want to do a quick inspection yourself before heading off, here is a list of things you should check:

How to Check Your Tyres

1. Tread Depth:

Worn-out tread reduces grip, especially in wet weather.

The legal minimum in the UK is 1.6mm, but many experts recommend changing them at 3mm for better safety.

A 20p coin is a handy trick: insert it into the tread – if you can see the outer band, it’s time to get them checked.

2. Tyre Pressure:

Over-inflated car tyres heat up and wear out faster, while fuel consumption increases.

Under-inflated tyres might not have proper road grip.

The correct tyre pressure is usually listed on a sticker inside the driver’s door or in the car’s manual.

A lot of garages and petrol stations have free or low-cost air machines you can use.

3. Visible Damage:

Be careful of cracks, puckers or any nail that got stuck in the car tyres.

Small damages lead to blowouts – it is something no one would want, especially with children and a long trip home.

4. Age:

Tyres behave the same as human beings; they are not eternal.

The rubber can become hard after five or six years, and the grip will be reduced.

The manufacturing date is depicted on the tyre sidewall as a four-digit number representing the week and year of production (e.g. 1620 stands for the 18th week of 2020).

Final Thoughts

Car tyres are a part of your pre-holiday car check that does not take a lot of time, but is the most necessary thing to ensure that your family is safe in the car on the road.

Definitely, no one likes to be stuck in a motorway layby with a very tired child and a melting picnic.

A few minutes of checking your tyres now can be worth it a thousand times over when it comes to peace of mind.

Before you go on that trip to build sandcastles, sightseeing, or just getting away from it all, take a moment to check if your car tyres are in good condition.

Good tyres mean a smooth journey  – and hopefully, no unexpected turns (unless, of course, it is for ice cream).

Photo Credit: Depositphotos