Tyres too worn, say experts

Press, 15 April 1978, Page 5

Tyres too worn, say experts

A high proportion of motorists are believed to be using tyres worn below the legal tread-depth limit. A fifth of all cars inspected by the Automobile Association (Canterbury) required the replacement of at least one tyre, according to the | chief technical officer. Mr P.: E. Bell. Of the 150 cars checked! each week three or four were, fitted with tyres that re-1 vealed the cords, Mr Bell! said. Retreading firms are alsoj finding that more tyres have! been worn well down beyond! the legal limit. In the last 18 months an; increased number of tyre! casings have been rejected j as unsuitable for retreading. I most simplv because of ' wear, said Mr R. Tillman.! the technical and develop-! ment manager for the Fire-1 Stone Tire and Rubber Com-! panv (N.Z.), Ltd. “Even a casual observa-! tion of the tyres on cars in I

(public car parks shows that (many owners are neglecting their tyres,” Mr Tillman said. ! Making do with tyres because of the cost of replacement was “false economy,” ■he said. A United States survey of | passenger car tyres removed from service had shown that 25 per cent had been worn down to the point of being 40 times more likely to blow out or puncture than a new I tyre, said Mr Tillman. A similar situation existed) ’in New Zealand, he said. | A survey by a Christ-) ’church retreading firm, hide-1 pendent Tyre Specialists, | made last November, revealed that 80 per cent of tyres removed were worn beyond the legal limit. Although punctures were responsible for about 5 per cent of breakdowns attended by the Automobile Association there was no evidence to prove that neglect was the main reason for blow-outs or flat tvres. a spokesman said